Gerrit Cole blazes his way to 2,000 strikeouts, 3rd-fastest in MLB

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole achieved a remarkable feat on Tuesday while facing the Baltimore Orioles. Despite enduring a challenging evening that proved to be a struggle, Yankees’ star Gerrit Cole achieved a significant personal pitching milestone.

In the second inning of the game against the Baltimore Orioles, Gerrit Cole achieved a notable feat by notching his 2,000th career strikeout. This accomplishment places him as the third-fastest pitcher, in terms of games played, to reach this significant milestone. It took Gerrit Cole a total of 1714.2 innings to achieve this remarkable feat.

His memorable moment occurred during a 2-2 count against Orioles shortstop Jorge Mateo when Gerrit Cole unleashed a powerful 96.6 mph fastball.

Name	Innings	Year	Team
Chris Sale	1626	2019	Boston Red Sox
Pedro Martine	1711.1	2002	Boston Red Sox
Gerrit Cole	1714.2	2023	New York Yankees
Randy Johnson	1733.1	1997	Seattle Mariners
Max Scherzer	1784	2017	Washington Nationals

Gerrit Cole has accomplished the feat in 278 games, placing him behind only Randy Johnson, who had achieved it in 262 games, and Clayton Kershaw, who had done so in 277 games. It was also noted that Gerrit Cole became the third fastest to reach the mark in innings pitched, surpassing Chris Sale, who got it in 1,626 innings and Pedro Martinez’s 1,711⅓ innings.

Gerrit Cole’s new record

In the game against the Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees right-hander reached a significant milestone in his career. During the second inning, Gerrit Cole recorded his 2,000th career strikeout by striking out Jorge Mateo to end the inning. This achievement places the Yankees ace as the 87th pitcher in MLB history to reach the 2,000-strikeout mark. He also joins an exclusive group of active pitchers who have achieved this feat, numbering only eight players.

Gerrit Cole's 2,000th career strikeout! pic.twitter.com/PAqN0XZJuD

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 23, 2023

Despite surrendering 5 runs on 6 hits to Baltimore, Gerrit Cole’s time on the mound concluded after allowing consecutive singles at the beginning of the sixth inning. Ron Marinaccio replaced him but was unable to prevent Terrin Vavra from giving the Orioles a 5-4 lead with a bases-loaded groundout. Thanks to a solid performance from Baltimore’s bullpen, they maintained their advantage. However, Aaron Judge’s late-game heroics saved Gerrit Cole from his first loss in 11 starts this season.

With one out in the ninth inning, Aaron Judge showcased his power by launching an 0-2 splitter from Félix Bautista into the left-field stands. This remarkable home run marked Judge’s 14th of the season and his eighth in the past nine games. Subsequently, the Yankees managed to score the decisive run in the 10th inning, securing a hard-fought 6-5 victory.

Gerrit Cole’s unique achievement

In joining the exclusive club of pitchers with 2,000 career strikeouts, Gerrit Cole is the seventh pitcher to accomplish this feat while donning the iconic pinstripes of the Yankees. Among the current active pitchers in MLB, Cole holds the seventh position in terms of career strikeouts, with Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, Adam Wainwright, and Chris Sale ahead of him in that regard.

Gerrit Cole’s ascent to 2,000 career strikeouts was accomplished at an impressive pace, surpassed only by two pitchers in Major League Baseball history. Notably, both of these accomplished hurlers represented the rival Boston Red Sox. Left-handed pitcher Chris Sale and the legendary right-hander Pedro Martinez, a distinguished member of the Baseball Hall of Fame and a three-time Cy Young Award winner, reached the 2,000 strikeout milestone quicker than Cole.

It is highly probable that Gerrit Cole will surpass Madison Bumgarner on the list of active pitchers with the most strikeouts before the conclusion of the 2023 season. Bumgarner, who has accumulated 2,070 career strikeouts, is presently without a team after being released by the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this month.

Gerrit Cole described the milestone as a significant achievement and acknowledged feeling somewhat down about the game until Aaron Judge’s performance turned things around. He emphasized that his excitement stemmed more from the team’s collective effort and performance rather than his individual accomplishment.

The Yankees ace has been performing at an elite level this season, establishing himself as one of the premier pitchers in the game. He currently leads all pitchers in bWAR and has maintained an impressive 2.01 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. With 70 strikeouts across 67⅔ innings pitched, his dominance on the mound is evident.

Entering the fourth year of his massive nine-year, $324 million contract, Gerrit Cole continues to live up to the high expectations. Prior to the start of the 2023 season, he was considered one of the frontrunners by major sportsbooks to win the prestigious American League Cy Young Award, recognizing the top pitcher in the league. His outstanding performance this season has only solidified his candidacy and further elevated his standing among the best pitchers in the game.

With a career ERA of 3.19, Cole has consistently demonstrated his prowess as a pitcher throughout his time in the league. He boasts an impressive track record, with five top-five finishes in the Cy Young Award voting, showcasing his excellence among the elite pitchers in the game.

The five-time All-Star has a deal to remain with the Yankees until 2028, ensuring that he will don the iconic pinstripes for a nine-year tenure. The contract, valued at $324 million, solidifies his status as a key figure in the Yankees’ long-term plans.

Despite giving up five runs in a five-inning outing against Baltimore, Gerrit Cole boasts an impressive 2.53 ERA across 11 starts this season. He has showcased his dominance on the mound by tallying 70 strikeouts over 67 2/3 innings pitched. While the 32-year-old ace has yet to claim the coveted award, he came close to securing it as the runner-up in both 2019 and 2021.

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