The coronavirus pandemic is far from over, which has all the baseball industry fearing that there may not be a season at all in 2020. However, there is some optimism that games could be played within the next couple of months, at some point. For now, the New York Yankees and the rest of the league are on an extended break.
Yet, some Yankees’ players are still working out and staying in shape. Such is the case of pitchers Gerrit Cole and Adam Ottavino, who are, according to the New York Post, seemingly keeping each other company during the hiatus.
Cole, of course, was signed this offseason to a record-shattering, 9-year deal worth $324 million. Ottavino already has a season’s worth of innings in the Bronx.
Cole told the Post that he has been working out his arm with the help of Ottavino, manager Aaron Boone and catcher Radley Haddad. The reliever posted a series of pictures over the weekend of Cole throwing a bullpen session in one of the two’s backyard.
Yankees’ backyard baseball
The post had the words “Backyard baseball,” written by the 34-year-old reliever as a caption. According to Cole, has has been “hunkered down†with his pregnant wife, Amy, in their new Connecticut residence. That’s not far from Ottavino and his family live.
“Staying on my regimented workout routine here at my residence,†Cole said. “Being able to stay in that routine has been beneficial. Trying to keep the pilot light on like other players and being as ready as we can be when we are called back to being able to play.”
Ottavino said that while the “backyard baseball” thing isn’t the same as regular-season work, it has helped him stay in shape and avoid losing all the progress he made in spring training. Hey, there’s not much more he can do given the circumstances!
The season won’t start this month and May isn’t a realistic option either, so “backyard baseball” may be all that this pair have for now.