Since joining the New York Yankees for a whopping $342 million payroll in 2020, Gerrit Cole has gone on to become the team’s ace pitcher. He has established himself as the anchor of the team’s pitching staff, consistently delivering exceptional performances and showcasing his elite skills. His ability to dominate games and rack up strikeouts has made him a valuable asset for the Yankees and a pitcher feared by opponents.
This MLB season brought along its own set of challenges. Missing half of the rotation due to injuries, entire pitching responsibilities fell on the ace’s shoulder, who, unsurprisingly, did not disappoint. Each time Gerrit Cole has stepped on the mound, he has left a mark. Hence, owing to his incredible numbers, the pitcher has received the honor of featuring in the Midsummer Classic, scheduled for July 11 in Seattle.
Gerrit Cole Named All-Star For The Sixth Time In His Career
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole has been a dominant force on the mound this season. In 18 starts, he has clocked a 2.79 ERA with 1.140 WHIP and as many as 118 strikeouts. Not only that, his win percentage is the highest among the Bomber’s active roster. As a result, Cole was rewarded for his exceptional performance and was named an All-Star for the 2023 season on Sunday. This will be his sixth career All-Star representation and third with the Yankees. After Aaron Judge, the pitcher is going to be the only Yankee to qualify for the midsummer classic this year.
Our ace is headed back to the All-Star game! pic.twitter.com/pCs0YueAzW
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 2, 2023
While Gerrit Cole feels extremely honored and thrilled with the announcement, he is unsure about his chances of a start. Cole said there are many talented arms in the American League bullpen, and they deserve to start ahead of him for the game. Regardless, the pitcher did not fail to express his gratitude. He thanked all the people to voted for him and is extremely proud to be able to represent the Yankees at the center stage. Having said that, it remains to be seen if Gerrit travels to Seattle next week. The Bombers are in the midst of an underwhelming season, and they need Cole to be at his absolute best for the rest of the tournament. Hence, the ace could use this break to rest and come back with fresh energy.
Yankees Captain Aaron Judge To Skip All-Star This Year!
Before Gerrit Cole, outfielder Aaron Judge was the first Yankee to receive an All-Star call-up for this season. Despite missing more than a month of game time due to injury, the captain was voted as a starter. However, the toe injury he sustained on June 4 will keep him out of the contest. After nearly a month of the incident, Judge has just resumed playing catch. He has not stepped in the batter’s box or on the field.
The rumors have suggested that if Aaron Judge failed to return after the All-Star break, he could miss the rest of the season. Hence, for now, the All-Star game is seemingly out of the question. Having said that, the Yankees captain has expressed his delight in the honor and wishes to be a part of it. But the current circumstances won’t allow it, and hence, Judge will not board a flight to Settle.