BALTIMORE — Gerrit Cole jumped up a spot in the Yankees’ record books on Thursday night, as the right-hander surpassed Rogers Clemens on the franchise’s all-time strikeout list.
With eight punchies in the Yankees’ series-sweeping, 6-1 win over the Orioles, Cole has now totaled 1,015 over six seasons in pinstripes. That puts him in sole possession of 12th place on the club’s K counter after Clemens recorded 1,014 strikeouts over six seasons with the Yankees.
Next up is Al Downing, who had 1,028 strikeouts over nine seasons in the Bronx.
“That’s the GOAT,” Cole said of passing Clemens. “That’s a big-time name. A lot of people have been a part of it over the years, and so a lot of credit gets spread around.”
Gerrit Cole’s 1,015th strikeout with the @Yankees passes Roger Clemens for 12th in franchise history! pic.twitter.com/K23O3DKtah
— MLB (@MLB) August 21, 2026
Clemens has been among those to cross paths with Cole, as the two Cy Young winners — The Rocket has an untouchable 7-1 advantage there — have connected in Yankees camp the last few years. Clemens started getting involved in spring training as a guest instructor in 2025, and his gig as an NBC Sports analyst has also brought him around his old team.
“His confidence, his demeanor, and just his business-like approach,” Cole said when asked what he’s picked up from the 354-game winner. “He seems to be a very intense and focused guy going about his business in a certain way that sets a great example.”
Cole, who fanned Samuel Basallo in the sixth inning for his milestone strikeout, seemed focused himself on Thursday, as he also totaled four hits, one walk and 15 whiffs over six innings and 93 pitches. The only run he allowed came on a Dylan Beavers homer in the fifth frame.
The ace, now 16 starts removed from Tommy John surgery, was on the attack all night, throwing 22-of-23 first-pitch strikes. That 95.7% first-pitch strike rate marked a career-high, per MLB.com’s Sarah Langs. It is also the highest by a Yankees pitcher who faced a minimum of 20 batters in a game since at least 2000.
“It’s great to get ahead,” Cole said, “and I think sometimes we got ahead even outside of the strike zone, which means that we’re doing a good job of being unpredictable.”
