Judge’s enthusiasm for Cole was tempered by two key reminders. The Yankees have no idea how the ace will feel in the next 24-48 hours. While the club has taken every precaution with his elbow, the true test of Cole’s stamina will inevitably reveal itself after a night’s sleep.

Yankees' ace Gerrit Cole pitched against live batters for the first time since his Tommy John injury at spring training.

Gerrit Cole raised both hands over his head, going into a full windup as he rocked and fired from a George M. Steinbrenner Field bullpen mound during Spring Training on Friday afternoon. The resulting motion was classic and deliberate,

Despite the possibility they could boast the best starting staff in the division by the All-Star break, the Yankees rotation will have a different composition on Opening Day. They will have to lean on their less-heralded arms to weather the early-season absences of Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón as the pair rehab from their respective elbow surgeries.

So what the Yankees get (and when) from Gerrit Cole is an instrumental part of their success/failure formula and part of an overall gone-but-not-forgotten portion of the program that will affect