Gerrit Cole is facing some heat online after a rough rehab start for the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades.
The New York Yankees starter is aiming to return to MLB this season after missing the entire 2025 campaign following Tommy John surgery. If his latest start was any indication, he’s certainly not ready.
Cole, a former Cy Young winner, gave up five earned runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Winston-Salem Dash. That includes a home run by top White Sox prospect Caleb Bonemer.
When Bonemer returned to the plate after his dinger, Cole made him pay for it. Cole hit Bonemer with an errant pitch, drawing outrage from fans on social media. We don’t know whether it was intentional, but it sure didn’t look good.
HIGH-A: White Sox prospect Caleb Bonemer hit a home run and a single off a sloppy-looking Gerrit Cole.
Next plate appearance, Cole plunks him first pitch with a 97mph heater.
Was it intentional?
Cole ultimately got slapped for 5 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings and took the loss. pic.twitter.com/0udbIzdZ7j
— Dan Clark (@DanClarkSports) May 6, 2026
Gerrit Cole needs some tissues 😥😥😥
— Baseball’s Top Prospects (@sidsgraphs) May 6, 2026
Gerrit Cole 🤝 Framber Valdez
charmin ultra soft https://t.co/XY1Ck3povs
— shaefer (@eudoxza) May 6, 2026
I get that it’s a part of the game but when you’re gerrit cole and you drill some kid trying to make it I think you should show some worry https://t.co/FGfzCHSJdN
— frog (@froggerton_) May 6, 2026
The six-time All-Star will likely return to the Yankees in late May or early June. Thankfully for Yankees fans, it can only go up from here for Cole.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Gerrit Cole ripped by fans after hitting White Sox prospect who homered off him in High-A