CHICAGO — Even if Gerrit Cole wanted to make his starting pitching a target for haters, that won't be possible on Sunday.
Jameson Tyrone is such a good friend and such a good person to Cole that he can’t take that approach.
Instead, the Yankees ace will just be looking to enjoy the day Sunday when he faces Tyrone for the first time in his career in the series finale at Wrigley Field.
“He's my longest-time friend in baseball, probably the best friend I've ever had,” Cole, who celebrates his 34th birthday Sunday, said Saturday afternoon after the Yankees' 2-0 win. “It's impossible not to root for him. It never lessens my desire to root for him, so I'll probably try not to think about it, but I'll sneak in and watch his games. I'll definitely watch his games.”
“It was fun playing against Justin. [Verlander] And Charlie [Morton] There were other former teammates in the past. Jamo is a bit different. He was in the pirate city. [the Pirates minor league complex in Bradenton, Fla.] We want to kick it all off together, so we're just hoping for a good day.”
Taillon was a first-round draft pick by the Pirates in 2010 and Cole was a first-round draft pick by the same team in 2011. The two spent time together in the minor leagues and then shared a rotation in Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017 before Cole was traded to the Pirates.
They then reunited in the Bronx for 2021-2022 before Taillon became a free agent and signed a four-year, $68 million contract with the Cubs.
On his day off Thursday, Tyrone and Cole's wife, Amy, surprised him with an early birthday party and the two pitchers and their wives went boating in Chicago.
On Friday, Tyrone treated Cole to coffee at Wrigley Field.
“He's a really great friend,” Cole said. “I think he's seen 250 of my 300 major league games, so my expectations are probably as low as that.
“He has people in Pittsburgh who worship him, and people here too. [in the Yankees clubhouse] I adore him. He's obviously very well-liked over there. [in the Cubs clubhouse]I'm so proud of him. He overcame two Tommy John surgeries and testicular cancer to win the deciding game for us. [in 2022].
“The things that break a man didn't break him. Not only did he survive, he's a great pitcher and a 10-year major league veteran. He represented the Yankees with grace and class and is a great ambassador for the Chicago Cubs. I love him. I'm so proud of him.”
