Pirates' Top Prospect Promoted
PITTSBURGH (93-7 THE FAN) -- Cory Giger of The Altoona Mirror reports right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole, the top prospect in the Pirates organization and No. 12 overall in MLB, according to Baseball America, has been promoted from the Double-A Altoona Curve to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.
For the 21-year-old Cole, the top pick of last year's Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, this will be his third different assignment in just his first season of minor-league ball, an uncommon scenario for most young hopefuls with big-league talent.
"We thought this was a good opportunity to get him up to Triple-A and to get into the playoffs," Pirates minor league pitching coordinator Scott Mitchell said to Giger.
The Indians recently clinced the West Division title of the International League and begin the playoffs next week. If all goes according to plan, Cole would make his Triple-A debut Saturday against Toledo in a regular-season contest.
He begun 2012 in the uniform of the High-A Bradenton Marauders in the Florida State League, posting a 5-1 record in 13 starts with a 2.55 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. He struck out 69 and walked 21 in an even 67 innings.
Cole joined the Curve June 20 and pitched himself to a 3-6 mark in 12 starts and 59 innings of work, posting a 2.90 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. He fanned 60 against just 23 walks, and became the first pitching prospect in Pirate history to hit 100 miles per hour with his fastball.
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