SAN DIEGO — Gerrit Cole faced hitters for the second time Saturday in Tampa, throwing two 15-pitch innings in a simulated game against minor leaguers at the club’s player development complex.

It came four days after he threw 20 pitches in his first live batting practice session since being shut down with elbow nerve inflammation and edema in March.

“We hit all our goals,” Cole told the Associated Press before the Yankees’ 4-1 win over the Padres in San Diego. “We did exactly what we wanted to do today. Threw a lot of strikes, so pretty good.”

The reigning AL Cy Young winner is expected to face hitters again in four or five days before potentially beginning a rehab assignment.

The Yankees may use most if not all of the 30-day rehab clock to build Cole up properly, though it’s possible he could return by the end of June, if not the beginning of July.