For the first time in 569 days, Gerrit Cole will step onto his sanctuary Friday night: a major league mound.

It will be the same one he last pitched on, in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium, with Tommy John surgery coming four and a half months later and a long, painstaking, 14-month recovery process after that.

But the 35-year-old Cole will make his highly anticipated return Friday against the Rays, potentially giving the Yankees another front-line starter to add to an already strong rotation, a former AL Cy Young winner at that.

“I’ve missed it quite a bit,” Cole said Tuesday after throwing a bullpen session that was the final hurdle to get the OK for Friday.

“I’m confident, I’m optimistic, but I definitely know there’s some work in front of us. It’s just the right time to take the next step.”

It remains to be seen exactly what version of Cole the Yankees are getting back, but the right-hander checked every box during his rehab assignment, building up to 86 pitches in his last start Saturday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. His command has been sharper than many pitchers coming back from the same UCL surgery, and he hit 99 mph in his last start, providing further evidence that he need not waste any more bullets in the minor leagues.

“We just feel like he has done everything he needs to be ready to compete now at this level,” manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees’ 5-4 win over the Blue Jays later in the night.

The Yankees will still have some restrictions on Cole upon his return, but he and the team have followed the rehab process meticulously to this point, getting him back about a week earlier than initially expected — altering the initial plan to make one more rehab start. Cole stuck to a 14- to-18 month timeline for a return all along, and Friday will mark 14 months and just under two weeks since he went under the knife March 11, 2025.

“Just didn’t rush anything,” Cole said. “It’s funny, you almost take an extra day here early, an extra day here early, an extra week here early and you think, ‘Oh, this is never going to end,’ but then you end up showing up right on time. It’s funny how it works out that way, because it didn’t feel very quick, yet it’s been very efficient and optimal.”

Cole is coming back not only at the right time for him, but at the right time for the Yankees, just a week after Max Fried was diagnosed with a left elbow bone bruise that landed him on the injured list for the foreseeable future. At some point this summer, the Yankees still hope to pair Cole and Fried atop their rotation as a pair of pocket aces, along with an emerging young ace in Cam Schlittler.

But for now, Cole will be another reinforcement for a rotation that entered Tuesday with a 3.21 ERA, the fourth-lowest mark in the majors.

“We’re thrilled to get him back,” Boone said. “Obviously what he means on the day he pitches, but back in the mix. Those of you that know Gerrit know what the competition and what pitching and what being part of the guys on that active roster means to him.

“Will there be some bumps along the way or navigating getting back into that full level of competition at this level? Sure, but that’s part of it too. At the end of the day, I expect him to come in and pitch well for us.”

Cole is not exactly easing in, facing a division rival that owns the American League’s best record, swept the Yankees last month at Tropicana Field and presents challenges with its speed and ability to put the ball in play.

But across six rehab starts, Cole believes he has prepared himself as well as he could have for this. He accomplished what he wanted to in his rehab, from his pitch count to his stuff being sharp to managing stressful situations and fielding his position.

Now, at long last, the ultimate test awaits.

“I’m most looking forward to just competing at the highest stage,” he said. “Pretty high-stakes Friday night for May.

“Largely, I’m just looking forward to being really tired and having that exhaustion mean something. High stakes, you feel like it’s worth it, like it’s fulfilled. Obviously it’s a tremendously exciting environment too.”