Gerrit Cole navigated a challenging start in his spring training debut on Friday night against the Toronto Blue Jays. However, it was his reaction to the homer of Toronto designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach that drew the attention.
The ace allowed a two-run home run and a triple before manager Aaron Boone opted to remove him with a 1-2 count and six batters faced. The Yankees ultimately secured an 8-4 victory.
However, due to the rules of spring training, Gerrit Cole did return to the mound in the second inning to complete his outing. He retired the opposition side in order and faced two additional hitters in the third inning. Overall, he surrendered two earned runs on four hits over two-plus innings, throwing a total of 39 pitches.
While Gerrit Cole allowed two earned runs in his spring training debut on Friday, reports suggested some tension arose after Blue Jays designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach launched a home run off the Yankees ace in the first inning. Details included Vogelbach’s bat flip and slow trot around the bases.
“What’s the day?” Gerrit Cole said. “Are we still in February? March 1st? Yeah, he enjoyed that homer.”
Asked if he would remember Vogelbach’s enjoyment, the Yankees ace replied: “I don’t forget a lot of things.”
Gerrit Cole: The standout ace
During the Yankees’ disappointing 2023 season, Gerrit Cole, aged 33, stood out as one of the few bright spots. Throughout 33 starts, the right-hander amassed a 15-4 record with a 2.63 ERA over 209 innings. His exceptional performance led to him clinching his first Cy Young Award.
Heading into this year, he leads a starting rotation that faces some uncertainties. Despite not completing the first inning on Friday, it was a promising start for him.
Gerrit Cole expressed satisfaction with being back on the field and noted that his performance felt solid.
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He’s too fat to run faster. 😂