New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole has been accused of using banned substances for ball-doctoring by fired Los Angeles Angels longtime employee Bubba Harkins.
Back in March last year, former Angels visiting clubhouse manager Bubba Harkins was fired over accusations of providing banned substances that could be used to doctor baseballs.
Since Harkins’ case, the MLB has launched a thorough investigation on the usage of any illegal substances in the league and from a lawsuit filed by him back in August has revealed a name- Gerrit Cole.
Bubba Harkins names Gerrit Cole amongst many MLB pitchers who have used illegal substances
According to a report from The Los Angeles Times, lawyers of the former Angels staff have claimed that Harkins has been made into a whipping boy by the players who have been involved in the use of illegal substances and the Yankees pitcher’s name has come up through a text message used as evidence.
“Hey Bubba, it’s Gerrit Cole, I was wondering if you could help me out with this sticky situation,” a message from Cole, which he sent to Harkins back in 2019 January, read.
“We don’t see you until May, but we have some road games in April that are in cold weather places. The stuff I had last year seizes up when it gets cold,” the message further read.
In addition to Cole, Harkins has named several other pitchers from his former team whom he alleges have used banned substances, such as Troy Percival, Brendan Donnelly, Tyler Chatwood, Kevin Jepsen and, most recently, Cam Bedrosian, Keynan Middleton, Yusmeiro Petit, Luke Bard, Matt Andriese, Dylan Peters, Jose Suarez and Dylan Bundy.
Moreover, Justin Verlander of Houston Astros, Max Scherzer of Washington Nationals, former Seattle Mariners veteran Félix Hernández, Corey Kluber and Adam Wainwright are some of the other pitches from the league whom Harkins claims have also been associated with the act.
A former Angels batboy since 1981, Harkins became a clubhouse attendant for the team in 1986.
As of now, the case with proceed further with a hearing scheduled on 21st January.
