New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole was removed early from his start on Monday after showing signs of discomfort in his leg. However, the former Cy Young winner reassured fans after the game that there was no serious issue.
Cole was scheduled to pitch the seventh inning in the Yankees’ game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Despite his team leading 7-1, Cole was taken out of the game after he appeared to be in pain. Although he attempted to continue, he ultimately requested to be removed. The Yankees managed to secure an 8-4 victory without him.
The team later clarified that Cole’s issue was merely a calf cramp. Cole addressed the situation with reporters, downplaying the injury: “I wasn’t overly worried. I didn’t think it was the right time to try to work through it. I had a similar issue last year against the Dodgers but managed it for a few innings before it became too much. I jogged out there and didn’t feel it, and I don’t feel it walking or moving around—just on my follow-through.”
With the injury being confirmed as cramps, Yankees fans couldn’t resist making jokes, especially recalling the time Cole had famously eaten an entire banana between innings in 2022. Some speculated he might have missed this ritual against the Rangers.
In a separate game, a Tampa Bay Rays fan was struck in the head by a home run ball during the Rays’ matchup with the Minnesota Twins. With two outs and two runners on base in the top of the 2nd inning, Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach hit a three-run homer off Rays pitcher Zack Littell, giving the Twins a 4-2 lead. The ball, traveling at an exit velocity of 112.5 mph, hit the fan directly in the face as it fell into the front row at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Twins reporter Do-Hyoung Park later confirmed that the fan was “all right.” Larnach even went out of his way to meet the fan and his children, presenting them with a signed bat and the home run ball. Larnach’s homer proved decisive, as the Twins held on for a 5-4 win over the Rays.
