The last time Gerrit Cole had stepped atop a major league mound, he put the finishing touches on a masterpiece of a season for him personally and a disaster of a season otherwise. Back on Sept. Seth Curry Jersey 27, Cole twirled a two-hitter, shutting out the Blue Jays over nine innings, in a campaign that would end four days later. The Yankees were in the gutter and far removed from a playoff spot, so all Cole was pitching for was an elusive Cy Young Award, . Gerrit Cole made his 2024 season debut against the Orioles. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST A lot changed in the 266 days between starts, among them Coles warmup song. In , the ace chose a melodic tune from Rfs Du Sol with an appropriate refrain: Theres no place Id rather be. After mi sing nearly the first 12 weeks of the season with , Cole finally was back where he belonged. Explore More The star right-hander made a succe sful 2024 debut Wednesday when Cole mostly looked like Cole. In four-plus innings against the Orioles in The Bronx, Cole was charged with two runs on three hits, a walk while striking out five in the at the Stadium. Cole started the season on the IL with an elbow i sue. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST He was hit hard in the first inning when a Gunnar Henderson smash glanced off Gleyber Torres glove and went for a double, and Henderson came around to score on a Ryan OHearn double but he got stronger as the night wore on. Five of his six outs in the third and fourth innings came via strikeouts. But Cole, who made just three minor league rehab starts, is still building up. Cole struck out five in his return to the big league mound. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST He took the mound for the fifth inning but was allowed just one pitch, a Cedric Mullins single to left field. He walked off after 62 pitches to loud cheers, but silence soon followed: Ron Marinaccio entered and allowed a two-run home run to Ramn Uras that put the Yankees in a 3-1 hole. Michael Carter-Williams Jersey