The temptation is palpable — but this isn’t a sprint for Gerrit Cole

TAMPA — He can see it now. So close. Yet … 

Gerrit Cole tamps it down. He wants to pitch in major league games more than ever, fueled by how much he missed it last season — realized at a heightened level just how much every fiber of his being is consumed with the art. 

And here he was on a Friday pumping and spotting fastballs in his first live batting practice since Tommy John surgery and waking up Saturday feeling great. Oh, the joy of being a major league pitcher. But not quite. So far into the marathon. And miles to go. The food on the table, but you can’t eat. 

“It’s a little easier at this point, because, you know, you start to kind of get over the horizon, right?” Cole said a day after the bellwether of facing hitters. “You’re starting to see the sun come up on the other side. And the challenge is: Don’t sprint, right? Just keep doing what you’re doing. You’ve gotten here because of what you’ve done. You’re gonna get there by doing the same thing.”