"I look forward to returning in June," Cole said after throwing 20 pitches against two batters.
Cole threw a practice pitch against hitters before the game against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium in New York on the 22nd (Korea time). Cole left the lineup in March after complaining of elbow pain during spring camp. Ryu Hyun-jin (Hanwha Eagles) and Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers) avoided surgery because no serious ligament rupture was found after undergoing examination by renowned specialist Dr. Neil Elatrache. Cole, who has been rehabilitated for more than two months since then, has boosted his pitching sense by pitching in the bullpen five times recently. Cole, who recorded 145-75 losses and a 3.17 ERA in the Major League Baseball, won the Cy Young Award unanimously in the American League last year with an outstanding performance of 15-4 losses and a 2.63 ERA. Cole will return to the Major League after making a rehabilitation pitch in the minor leagues following one or two practice pitches in the future. The Yankees, who rank No. 1 in the American League East, expect their team's power to improve further when Cole returns.