The New York Yankees' ace Gerrit Cole's return has been postponed until early June, with the medical team opting for the most cautious approach.

Yankees fans may need to exercise more patience. Despite the team's strong desire for ace starter Gerrit Cole to come back, the most recent progress in his rehabilitation shows his return will be delayed beyond initial expectations, likely not until early June this year for his official major league pitching return.

At last December’s winter meetings, Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed optimism that Cole would rejoin the team between late May and early June. However, veteran Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay revealed more detailed information on his latest podcast, "The Show," sparking much discussion among fans.

During the podcast, Kay clearly stated that Cole’s return is expected around June 1, which is significantly later than the originally anticipated season opener comeback. Kay explained that Cole underwent a reconstruction surgery in March 2025 involving an “internal brace,” a procedure that generally has a shorter recovery time than the traditional Tommy John surgery, which led him to initially believe Cole could be ready for the 2026 season start.

However, considering Cole is already 35 years old and remains a key asset for the Yankees in the coming years, team executives and the medical staff have unanimously decided to adopt the most cautious approach to ensure he reaches full recovery, minimizing the risk of re-injury from an early return.