Cole fans 5 in efficient spring debut: 'I'll take that any day'

TAMPA, Fla. -- Facing an opposing club for the first time since last year’s World Series, Gerrit Cole said it was “a surprise” to make a fourth trip to the mound in his spring debut on Friday -- but a welcome one, because it meant he’d been efficient.

Economy was on Cole’s side over 3 1/3 innings of one-run ball in the Yankees’ 6-3 Grapefruit League victory over the Blue Jays. He struck out five in a 46-pitch effort, including whiffing the final batter he faced.

“That’s the name of the game,” said Cole, who scattered three hits and walked none. “I’ll take that any day.”

It has been nearly a full calendar year since Cole’s spring was interrupted by a bout of right elbow inflammation, which delayed his season debut until June. He said outings like Friday’s have him feeling “way different” than he did then.

“This is my fifth time facing hitters, and I was pleasantly surprised at the command,” Cole said. “We did a good job maintaining the velocity that we were looking for, not going too high, and did a good job executing most of the pitches.”

Cole, who started the first and final games of the Fall Classic against the Dodgers, spent the first weeks of camp facing teammates under live batting practice settings. He was clocked as high as 95.6 mph on Friday, sitting 94.8 mph with his two-seamer.

“That’s a great sign, when you come out and you flip the first pitch and it’s 96 [mph],” Cole said. “It’s a good place to be. It allowed me to settle in.”

Cole said he has been making a spring project out of his changeup, an offering he tossed 15 times on Friday to register 11 strikes and three swings and misses.

“It’s a long road to mastery for me of that pitch,” Cole said. “It’s been fun to tinker with it and get comfortable with a grip. Now it’s about the consistency and how I maintain the arm speed and location. I thought it had both of those qualities tonight, so it’s encouraging.”

Said catcher Austin Wells: “The more he throws it, the better it’s going to be. And either way, we’re going to throw it.”

A Belli blast
Cody Bellinger hit the first of what the Yankees hope will be many home runs in their uniform on Friday, connecting for a first-inning drive to right field off Toronto’s Jake Bloss.

“I’m just enjoying it, trying to do my part and get ready,” Bellinger said. “I’m feeling good, and sticking with my process and my plan to get ready for Opening Day.”

Boone said Bellinger seems “very at ease here” and has been “stacking good days of work.”

Though Bellinger is looking ahead to the Yanks’ March 27 opener in the Bronx, he said putting on the pinstripes in Spring Training has been a special experience.

“It’s a great organization with a lot of history,” Bellinger said. “Early on in camp, you’re hanging out in the dugout with a bunch of guys that have had unbelievable careers. … I just want to do this for the season and into the postseason. That’s my goal.”

Top of the order
Wells said he can’t remember ever taking a turn in the leadoff spot -- not in Little League, not at Bishop Gorman (Nev.) High School, and certainly not as a collegiate or professional player.

But the Yankees catcher got a look there on Friday, and Boone said he could envision a scenario where Wells hits there during the regular season. Wells didn’t do anything to douse the idea, launching a leadoff homer that Boone said was “scalded.”

“It was fun,” Wells said. “Maybe [there is] just a little less time to get on deck, but it doesn’t matter to me where I’m at, as long as I’m in the lineup.”

Boone pointed to Wells’ on-base percentage against right-handed pitching (.327 last year) as a reason he might hit leadoff at times this year.

“I think he is one of those guys that is going to get on,” Boone said. “In the event I do versus right and versus left leadoff hitters, which is very possible, I could see Wells fitting into that mix. Certainly, I’ve been doing it with Jazz [Chisholm Jr.] and trying to give him some runway there. This is something I could see [with Wells].”

Donation announced
The Yankees held an on-field ceremony Friday to present a $5 million check to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa, Fla., on behalf of the Steinbrenner family.

The donation is to expand the space and enhance the services of the hospital’s emergency department as part of a new dedicated children’s facility anticipated for 2030, to be named the Pagidipati Children’s Hospital at St. Joseph’s.

The Steinbrenner family has supported St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital for decades, dating to George M. Steinbrenner’s initial 1991 donation that helped fund the Steinbrenner Children’s Emergency and Trauma Center.