Yankees: Gerrit Cole showing up to Field of Dreams is amazing sign

The New York Yankees have dealt with an historic level of adversity in recent weeks, watching their number of healthy and available players dwindle with every passing evening.

Some of those losses were standard. Gleyber Torres jams his thumb on second base? Sure. We’re seen that before. We didn’t like it, but we’ve seen it.

But the third wave of COVID-19 this mostly-vaccinated team has been dealing with lately has boggled many minds and certainly frustrated fans who always seem to think they’ve escaped it…until another name pops up.

There’s probably a parallel to American society in here somewhere, so what more fitting place to hopefully welcome some beloved Yankees back than the Field of Dreams?

No, unfortunately Gerrit Cole will not be pitching in this game; that honor goes to Andrew Heaney, as Cole remains inactive.

Not sure many of us expected the righty to show up at all for this contest of classic Americana, though, so his arrival midway through Thursday afternoon was quite the surprise.

Either he’s been cleared to return, or the down-on-their-luck Yankees are just totally winging it now.

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole made a surprise appearance at the Field of Dreams.

Rob Manfred is no-doubt excited that Cole was able to make the trek to one of MLB’s tentpole events. After all, it’s not the New York Yankees without their ace, especially with so much star power currently on the shelf.

Cole won’t be toeing the rubber pending an insane reversal — we’d like to see him close instead of throwing a bullpen, just saying! — but at least he’s wearing the throwback uniform. Other Yanks like Torres, Jordan Montgomery, Gio Urshela and Anthony Rizzo weren’t so lucky, all rehabbing in some form.

Cole and Monty were reportedly on the same track in recent days in their COVID-19 rehab, so ideally the ace’s surprise cameo means an activation of both men is right around the corner — and just in time for the Red Sox series. If the Yanks try to pull a bullpen day there, I’ll scream.

In another cruel twist of fate, the possible Cy Young front-runner in the American League Lance Lynn will be starting Thursday’s ceremonial game following Carlos Rodon’s trip to the IL. It certainly would’ve been nice to see Cole and Lynn lock horns in an anger contest.

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Projecting Cole’s debut is anyone’s guess, but there appears to be nothing holding him back other than an arm strength check or two now that he’s back with the team.

Next Tuesday is looking choice, ace.

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