New York Yankees had an embarrassing exit from the 2021 season, after being knocked out by Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card game. One of the biggest setbacks for the team was Gerrit Cole failing. Interestingly, a recently surfaced rumor might have revealed the reason for his shortfalls.

Gerrit Cole was the team’s highest-paid player, and the expectations were sky-high from him. However, his head may not have been in the right place due to troubles within the team.  

Brett Gardner’s prank on Gerrit Cole 

In the 2021 season, the New York Yankees were one of the favorite teams to reach the post-season. With players having payrolls above $200 million, the team was expected to shine but had a disappointing outing. 

A shocking incident has been revealed that took place in the Yankees clubhouse. Reportedly, a dramatic moment took place between Yankees’ highest-paid player Gerrit Cole and their longest-tenured player Brett Gardner.

Gerrit Cole had faced a lot of trolls this year because of the usage of foreign substances like spider tack. After being trolled by baseball fans, and even Yankees fans, his own teammate making fun of the situation seemed to push him over the edge.

Gardner paraded around the clubhouse with pine tar on his hat. While he expected Cole to laugh, the Yankees star did not appreciate his prank; as he asked Gardner to knock it off. 

After his aggressive reaction, Cole apologized to Gardner later on. Although, his reaction showcases how much he was affected by the entire situation around the use of foreign substances. 

It wouldn’t be fair to put the blame on the prank incident, as things weren’t great for Yankees since the start. But, if Cole wasn’t happy with the prank, it might just have created some differences in the locker-room which can be disruptive to team spirit. 

Also read: “F*** No, God No” – New York Yankees Fans Rebel as Coach Aaron Boone Extends Contract