ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 31: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice before the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 31, 2021 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
We know, it’s only spring training. But Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole is having a tough time adjusting to the 2022 season.
In his spring debut, Cole threw 50 pitches for just 29 strikes, and gave up four hits, three earned runs, with a 5;1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. There was a lot to like, and there’s plenty to improve upon. That includes the two home runs given up by Cole towards the end of his outing.
Cole faced his former team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, on Sunday afternoon in what was expected to be an easy couple of innings to get things started for the Yankees ace. Instead, it was anything but.
Cole gave up two home runs — one to Deigo Castillo and another to Cole Tucker. Neither player is expected to make much of an impact on the 2022 Pirates team, with Tucker penciled in as the backup shortstop.
Gerrit Cole struggles, MLB Twitter comes prepared
While, yes, it’s only spring training, there are very few opportunities to troll a player as great as Cole. The minute he put pen to paper on his nine-year, $324 million contract last offseason with the Yankees, he became a target.
There were many more, as should be expected when a player as polarizing as Cole does anything. Whether it be positive, negative or anywhere in between, fans will have an opinion.
In the meantime, get this guy more spider tack.