User:GhostRiver/cole

Gerrit Alan Cole (born September 8, 1990) is an American professional baseball starting pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros. The Pirates selected Cole first overall in the 2011 MLB draft.

Draft and minor leagues (2011–2013)

 * 2011 Mesa Solar Sox
 * 2012 Bradenton Marauders
 * 2012 Altoona Curve
 * 2012 Indianapolis Indians
 * 2013 Indianapolis Indians

Pittsburgh Pirates (2013–2017)

 * 2013 (WC, NLDS)
 * 2014
 * 2015 (WC)
 * 2016
 * 2017

Houston Astros (2018–2019)

 * 2018 (ALDS, ALCS)
 * 2019 (ALDS, ALCS, WS)

New York Yankees (2020–present)
On December 16, 2019, Cole signed with the New York Yankees on an eleven-year, $324 million contract with a full no-trade clause and a fifth-year player option. Both the total contract value and Cole's annual $36 million salary were the highest ever offered to a free agent starting pitcher. The Yankee's appearance policy required Cole to shave his beard and cut his hair, and he debuted his new grooming style at his introductory press conference. When the COVID-19 pandemic indefinitely delayed the start to the 2020 MLB season, Cole returned home to Connecticut, practicing with his wife Amy and Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Cole made his Yankees debut as their 2020 Opening Day starter, facing Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals. He struck out five batters and allowed only one run, an Adam Eaton home run, in $6 1/3$ innings before the game was called due to inclement weather.


 * 2020 (WC, ALDS)
 * 2021 (WC)

Cole was tapped to start the Yankees' 2021 American League Wild Card Game against their rival Boston Red Sox, tying Roger Clemens for the most winner-take-all postseason starts in MLB history. He lasted only two innings, allowing three runs in the process – a two-run home run from Xander Bogaerts, followed by a solo shot by Kyle Schwarber – and the Yankees lost the game 6–2, eliminating them from the playoffs. After the game, Cole told reporters he was "stick to [his] stomach" and called the loss "the worst feeling in the world".


 * 2022 (ALDS, ALCS)
 * 2023

Personal life
Cole married Amy Crawford on November 12, 2016, at a resort in Santa Barbara, California. The couple met in college, where Crawford played UCLA Bruins softball. Cole's brother-in-law is Brandon Crawford, a professional baseball shortstop. Cole and Crawford have two children together: Caden Gerrit, born June 30, 2020; and Everett, born January 2, 2023.