About 3 / hours before first pitch, the home dugout in The Bronx was packed. Just about everyone around the Yankees, from manager Aaron Boone to executive Omar Minaya to Jose Trevino to Nestor Cortes and Carlos Rodon and much of the rotation, squeezed in to witne s 20 pitches that both mattered and did not. I walked out there and I was like: Whoa, OK, Boone said Tuesday. Not surprising considering who it is. But yeah, there was a little anticipation there. Gerrit Cole throws to hitters for the first time in his rehab proce s. Getty Images For the first time since early March, Gerrit Cole faced hitters again. A steamy and sunny afternoon called for plenty of T-shirts in the dugout, but the Yankees ace suited up in full pinstripes. Explore More Because I mi sed it, Cole said about his uniform choice. I feel really happy that I was able to put it on today. The went well. Cole used all E-40 Jersey his pitches while facing lefty-swinging Oswaldo Cabrera twice and righty-swinging Jahmai Jones twice, a pair whose contact amounted to a pair of projected flyouts. Go beyond the box score with the Bombers Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you Enter your email addre s Please provide a valid email. By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! I wouldnt rule it out, he said about a June return. I gue s its po sible, Boone added. I dont want to get ahead of ourselves. In other years, there might be more urgency for the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner to return to the mound as quickly as po sible. This year, the Yankees have sprinted to the top of the AL East and been lifted by a rotation that has dazzled without its best starter. The Yankees rotation entered Tuesdays game against the Mariners with a 2.95 ERA that was the third-best in the majors. I gue s if we were really struggling, it would be a challenge having to not try to feel like you needed to rush it back, said Cole, whose rotation spot has been occupied by a breakout Luis Gil. But theres definitely not any outside pre sure. With his 20 pitches, Cole dotted up and down with his fastball. He mixed in sliders and curveballs that he felt were sharp. The changeup needs a bit of work, but he will have time to iron it out. If Cole feels OK on Wednesday, he would have checked off a pretty significant box. It looked like it was coming out real easy. I thought he was sharp, Boone said. That was probably the best 70 or 60 percent Ive ever seen, Jones said with a smile. Stephen Curry Jersey