What Nationality Is Gerrit Cole?

By Steven - Updated On: June 7, 2022

Cole had a rough year in 2011, going 6-8 with a 3.31 era. He made it to the seventh inning in two perfect games.

During his first 114 1/3 innings, his control was substantially better; he only had 24 walks. Because of this, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him first overall above pitchers Danny Hultzen and Taylor Jungmann, both of whom had superior college stats, but neither of whom would have had even a tenth of Cole’s career so far, and ahead of Anthony Rendon, the top-rated college batter.

He became the first UCLA player to be drafted first overall since Tim Leary was drafted second in 1979.

In 1978, the last time a club had two players drafted in the top three was when Bob Horner and Hubie Brooks of Arizona State University were selected.

A deal was finally struck on August 15th, the penultimate day that rookies could sign with the Pirates, with Cole agreeing to an $8 million minor league contract, the highest minor league contract ever.

In fact, the Baltimore Orioles’ $8.1 million signing bonus for Adley Rutschman in 2019 was the only one to surpass his.

On April 9, 2012, Cole appeared in his first professional game with the Bradenton Marauders of the Florida State League. In four innings, he gave up only one hit and struck out seven batters with a fastball that clocked in at 97 mph.

At Bradenton, he made 13 starts, going 5-1, 2.55, and striking out 69 batters in 67 innings. Altoona Curve of the Eastern League promoted him to AA.

His second start against Harrisburg on June 26th was scarier for the Pirates than his first one, in which he was hit twice by batted balls in the first innings.

Two hitters later, Sean Nicol hit him with another line drive after Destin Hood’s ricocheted off his glove. He finished the inning, but was taken out of the game immediately after to have x-rays.

It was his first loss at the AA level and the shortest start of his professional career. Shortly after his move to Altoona, he was named to the 2012 Futures Game.

After making 26 appearances in the majors and one appearance in the minors with the Indianapolis Indians, he had a total record of 9-7, 2.80.

He threw 132 innings, allowing 113 hits and 136 strikeouts while also walking 45 batters (a career-high). At Indianapolis in 2013, his record was 5-3, 2.91 in 12 games before being called up to Pittsburgh was impressive.