Despite being one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB), Gerrit Cole is often underrated, underappreciated, and even underpaid. After his latest gem — a 2-0 shutout of the Minnesota Twins, where he lowered his ERA to 0.95 — a quick, unscientific poll of scouts and execs revealed that even though they all ranked him in the top 20 starting pitchers in the game, they still didn’t entirely grasp how great he really is.
In the Yankees clubhouse, Cole’s teammate, Nestor Cortes, called him “No. 1, no question” when compared to other starters around the league. According to Yankees game notes, since 2020 (since he donned pinstripes), Cole is first in strikeouts with 626, first in strikeouts per nine innings at 11.69, and second in wins behind the Dodgers’ Urias with 40.
Experts agree that Jacob deGrom is the most talented pitcher in the league, but Cole is the one that’s dependable and consistently great, and he’s right in the middle of his prime. Max Scherzer, Verlander, and Clayton Kershaw are all-time greats, but they’re closer to the end of their careers than the middle. Up-and-comers like Sandy Alcantara, Dylan Cease, Max Fried, and Julio Urias are closer to the beginning.
Although Cole is at the top of all the statistical lists, it’s his availability that sets him apart. Not only does he never miss a start, but there’s never even a hint that something could be amiss. He’s there and he’s dominating. Carlos Correa, the Twins star, said that Cole is “definitely one of the best pitchers in the league.”
Cole is currently in the sweet spot of his career, and he may be on track to win his first Cy Young award. He’s the first Yankees pitcher ever to post a sub-1.00 ERA and gather 30 strikeouts through the first four starts of the season. This year, with big changes including a pitch timer, increased offense, and more base-stealing, he has made quicker work of the competition.
In conclusion, Gerrit Cole is a pitching superstar in MLB and deserves more recognition for his greatness. He is dependable, consistently great, and unparalleled in his availability. Aaron Boone, the Yankees manager, believes that Cole will end up in Cooperstown one day. It’s time to put Gerrit Cole at the top of the conversation when talking about the best pitchers in MLB.
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