New York Yankees ace right-hander Gerrit Cole will start playing catch this week as he continues to rehab his ailing right elbow.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Sunday that Cole could begin throwing Monday or Tuesday.

The team placed Cole on the 60-day injured list prior to Opening Day due to nerve inflammation in the elbow. Cole would be eligible to return May 27.

There was no UCL damage found and Cole's best-case scenario is a return in early June.

A six-time All-Star, Cole was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2011 draft and is the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner.

Cole, 33, was 15-4 in 2023 with 222 strikeouts and a 2.63 ERA in 209 innings (33 starts) for New York. He led AL pitchers in win-loss percentage, ERA, games started, shutouts (two) and innings pitched.

Field Level Media contributed to this story.