"It's a dream come true" - Gerrit Cole raves about being able to play the World Series near his hometown
Gerrit Cole and the New York Yankees sit four wins away from the team's first World Series title since 2009. It has been a long grind of a season, however, now only the LA Dodgers sit between the Yankees and adding a 28th championship for the franchise.
For Gerrit Cole, the fact that the World Series will be between Los Angeles and New York is extra special thanks to the fact that he was born and raised in California.
The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner was born in Newport Beach, California before going on to attend Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California, which sits only 33 miles away from Dodger Stadium. With the Los Angeles Dodgers holding home field advantage, Cole could have the opportunity to be a part of four World Series games in California.
"It's a dream come true, it's really wild experience to be honest. Probably hasn't sunk in all the way," Cole said of being able to play the World Series so close to his hometown.
It will not only be a special occasion for Gerrit Cole, as a number of New York Yankees hail from California. Aaron Judge (Linden), DJ LeMahieu (Visalia), and Giancarlo Stanton (Panorama City) are some of the other Yankees stars who will enjoy a bit of a homecoming when the make their way to Dodger Stadium.
Cole even acknowledged that California is one of the best places to discover talented baseball players.
"Southern California is a hotbed for talent... For the most part, it's a collection of great talent, which I think it's real easy sometimes to see the cream that rises to the crop and sometimes and that's why you see a lot of great players come out of this area," Cole said of the California baseball.
Gerrit Cole and fellow California native Jack Flaherty will start Game 1 of the World Series
If there was ever any additional evidence needed to prove the quality of players that come out of California, look no further than Game 1 of the 2024 World Series. Unsurprisingly Gerrit Cole will take the ball for the New York Yankees, however, it will be Jack Flaherty toeing the slab for the LA Dodgers.
Jack Flaherty, who was acquired from the Detroit Tigers before this summer's trade deadline, was born even closer to Dodger Stadium than Cole. Flaherty was born in Burbank, California, which is roughly only 10 miles away from the stadium. It really will be a special moment for both aces when the World Series begins on Friday.