“Doesn’t change anything for what I do” – Gerrit Cole on MLB’s new foreign substance policy


“Doesn’t change anything for what I do” – Gerrit Cole on MLB’s new foreign substance policy

Gerrit Cole

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole has insisted the new policy of the Major League Baseball (MLB) doesn’t change much for him as he is focused on playing his best game. The MLB has introduced a rule to step up its battle against the use of foreign substances by pitchers, yet the California native is unfazed and looking to help the Yankees win games.

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The umpires this season will focus more on checking pitchers’ hands, instead of just gloves and belts. Earlier, the New York team earned a 7-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday in which Cole allowed a pair of homers, struck out five and threw 50 pitches in two-plus innings.

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“Not much,’’ Cole said after the game, per The Ney York Post. “It’s just touching your hand now. It doesn’t change anything for what I do”.

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“If an issue, we’ll have to work through”

Josh Donaldson and Gerrit Cole
Josh Donaldson and Gerrit Cole

The American professional baseball star even commented on the Yankees’ signing of Josh Donaldson, who previously played for the Minnesota Twins. 

He added: “I just explained, obviously, ‘We’ve got a transaction that’s going to solve a lot of areas of need, but not sure where this other aspect sits. If it is an issue, it’s something we’ll have to work through.’ He’s like, ‘I’ll be fine.’ He was excited about the opportunity to upgrade in a lot of areas.”

On being asked if Yankees general manager Brian Cashman called Cole, who gave the team the green light to trade for Donaldson, he replied: “It’s not all that uncommon for [Cashman] to fill me in on stuff before it hits the wire. There’s probably a little extra reason why he reached out specifically [Sunday] night. Look, if you’re committed to winning a championship, this kind of stuff doesn’t matter.”

Also Read | New York Yankees’ Gerrit Cole, Josh Donaldson meet to clear the air over year’s sticky-stuff dispute

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