NEW YORK — Yankees ace Gerrit Cole took another step in his recovery from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow by making 20 throws off flat ground on Monday. “It felt really good today,” Cole said before New York opened a three-game series against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium. “I was fairly accurate and I had a good time.”

Gerrit Cole took a significant step Monday in his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery. The 2023 Cy Young Award winner and six-time All-Star began his throwing program before the Yankees started a three-game series against the Twins with a 6-2 victory. It was 20 pitches off flat ground.