Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, sidelined since undergoing Tommy John surgery last year, will make his season debut Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

New York had been weighing whether to have Cole make a seventh and final rehab start as planned or end the rehab assignment slightly early to start Friday. The club, in concert with the training staff and Cole, decided he was ready after a strong outing Saturday checked the remaining boxes for activation.

"It's just a blessing to play the game and you get a better sense of that once you're removed from it," Cole said. "Just getting back into that environment, and not taking that for granted, it's exciting for sure."