With the home opener set for today, the New York Yankees are off to a great start this season.
At 6-1, the Bombers have flashed plenty of promise as they try to position themselves as best they can for when they welcome reigning AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole back to the staff.
Yankees Twitter finding out Gerrit Cole doesn’t need surgery on his elbow pic.twitter.com/2KexYxEbNw
— Rambo 🏹 (@chesportsguy) March 15, 2024
Speaking of pitching, Brian Cashman and the Yankees made a very interesting move as they acquired 29-year-old right-handed pitcher Jake Cousins from the Chicago White Sox for cash considerations.
wow didn't have jake cousins pinned as a ring chaser
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) March 31, 2024
What’s most interesting about the move isn’t necessarily what Cousins is expected to offer on the mound – but rather who Cousins’ cousin is. (See what I did there?)
Jake’s cousin is NFL star quarterback Kirk Cousins who is fresh off signing a four-year, $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons.
Jake Cousins is cousins with Kirk Cousins! #NotAJoke #RepBx https://t.co/DS4Tbt609f pic.twitter.com/dQGgfQXOKz
— RE2PECT2JETER (@RE2PECT2JETER) April 1, 2024
Reflecting on their family connection, Kirk previously congratulated Jake on social media back in June 2017 when Jake was drafted by the Washington Nationals.
Now, Jake joins the Yankees after a journey through several professional baseball organizations.
Congrats to my cousin, Jake, being drafted by the Washington Nationals today! There's room for another Cousins in DC! pic.twitter.com/2beUJY6Hog
— Kirk Cousins (@KirkCousins8) June 14, 2017
Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 195 pounds, Jake Cousins was initially drafted by the Nationals in the 20th round of the 2017 draft.
Despite not playing for the Nationals, he made his professional debut with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021.
As you might have guessed, Jake Cousins has a great slider pic.twitter.com/AZNrMq3dIZ
— Jonny's Lasagna ⚾️ (@JLasagna43) March 31, 2024
With 51 career appearances under his belt, Cousins boasts impressive stats, including 72 strikeouts in 52.2 innings pitched and a career ERA of 3.08.
The Yankees newest pitcher, Jake Cousins, is actually quarterback Kirk Cousins' cousin
h/t @RealMichaelKay pic.twitter.com/Votpzy68ca
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) April 2, 2024
Times are good for the Cousins family.
The Falcons, who have been searching for a franchise quarterback ever since the departure of Matt Ryan, hope that Kirk is the missing link.
Meanwhile, Jake saw immediate action for the Yankees when he took the mound on Wednesday (ironically the one and only loss of the season).
To think we made a 20 minute video breaking down Jake Cousins and he gives up a 300 mph laser first at bat.
Cash considerations has the upper hand in this trade, so far
— Gary Sheffield Jr. (@GarysheffieldJr) April 3, 2024
Cousins pitched two innings, allowed two hits, one run, one walk, but notably struck out four batters in the 7-0 loss. (Hey, wasn’t his fault, right?)
The homer is gonna be the headline but this is some impressive stuff from Jake Cousins.
Love how he was living in the zone as well. pic.twitter.com/Evh6XAH2GM
— . (@HalToHell) April 3, 2024
What are your thoughts on the Cousins deal?
More importantly, what do you think about the Yankees red-hot start to the season?
Are the Bombers legitimate World Series contenders? … Or is the fast start a bit of fool’s gold???
Jake Cousins on the Yankees https://t.co/0x2ym5i82M pic.twitter.com/CAjTkUWZtF
— Dillon, of House Atreides (@DillonCaraballo) March 31, 2024