Yankees ace Gerrit Cole's latest rehab start took a dramatic—and controversial—turn when a fastball rode inside and plunked the very hitter who had taken him deep earlier in the game. The incident didn't go unnoticed, and former MLB pitcher Seth McClung was quick to call out the reigning Cy Young winner on social media.

"This is what being hit intentionally looks like. I have no context to what happened, I don't need it," McClung posted on X/Twitter. "Honestly there's no reason a big leaguer (rehab) needs to hit a minor leaguer."

At that point in the game, Cole had surrendered just one run—a solo home run by Caleb Bonemer, the same batter he later drilled. Whether the hit-by-pitch was intentional or not remains uninvestigated, but McClung, a former pitcher with over 1,250 innings of professional experience, wasn't convinced it was accidental.

Cole has been working his way back from Tommy John surgery, and his four rehab starts have been a mixed bag. He's allowed 13 runs (12 earned) over 18⅔ innings, good for a 5.79 ERA with 14 strikeouts. While his 1.02 WHIP suggests he's limiting baserunners effectively—allowing just 19 total (18 hits and one walk)—home runs have been his Achilles' heel. He's already given up six long balls during his rehab stint.

For Yankees fans, the hope is that Cole can regain the form that made him the franchise's unquestioned ace after signing a record-breaking nine-year, $324 million deal ahead of the 2020 season. His 2023 campaign was nothing short of spectacular, earning him the AL Cy Young Award and cementing his place among the game's elite arms.

But the road back hasn't been smooth. Cole's 2024 season was cut short after just 17 starts due to nerve inflammation and edema in his throwing elbow. The following spring, he felt something during a routine outing, leading to the Tommy John procedure that sidelined him for the 2025 season opener.

As Cole continues his rehab and works to refine his command, moments like this will inevitably spark debate. In a game where unwritten rules often collide with competitive fire, one thing is clear: all eyes will be on his next start.