“He is underrated.”
New York Yankees Gerrit Cole (33) is the first pitcher to open the 300 million dollar era in 2019. He signed a 9-year, $324 million (approximately 427.6 billion won) super-large contract and wore a pinstripe uniform.
He’s clearly an ace talent, but the question mark has been whether he’s spent a $300 million career since his 2013 debut. However, as of 2018, Cole has become a completely different pitcher. Previously, he had not been able to maximize the pitch he had, but after moving to Houston, he awakened by changing the pitch design based on his fastball and large drop curve.
After striking out 276 in 32 games in 2018 with 15 wins and 5 losses in 32 games, he had a career high season with 20 wins and 5 losses in 33 games in 2019 (59 earned runs in 212 innings) with 326 strikeouts. sent. And he opened the door to a pitcher’s first $300 million.
But, once again, a turning point in his career came. From June 2021, the controversy over illegal pitching using foreign substances became a hot topic. In the minor leagues, players who were punished for illegal pitching began to appear, and it became a hot topic, and Cole appeared at the center.
Behind Cole’s awakening, whose grades have improved dramatically since 2018, suspicions have been raised that he used Spider-Tack (a sticky substance). Major League Baseball has also strengthened foreign substance inspections for pitchers. Cole also couldn’t properly answer the direct question about the controversy at the time, saying, “I don’t know how to answer.”
Could it be a coincidence? From this point on, Cole’s fastball rotation also decreased. From 2015 to 2017, when Statcast started measuring rpm, the average rpm was around 2100 rpm. However, it recorded 2379 rpm in 2018, 2530 rpm in 2019, and 2505 rpm in 2020. However, in 2021, it recorded an average of 2452 rpm, which fell slightly, and has maintained the 2400 rpm level since. It’s not obvious, but it was a significant drop.
Suspicions of foreign substances and a drop in rotational speed led to the inability to reproduce the limited-class performance in 2018-2019. In 2021, he won 16 games (8 losses) and struck out 243, his ability to strike out remained the same. However, his earned run average rose to 3.23 (65 earned runs in 181⅓ innings).
And in 2022, he recorded 13 wins (8 losses) and an average ERA of 3.50. It was the highest average ERA since 2017 (4.26). His 257 strikeouts led the major leagues in strikeouts overall, but his 33 home runs were also tied for the most in the American League.
Considering the ransom of 300 million dollars, he could see that Kohl’s efforts were needed. In the meantime, Cole’s skills were buried due to controversy and suspicion of foreign substances. After that, Max Scherzer (3 years, $130 million), Trevor Bauer (3 years, $130 million), Jacob deGrom (5 years, $185 million), Justin Verlander (2 years, $86.66 million), etc. Cole seemed to be a forgotten ace as super-high-dollar pitchers with $30 million and $40 million emerged.
However, Cole was quietly becoming the true ace and history of the Yankees. On the 17th (hereafter Korean time), he started in the game against the Minnesota Twins held at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, USA, and led the team to a 2-0 victory with 9 innings, 2 hits, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts, and a shutout.
On this day, Cole’s shutout and double-digit strikeouts were meaningful records. It was Cole’s fourth shutout in his career. In addition, with a total of 1962 strikeouts, he surpassed Hall of Fame pitcher Whitey Ford (1956) and ranked 97th in total strikeouts.
Also, while wearing a Yankees uniform, he achieved his 23rd double-digit strikeout game, tying with Ron Guidry’s Yankees team’s most double-digit strikeout game. Cole took the opportunity to break the record that Gidry had set while playing for the Yankees for 14 seasons, in just four seasons. A record that confirms Cole’s strength and power once again.
Everyone briefly forgot, but Cole was the first pitcher to be worth $300 million. Director Aaron Boone spoke for Cole and praised him. Director Boone said,메이저사이트 “I think he is underestimated and devalued this year as well.” He is responsible and diligent and takes care of his teammates.”
Cole’s record this season is 4 games, 4 wins, an average ERA of 0.95 (3 earned runs in 28⅓ innings), 32 strikeouts and 8 walks. Cole’s restoration of honor has begun.