New York Yankees starting ace Gerrit Cole’s dominance on the mound has been a hallmark of his career. Popularly known for his aggressive fastballs, the pitcher has, over the years, turned into a match-winner for his current team, Bronx Bombers. Since making his MLB debut in 2013, Cole has established himself as one of the prime strikeout artists in the game.
This season, Gerrit Cole is off to a flying start. He went scoreless in the first seven starts before giving away the first homer in the eight starts. Meanwhile, the Yankees ace remains on the verge of achieving another significant milestone in his illustrious Major League Baseball career. With just 8 strikeouts separating him from this feat, Cole is poised to instill his name in the record books once again.
Gerrit Cole Poised To Achieve Another Milestone
New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole started against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. After five innings, Cole walked out, giving away five hits, two runs, and four strikeouts. While the outing was underwhelming as per the pitcher’s high standard, the Yankees secured a win over the start. Meanwhile, the ace is chasing a unique record to add to his lucrative career. The milestone that Cole is approaching is none other than the 2,000 career strikeouts mark. As of this writing, Gerrit has 1992 strikeouts in 1706.2 innings pitched.
Hence, Gerrit Cole has the opportunity to surpass Pedro Martinez to become the second-quickest pitcher to achieve the feat. Reaching the 2,000-strikeout mark is no small feat. It places Cole in exclusive company, as only a select group of pitchers in MLB history have achieved this milestone. Beyond the personal records, the ace’s strikeouts are a reflection of his value to the Yankees. As the team’s ace, he sets the tone for the pitching staff and provides stability in the rotation. His ability to accumulate strikeouts not only helps his own cause but also eases the burden on the bullpen and gives the team a chance to win each time he steps on the mound.
Fans Not Pleased As Cole Gives Away Ridiculous Number Of Home Runs
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole stepped on the mound to start for the team on Friday against the mighty Tampa Bay Rays. Eyeing the competition, the onus stayed on Cole to get the team through. However, the pitcher put up an average show. In five innings, he gave away two crucial home runs. Moreover, a stat was displayed during the live game, which angered the Yankee fans.
Cole had not given up a home run in the first 51 innings of the season. However, in the last 2.1 innings pitched, the ace has leaked four home runs. The disappointed fans took to Twitter to express the said emotion. The rare criticism also comes from the fact that Gerrit Cole has set a high standard for himself. Fans expect him to explode at every start. However, after all, the pitcher is also just like any other baseball player. He ought to have some bad days at the office, but eyeing his experience, Gerrit will move on from it in no time.