Ace starting pitcher Gerrit Cole joined New York Yankees in 2019 in a ground breaking contract $324 million for nine-years. He left Houston Astros to take a leap of faith with the storied franchise in MLB. While the World Series dream is yet to come true, Cole did establish himself as one of the best pitchers.
He won the AL CY Young Pitching Award for the first time in his career last season and is set to pitch in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Kansas City Royals. Meanwhile, in an interesting back story, former Yankees great CC Sabathia revealed how he used a personal touch to lure Gerrit Cole to the Bronx during free agency.
CC Sabathia’s Connection Helped Yankees Land Gerrit Cole
CC Sabathia’s relationship with Gerrit Cole started long before Cole became the New York Yankees’ ace following Sabathia’s retirement in 2019. Their connection began back in 2008, when a young Cole, then a star at Orange Lutheran High School, met Sabathia in Newport Beach, California. The two discussed Cole’s future, and Sabathia, then with the Cleveland Indians, was struck by Cole’s maturity and passion for the game, predicting great things for the young pitcher. The Yanks drafted Cole later that year. But he chose to attend UCLA instead. Despite this, Cole and Sabathia maintained contact throughout the starting pitcher’s rise in the majors, including his time with the Pirates and Astros.
In 2019, they met again during the All-Star Game, where Sabathia shared his experiences about pitching in New York, emphasizing the unique pressure and joy of winning in the Bronx. Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole, a lifelong Yankees fan, didn’t need much convincing. Sabathia’s stories about the significance of winning in New York only reaffirmed Cole’s desire to play for the team. In December 2019, Cole signed a massive nine-year, $324 million contract with the Bronx Bombers. Though he hasn’t yet won a World Series with the team, Cole remains determined to chase that elusive championship, drawing inspiration from Sabathia’s words about the legacy of winning in pinstripes. With the American League Division Series in sight, the reigning AL CY Young pitcher is more committed than ever to give his best on the mound and ensure the Yanks get their hand on the prized World Series ring.
Bullish Aaron Judge Ready To Make An Impact In October
Aaron Judge’s postseason struggles have contrasted sharply with his regular-season dominance. His last standout playoff performance came in 2018 when he posted a 1.194 OPS against the Red Sox, even though the Yankees were eliminated. Despite this, hitting coach James Rowson is optimistic about Judge’s current form.
Rowson believes that Judge’s impressive consistency this season positions him for a breakout in October. As the New York Yankees face the Royals in the ALDS, Aaron Judge has a chance to reclaim his postseason form. He’ll need to overcome tough matchups against pitchers like Michael Wacha, who has been particularly effective against him in the past.
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