Gerrit Cole, Starting Pitcher, New York Yankees

Date of Birth: 9/8/1990
Birthplace: Newport Beach, California
College: UCLA
Nickname: Cole Train

Gerrit Cole, starting pitcher for the New York Yankees, was drafted out of high school by the Yankees in 2008 but he opted instead to go to UCLA. Three years later, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Cole pitched in the minor leagues through part of 2013. He finished his minor league career with a 2.84 ERA and a 14-10 record. In 2013, he pitched 117.1 innings in 19 games with the Pirates. He finished the season with a 10-7 record, 100 strikeouts to 28 walks, and a 3.22 ERA. He pitched 138.0 innings in 22 games in 2014, finishing the season with an 11-5 record, 138 strikeouts to 40 walks, and a 3.65 ERA.

Cole had a strong 2015 season, finishing with a 19-8 record, 202 strikeouts to 44 walks, and a 2.60 ERA in 208.0 innings in 32 games. He did not fare well in the postseason Wild Card game, pitching 5.0 innings and giving up 6 hits, 2 home runs, and 4 earned runs for a 7.20 ERA.

Cole spent time on the DL in 2016. He finished the season with a 3.88 ERA, 7 wins to 10 losses, and 98 strikeouts to 36 walks in 116.0 innings in 21 games.

Cole pitched in a career high 33 games in 2017. He finished the season with 12 wins and 12 losses, 196 strikeouts to 55 walks, and a 4.26 ERA in 203.0 innings.

The Pirates traded Cole to the Houston Astros on January 13, 2018. He finished the 2018 season with 15 wins and 5 losses, 276 strikeouts to 64 walks, and an ERA of 2.88 in 200.1 innings in 32 games. In the postseason, he pitched 13.0 innings in 2 games and he gave up 9 hits, 1 home run, and 5 earned runs. He struck out 17 batters and he walked 2.

Cole had an outstanding season in 2019, finishing with 20 wins and 5 losses, 326 strikeouts to 48 walks, and a 2.50 ERA in 212.1 innings in 33 games. He led all MLB pitchers in strikeouts, and he led the AL in ERA. In the postseason, he pitched 36.2 innings in 5 games and he gave up 21 hits, including 4 home runs, and 7 runs. He struck out 47 batters and walked 11, and he had a 1.72 ERA and 4 wins and 1 loss.

Cole became a free agent on October 31, 2019. He signed a nine-year, $324 million contract with the Yankees on December 18, 2019. He pitched in 12 games in 2020, and he finished the season with 7 wins and 3 losses, 94 strikeouts to 17 walks, and a 2.84 ERA in 73.0 innings. In the postseason, he had a 2.95 ERA in 18.1 innings in 3 games. He gave up 13 hits and 6 runs and he struck out 30 batters and walked 4.

Cole pitched in 30 games in 2021. He finished the season with 16 wins and 8 losses, 243 strikeouts to 41 walks, and a 3.23 ERA in 181.1 innings. In the postseason, he gave up 4 hits, 2 home runs, and 3 runs in 2.0 innings in 1 game.

Career pitching statistics for Cole through 2021 include:

• 234 games played
• 1,449.1 innings pitched
• 117-63 win-loss record
• 1,673 strikeouts to 373 walks
• 3.20 ERA

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Gerrit Cole
ESPN - Gerrit Cole