"Are we still in February?" - Gerrit Cole hits out at Daniel Vogelbach's slow trot after Blue Jays slugger's homer against Yankees ace

Toronto Blue Jays' Daniel Vogelbach made a strong statement by slugging a two-run, 370-foot homer off the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, Gerrit Cole, during a Spring Training game against the New York Yankees, which gave them an early lead in the Grapefruit League game.

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However, it was not just the big home run that got people’s attention. Vogelbach’s slow walk around the bases seemed to bother Cole. The Yankees’ ace did not disguise his frustration with Vogelbach’s apparent mockery.

According to reports, Gerrit Cole commented as a response to Vogelbach’s trot, hinting at redemption the next time Vogelbach faces him at the plate during the regular season:

“Yeah, what’s the day? Are we still in February? March 1st? Yeah, he enjoyed that homer [...] I don’t forget a lot of things."

Daniel Vogelbach’s home run showcases willingness to make Opening Day roster

The subtle exchange between two players going through different moments in their baseball careers adds to the fierce competition that will be had in the ever-competitive AL East this season. It also sets the stage for possible brawls when the New York Yankees and Blue Jays play each other again during the regular season.

After signing a recent Minor League deal with the Blue Jays, Daniel Vogelbach showcased his skill and eagerness to contribute to the team’s first team by hitting a two-run homer off reigning American League Cy Young, and Yankees’ ace, Gerrit Cole.

Vogelbach, who just signed a minor league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, demonstrated his skills against one of the best pitchers in the league, showcasing his eagerness to make the first team and contribute.

However, the Yankees ace's competitive spirit threatens to make their future games a little more intense. As Spring Training continues, players’ interactions provide a glimpse of the potential rivalries that will make the upcoming MLB season exciting and dramatic for fans to witness.

About the author

Pablo Ricalde has been a baseball journalist at Sportskeeda since 2022. A Communication Studies graduate, he attended journalism courses and specialized in copywriting, further adding to his background as a writer.

After 4 years working in the advertising industry and 2 years in sports journalism, Pablo currently works at a Marketing Consulting firm on top of his role at Sportskeeda. He believed in sourcing information only from reliable sources, and refrains from including any opinionated content in his articles.

Pablo was introduced to baseball as a kid by his grandfather, who even coached him in Little League for a year. A massive Boston Red Sox supporter, he ended up becoming a fan in an attempt to be original (as his parents are Yankees fans). Pablo also supports the Diablos Rojos from the Mexican league, his hometown team.

His favorite players of all time are David Ortiz and Derek Jeter, while his current favorites include Fernando Tatis Jr., Ronald Acuna Jr., Alex Verdugo and Randy Arozarena. His favorite moment as a baseball fan was when the Boston Red Sox won the 2018 World Series Championship, as he was too young to remember 2004.

A huge sports fan in general, Pablo's non-baseball interests include football, basketball, American football, and motorsports (F1, IndyCar and Nascar), music and cinema.

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Edited by Pablo Ricalde