TAMPA — Gerrit Cole threw his third bullpen since being shutdown with elbow inflammation on Saturday afternoon.
Afterward, he said that he felt “pretty good” about the session at Tropicana Field, which included 13 breaking balls and 29 total pitches. Cole’s fastball was about 89 mph, which is where he wants his velocity to be right now.
The reigning Cy Young winner added that he will hang back in Tampa after the Yankees wrap up their series with the Rays so that he can throw another bullpen at the team’s player development complex early this coming week. Cole is not sure when he’ll face live hitters for the first time.
“Still trying to work through that,” Cole said, noting that he needs to progress to two ups, or simulated innings, before taking on batters. “But you gotta add the volume and the intensity. We’ve gotta feather that in strategically, so I’m not sure how many more till we face hitters.”
Asked if he’s recovering the way he wants to — the problem that initially landed Cole on the 60-day injured list — the righty said, “Yeah, we’re making good progress.”
In addition to throwing a bullpen, Cole will do “some biokinetic stuff” at the Yankees’ complex next week.
“It’s just a way to cross-reference the data with the Hawk-Eye and doing it with a little bit more precision,” he explained. “So it’s just more information.”
Cole also said that his daily routine will include some elements of his rehab routine, such as extra soft tissue and movement work, moving forward.
WIFI WOES
As reporters filed into The Trop’s press box on Saturday, it became clear that the WiFi was not working. Some, including this writer with a hotspot, had the same issue at their hotels. Meanwhile, a few Yankees noticed spotty connections prior to Saturday’s game.
“I was able to do everything I needed to,” Aaron Boone told the Daily News of the WiFi, though the TV in his office wasn’t working well.
Added Matt Blake: “It doesn’t help. I think it’s been in and out… Definitely not good.”
Tyler DeClerck, assistant director of advanced scouting, blamed the issues on the solar storm that hit Earth and produced colorful skies across the Northern Hemisphere early on Saturday. Fortunately for press and players, the problems seemed to be resolved by the end of batting practice.
However, the situation begged the question: how would the Yankees, or any other team, be impacted by patchy WiFi?
“The baseball world, what would we do?” Boone wondered. “We’ll just have to figure it out.”
Jose Trevino and Blake told The News that it would be a bigger hindrance pregame, when coaches and players are trying to access scouting reports and internal systems. But teams also rely on iPads and video during games.
DeClerk said watching film wouldn’t be an option without WiFi. While Blake wasn’t anticipating any problems during Saturday’s game, he said the situation merited a conversation.
Trevino also wasn’t sure if catchers and pitchers would be able to communicate using PitchCom.
“I have no clue,” he said when asked if the tech requires WiFi. “Good question. Wow, that’s a really good question. We’ll see. We might have to do some signs tonight.”
However, DeClerk said that PitchCom doesn’t need WiFi. Instead, it uses technology that’s similar to Bluetooth.
DOMÍNGUEZ TO START REHAB ASSIGNMENT
Boone said that Jasson Domínguez (UCL surgery) will start a rehab assignment at Single-A Tampa on Tuesday or Wednesday. He will only DH for his first two weeks of games, though he could move to a higher affiliate before playing the outfield.
“I think he’s ready to go,” Boone said of The Martian’s defensive capabilities, though the Yankees are being cautious. “He’s been doing all his outfield [work]. He’s long-tossed.”
Boone added that Domínguez’s entire rehab has pretty much gone as planned.
“It seems like there’s been very few hiccups along the way,” Boone said. “It’s been smooth. He hasn’t been rushed.”
The Yankees have said that the earliest Domínguez could return is sometime over the summer, though there’s no guarantee he joins the major league squad when his assignment ends.
OTHER REHAB UPDATES
DJ LeMahieu (non-displaced foot fracture) hit live off of JT Brubaker (Tommy John surgery) at the Yankees’ complex on Saturday. He’ll hit live pitching again on Tuesday. Boone wasn’t sure when or where LeMahieu will start a rehab assignment.
Tommy Kahnle (delayed throwing program) logged one scoreless inning with Single-A Tampa on Saturday. He threw 15 pitches before adding another 10 in the bullpen, according to Boone. The manager added that if all goes well, Kahnle will have his rehab assignment transferred to Double-A Somerset on Tuesday.
