Gerrit Cole
Encyclopedia
Gerrit Alan Cole is an American college baseball pitcher
with the UCLA Bruins baseball
team at the University of California, Los Angeles
. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates
with the 1st overall selection in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft
.
. Baseball America
rated him the 17th best prospect. He was named the ESPN Rise Athlete of the Month for three consecutive months in March, April, and May 2010.
in the first round (28th overall) of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft
. The Yankees, planning on offering Cole a bonus above the recommended amount for the slot, waited until the deadline to attempt to sign Cole, by which time Cole had decided to follow through with his collegiate scholarship with UCLA. Despite being represented by Scott Boras
, and though the Yankees were believed to be ready to offer upwards of $4 million, Cole never negotiated with the Yankees, as he was determined to attend college.
During the 2010 season, he contributed in making the Bruins team the best baseball team
(51-17 record) in school history and the second best team in the country. The team went on to play in the 2010 College World Series
and was defeated by South Carolina
in the NCAA Championship Series. Cole went 11-4 with a 3.37 ERA, collecting 153 strikeouts in 123.0 innings.
In his freshman year, Cole recorded a 4-8 record with a 3.49 ERA, collecting 104 strikeouts in 85.0 innings.
Cole was a member of the 2009 Collegiate National Team
(Team USA
) and is named to the 2010 Collegiate National Team roster.
by the Pittsburgh Pirates
. He signed a minor league contract with an $8 million signing bonus fifteen minutes before the signing deadline on August 15.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
with the UCLA Bruins baseball
UCLA Bruins baseball
UCLA Bruins baseball team represents the University of California, Los Angeles in the NCAA baseball competition. Having started playing in 1920, the team is a member of the Pacific-10 Conference and plays its home games at Jackie Robinson Stadium. It has produced many Major and Minor League...
team at the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
with the 1st overall selection in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft
2011 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held from June 6 through June 8, 2011 from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey.-Draft order:The draft order was determined by the 2010 Major League Baseball standings...
.
High school career
Cole attended Orange Lutheran High School. He was named to the USA Today All-USA high school baseball teamUSA Today All-USA high school baseball team
Each year, USA Today, an American newspaper, awards outstanding high-school baseball players with a place on its All-USA High School Baseball Team. The newspaper names athletes whom they believe to be the best baseball players from high schools across the United States...
. Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
rated him the 17th best prospect. He was named the ESPN Rise Athlete of the Month for three consecutive months in March, April, and May 2010.
College career
Cole was drafted by the New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in the first round (28th overall) of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft
2008 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continued Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 5 and 6, 2008.-First round selections:* Did not sign...
. The Yankees, planning on offering Cole a bonus above the recommended amount for the slot, waited until the deadline to attempt to sign Cole, by which time Cole had decided to follow through with his collegiate scholarship with UCLA. Despite being represented by Scott Boras
Scott Boras
Scott Boras is an American sports agent, specializing in baseball. He is the founder, owner and president of the Boras Corporation, a sports agency based in Newport Beach, Calif. that represents roughly 175 professional baseball clients, including many of the game's highest-profile players...
, and though the Yankees were believed to be ready to offer upwards of $4 million, Cole never negotiated with the Yankees, as he was determined to attend college.
During the 2010 season, he contributed in making the Bruins team the best baseball team
2010 UCLA Bruins baseball team
The 2010 UCLA Bruins baseball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the 2010 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Bruins played their home games in Jackie Robinson Stadium. UCLA finished the regular season as the #2 team in the Pacific-10 Conference behind the Arizona...
(51-17 record) in school history and the second best team in the country. The team went on to play in the 2010 College World Series
2010 College World Series
The 2010 College World Series began on June 19, 2010 and concluded on June 29 in Omaha, Nebraska at Rosenblatt Stadium. South Carolina won the championship after defeating UCLA. Rosenblatt has hosted the CWS since 1950, but 2010 will be the final College World Series to be played in the famed...
and was defeated by South Carolina
South Carolina Gamecocks baseball
The South Carolina Gamecocks baseball team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college baseball. South Carolina has perennially been one of the best teams in college baseball since 1970, posting 27 NCAA Tournament appearances, 10 College World Series berths, and two...
in the NCAA Championship Series. Cole went 11-4 with a 3.37 ERA, collecting 153 strikeouts in 123.0 innings.
In his freshman year, Cole recorded a 4-8 record with a 3.49 ERA, collecting 104 strikeouts in 85.0 innings.
Cole was a member of the 2009 Collegiate National Team
United States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...
(Team USA
Team USA
Team USA is a wrestling faction brought together as part of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's X-Cup Tournaments, which involved a team of X Division superstars from various countries representing their nation in an international wrestling competition.-America's X-Cup:Team USA was created and led...
) and is named to the 2010 Collegiate National Team roster.
Professional career
Cole was selected with the first overall pick in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft2011 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held from June 6 through June 8, 2011 from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey.-Draft order:The draft order was determined by the 2010 Major League Baseball standings...
by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. He signed a minor league contract with an $8 million signing bonus fifteen minutes before the signing deadline on August 15.