New York Yankees' ace Gerrit Cole has taken a significant step forward in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. On Monday, Cole successfully completed 20 throws off flat ground, marking a pivotal moment in his rehabilitation journey.

"It felt really good today," Cole shared before the Yankees' series opener against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium. "I was fairly accurate and I had a good time."

Cole, who underwent surgery five months ago to insert an internal brace into his elbow, has been diligently following a rehabilitation program. The procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the head team physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The typical recovery period for such an injury is around 14 months, and Cole has been gradually building up his strength over the past few weeks.

"It's a big one, first day throwing," Cole remarked. "I've been building up to it for a few weeks. So it's nice to get outside and get it accomplished and have it go well."

Cole's rehabilitation has involved extensive physical therapy sessions, ranging from 90 minutes to two hours daily. The internal brace, designed to promote stability, was removed in mid-April, allowing Cole to progress further in his recovery.

With a career record of 153-80 and a 3.18 ERA over 317 starts, Cole's return to form is eagerly anticipated by Yankees fans. The 34-year-old right-hander has thrown 1,954 innings over 12 major league seasons, along with an additional 133⅓ innings in 22 postseason starts.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed his excitement for Cole's progress, stating, "He's done a good job with the rehab, and this is one of those cool markers along the way that is significant to hit. So excited for him."

Cole's 2024 season debut was delayed until June 19 due to nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow. Despite the setback, he managed an 8-5 record with a 3.41 ERA in 17 starts and was 1-0 with a 2.17 ERA in five postseason starts.

As Cole continues his recovery, the Yankees remain hopeful for his full return to the mound, bolstering their pitching rotation for the upcoming seasons.