This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch's Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here . And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

The text message blinked onto cell phones belonging to Clarke Schmidt and Will Warren ahead of the Yankees’ recent series at Coors Field, dispatches tapped from a different time zone. Even from miles away, Gerrit Cole finds a way to remain connected to his pitching staff.

“A couple tips from an old guy,” Cole’s note began, diving headfirst into advice concerning the mile-high altitude, then hammering this point: “If you execute and get to good spots, you’re going to have success.”

Cole’s next pitch in the big leagues may not be thrown until next June, but that isn’t stopping him from teaching, mentoring and leading.

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