New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is supposed to be working his way back from Tommy John surgery, but his latest minor league outing has fans wondering if he's mentally ready to return to the big leagues. The 35-year-old pitcher, who hasn't thrown a major league pitch since the 2024 World Series, found himself in hot water Tuesday after a questionable beanball incident during a High-A start with the Hudson Valley Renegades.
Facing the Winston-Salem Dash, Cole gave up a home run to Caleb Bonemer on just his fifth pitch of the game. Bonemer later added a single off Cole in his second at-bat. But it was the third meeting that turned heads. In the top of the fifth inning, Cole drilled Bonemer with a 97-mph fastball on the very first pitch. While no fight broke out, the intent was clear to many—including former MLB pitcher Seth McClung.
“This is what being hit intentionally looks like. I have no context to what happened, I don’t need it. Honestly there’s no reason a big leaguer (rehab) needs to hit a minor leaguer,” McClung wrote on X, calling the move unacceptable.
Social media erupted with criticism, with many labeling Cole's actions as those of a “loser.” One user wrote, “Cole is and always has been a loser of a person. Good pitcher. Douche person. Bad teammate also. Clubhouse cancer.” Another mocked, “Garrett Cole bullying minor leaguer cause he hit a HR off him.” The backlash was swift and brutal, with some questioning the Yankees' investment in a pitcher who would stoop to such levels during a rehab assignment.
Even if the pitch was a wild throw rather than an intentional plunking, the optics are terrible for a player trying to prove he's ready to rejoin a team with playoff aspirations. Cole's road back to Yankee Stadium already seemed long after undergoing surgery in 2023. Now, with questions about his maturity and composure, that path looks even rockier.
The incident echoes other recent controversies in sports where emotions boiled over. Similar accusations of targeting have surfaced in the WNBA, as seen in the Wings' Smith accused of targeting Clark's knee controversy. And in the NBA, the league faced scrutiny over a double standard after Jaylen Brown's $50K fine.
Cole is now 14 months removed from surgery and has struggled to put away High-A hitters. At 35, the clock is ticking on his career. If he can't keep his cool against a 20-year-old in the minors, how will he handle the pressure of a pennant race? The Yankees and their fans are left wondering if the ace they paid $36 million a year has the mental game to match his physical talent.
For now, Cole's rehab assignment continues, but the stain of Tuesday's outing won't wash away easily. Whether it was a moment of frustration or a sign of deeper issues, the baseball world is watching closely.
