GERRIT COLE | RIGHT HANDED PITCHER |
 | Born: September 8, 1990 Height: 6′ 4″ Weight: 220 Bats: Right Throws: Right Drafted: 1st Round, 1st Overall, 2011 How Acquired: Draft College: UCLA Agent: Scott Boras |
WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES |
| Cole and Matt Purke went into the 2011 season as the most highly, draft-eligible regarded pitchers, although most observers ranked them both behind Anthony Rendon. Purke’s stuff dropped off significantly, leaving Rendon and Cole as the presumptive top talents for much of the season, but both had disappointing years. In the end, the Pirates decided to take Cole over Rendon and Virginia lefty Danny Hultzen. Cole was also drafted in the first round by the Yankees in 2008, but preferred to attend UCLA.Cole by all accounts had the best stuff of any available pitcher. He throws a low-90s two-seam and mid-90s four-seam fastball. The latter reaches the upper-90s and late in the season was reaching triple digits on occasion, even in the late innings. He has two other pitches, an upper-80s slider and a change, that are both regarded as plus pitches. He has a strong frame and a delivery that scouts regard as clean, according to Baseball America. Cole generally throws strikes, but weak command within the strike zone led to him getting hit hard in some games during the 2011 season. He finished with the highest ERA of any of UCLA’s regular pitchers and his peripheral numbers for the most part were also below the team average. This was not a new development: he also had the highest ERA among the team’s regular pitchers in 2010. Pirates GM Neal Huntington, however, likes big pitchers with power arms. The Pirates’ selection of Cole is a significant gamble. His command is obviously more of a work in progress than would normally be expected from a pitcher from a major college taken first overall, and he may not reach the majors as quickly as would generally be expected. The fact that he’s represented by Scott Boras added to the gamble, but he signed as expected at the last moment . . . or at least MLB delayed the announcement until midnight on August 15. In a very large surprise, Cole signed a minor league contract, although the bonus was a team record $8M. Cole did not sign early enough to pitch in 2011, but he’ll open 2012 at Bradenton. The Pirates no doubt will be hoping for him to earn a quick promotion to Altoona. |
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CONTRACT INFORMATION |
| 2012: Minor league contract. |
PLAYER INFORMATION |
| Signing Bonus: $8,000,000 MiLB Debut: MLB Debut: MiLB FA Eligible: 2017 MLB FA Eligible: Rule 5 Eligible: 2014 Added to 40-Man: Options Remaining: 3 MLB Service Time: 0.000 |
TRANSACTIONS |
| June 5, 2011: Drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1st round, 28th overall pick. June 6, 2011: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1st round, 1st overall pick; signed on August 15. |
