BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – The beginning of Gerrit Cole’s second rehab start? So-so. The end? Much better.

Wearing his familiar No. 45 and not-so-standard high socks in a Marvel-themed Double-A Somerset Patriots uniform, Cole made his second rehab outing on Sunday. In front of a standing-room only crowd in central New Jersey, the Yankees’ ace continued to work his way back from a right elbow ailment that has sidelined him from the 2024 season thus far.

The final numbers were strong: 4 2/3 innings, two hits, one run, four strikeouts and zero walks over 57 pitches (44 strikes) in Somerset's 4-2 win against the Hartford Yard Goats.

Cole’s velocity had a noticeable uptick as the start progressed. In the first inning, readings on TD Bank Ballpark’s scoreboard (unofficial) mostly were in the high-80’s and low 90’s. The blemish came on a first-inning homer, when No. 12 Rockies prospect Ryan Ritter roped Cole’s 91 mph fastball just inside the foul pole down the left-field line. But Cole got stronger. He ended up reaching 96 mph in his final inning and had five readings of 95 mph prior to that heater.

“I’d say that’s about right,” Cole said of the velocity posted throughout the start.

The 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner struck out the last two batters he faced before exiting to a standing ovation. He has a 1.13 ERA through two rehab starts (one earned run in eight innings).

“I definitely did get stronger as the game went on,” Cole said. “I thought the pitch count landed in a great spot. I thought fastball was not very good early. Missing in bad places, and that definitely progressed to where we executed the last seven or eight of them.”

With their 45-21 record, the Yankees have been the AL’s best team through the first two-plus months of the season even without the six-time All-Star. How much longer will they be without their ace? Cole said it’s fair to say that he will make at least one more rehab start, though he’s uncertain if it will be once again at Double-A or if he’ll move up to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

From there, it seems reasonable that his following outing could be in pinstripes if all goes well.

“I want to feel confident that if I’m in some sort of a jam, and I have to go 25-30 pitches [in an inning], that we’re still in a good spot to keep going after that,” Cole said. “I think with the way everything’s been going up there, the team’s playing so well, I want to feel like I’m in a good position to play well. Certainly, I’m always up for a challenge, but it’s a group decision in that regard. We just take all the information that we have and try to see when the best time to pull the trigger is on that.”

Cole said he feels healthy and is working up stamina, rather than adjusting to an altered way of pitching due to any sort of lingering discomfort. Overall, he was pleased with the outing, commenting that he had “checked a lot of boxes.”

“I felt pretty good,” he said. “A day like today, I wish I was able to crisp up the location earlier. Really, that was about it.”

After the game, the right-hander had the opportunity to meet Yankees legend Sparky Lyle, the 1977 AL Cy Young winner and longtime manager of the Patriots (currently manager emeritus). From there, he was presumably off to enjoy a delicious postgame spread, honoring the long-time tradition of established Major Leaguers treating the Minor Leaguers to expansive -- and expensive -- cuisine.

“Yeah, they’re going to get some good food,” Cole quipped.

The only question is just how much longer Cole will be treating his new teammates versus how quickly he’s headed to the Bronx.

Sunday was a step in the right direction.