Cody Poteet wasn’t initially slated to start in the Yankees-Dodgers series. The 29-year-old, called up from Triple-A after Clarke Schmidt’s injury, faced a daunting task in his first start—taking on Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and the powerful Dodgers lineup.
On Friday night, under the bright lights of Yankee Stadium, Cody Poteet rose to the occasion. He held the Dodgers scoreless over 4.2 innings, keeping the Yankees competitive in the series opener. His final tally was 4.2 IP, 2H, 0R, 3BB, and 1K.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised starting pitcher Cody Poteet’s performance. He highlighted the pitcher’s aggressive approach and his success in navigating the first two innings. The manager credited Cody Poteet with putting the Yankees in a strong position to win but acknowledged the team’s inability to capitalize on the opportunity.
Despite Cody Poteet’s strong outing, allowing just two hits, the Yankees’ offense struggled against Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Dodgers’ bullpen, eventually losing 2-1 in extra innings.
Cody Poteet’s most ‘fun game ever pitched’
Reflecting on the experience, Cody Poteet described it as “probably the most fun game I’ve ever pitched,” expressing his gratitude for the opportunity. He emphasized the privilege of pitching at Yankee Stadium for the New York Yankees, especially against a formidable opponent like the Dodgers.
According to him, “Not many people get to say they pitched in Yankee Stadium for the New York Yankees, not to mention the other team that we’re facing too. Just an incredible experience”
Cody Poteet’s baseball journey has been anything but smooth. After debuting with the Marlins, he missed the entire 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery in 2022. Signing with the Yankees this offseason, Poteet didn’t make the Opening Day roster but was called up for two starts earlier this year, both resulting in wins. However, Friday marked his first appearance on the mound at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees pitcher attributed his performance to a solid game plan and the guidance of catcher Jose Trevino. He explained, “We knew what we wanted to do with each guy, and it was really clear from the get-go. I put a lot of trust in him. Didn’t shake much tonight. He just did a great job back there.”
With Clarke Schmidt sidelined for several weeks and Gerrit Cole still working his way back into the rotation, Cody Poteet might remain with the team for a few more starts. Although his future is uncertain, the UCLA product noted that this start against the Dodgers would serve as a confidence boost.
Expressing satisfaction with his performance, starting pitcher Cody Poteet described his outing as a positive step forward. He indicated that he would remember this experience and use it to build confidence in his ability to succeed against challenging batters.
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