Gerrit Cole: Professional Baseball Pitcher for the New York Yankees - Stats, Contract, Age & more

Gerrit Cole is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros. Cole is one of the top pitchers in baseball and is a two-time All-Star.

Cole was born in Newport Beach, California, and raised in Mission Viejo, California. He played college baseball at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection. After being drafted by the Pirates in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft, Cole quickly rose through the minor leagues and made his MLB debut in 2013.

Details about Gerrit Cole’s Background:

Name: Gerrit Cole
Position: Pitcher
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 220 lbs
Team: New York Yankees
Age: 33 (born September 8, 1990)
Nationality: American
Previous clubs: Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros

Cole spent three seasons with the Pirates, during which time he went 59-42 with a 3.58 ERA. He was traded to the Astros in January 2018. With the Astros, Cole had two of his best seasons, going 35-18 with a 2.65 ERA in 2018 and 20-5 with a 2.50 ERA in 2019. He was named to the All-Star team both years and won the American League Cy Young Award in 2019.

In December 2019, Cole signed a nine-year, $324 million contract with the Yankees. He had a solid first season with the Yankees, going 7-3 with a 2.84 ERA in the shortened 2020 season. In 2021, Cole finished second in American League Cy Young Award voting after going 16-8 with a 3.23 ERA.

Cole is a power pitcher with a fastball that can reach up to 100 miles per hour. He also has a good curveball and slider. Cole is one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball and is a key part of the Yankees’ rotation.

Strengths & Weaknesses of Gerrit Cole:

Gerrit Cole is a professional baseball pitcher who plays for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is one of the best pitchers in the game, with a powerful fastball and a variety of breaking pitches. Here are some points about his playing style:

He is a right-handed pitcher who throws a four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, a slider, a curveball, and a changeup.
His four-seam fastball is his most dominant pitch, averaging around 97 mph and reaching up to 101 mph. He uses it to overpower hitters and set up his secondary pitches.
His slider is his most effective breaking pitch, with a sharp downward movement that induces swings and misses. He throws it around 88 mph and uses it mainly against right-handed hitters.
His curveball is another breaking pitch that he throws around 82 mph. It has a big vertical drop that can fool hitters and generate strikeouts. He uses it mainly against left-handed hitters.
His changeup is his least used pitch, but he can throw it around 88 mph with good deception and movement. He uses it occasionally to keep hitters off balance and induce weak contact.
He is a strikeout pitcher who led the MLB in strikeouts in 2019 and 2020. He has a career strikeout rate of 29.5%, which is among the highest in MLB history.
He is also a durable pitcher who can pitch deep into games. He has a career innings pitched per game of 6.2, which is above the MLB average of 5.6.
He is a competitive and confident pitcher who shows his emotions on the mound. He often yells, stares down, or wags his finger at hitters after striking them out.
He is a key player for the Yankees, who signed him to a record-breaking nine-year, $324 million contract in 2019. He is the ace of their rotation and their leader on the field.

Tactical Role of Gerrit Cole:

Gerrit Cole’s tactical role is to be the frontline starter for the Yankees, meaning he is the first pitcher to start a game in a series. He is expected to pitch as many innings as possible and prevent the opposing team from scoring runs.

He is also the leader of the pitching staff, setting the tone and example for the other pitchers to follow. He is responsible for communicating with his catcher, manager, and teammates about the game plan and strategy. He is also adaptable and can adjust his pitch selection and approach depending on the situation and the hitter .

Hobbies & Interests of Gerrit Cole:

He is a baseball fan who collects baseball cards and memorabilia. He has a large collection of autographed baseballs, bats, jerseys, and other items from his favorite players and teams.
He is also a video game enthusiast who enjoys playing various games on his PlayStation and Xbox consoles. He often plays online with his teammates and friends, and sometimes streams his gameplay on Twitch.
He is a family man who loves spending time with his wife Amy, who is also a former college softball player, and their son Caden, who was born in 2020. He often posts pictures and videos of his family on his Instagram account.
He is a philanthropist who supports various charitable causes and organizations. He is involved in the Players Alliance, which is a group of current and former MLB players who aim to improve the representation and opportunities for Black Americans in baseball. He also donated $1 million to the COVID-19 relief efforts in 2020.

Net worth of Gerrit Cole:

Gerrit Cole has an estimated net worth of $100 million as of 2023, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He is one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, thanks to his record-breaking contract with the Yankees. In 2019, he signed a nine-year, $324 million deal with the Yankees, which is the largest contract ever for a pitcher and the fourth-largest contract in MLB history. He also earns money from endorsements and sponsorships, such as Nike and Rawlings.

Personal life of Gerrit Cole:

Gerrit Cole was born on September 8, 1990, in Newport Beach, California. He grew up as a fan of the Yankees and idolized players like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. He attended Orange Lutheran High School, where he excelled in baseball and academics. He was drafted by the Yankees in the first round of the 2008 MLB draft, but he decided to attend UCLA instead, where he played college baseball for the Bruins.

He met his future wife, Amy Crawford, at UCLA. She was also a student-athlete who played softball for the Bruins. They started dating in 2009 and got married in 2016. They have two sons, Caden and Everett, who were born in 2020 and 2023 respectively. The family lives in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Gerrit Cole is a devout Christian who credits his faith for his success and happiness. He often prays before and after games and wears a cross necklace on the mound. He is also a philanthropist who supports various charitable causes and organizations. He is involved in the Players Alliance, which is a group of current and former MLB players who aim to improve the representation and opportunities for Black Americans in baseball. He also donated $1 million to the COVID-19 relief efforts in 2020.

Family of Gerrit Cole:

Gerrit Cole comes from a baseball-loving family. His father, Mark Cole, is a dentist who played baseball at USC and was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 1980. His mother, Sharon Cole, is a nurse who also played softball in college. His younger sister, Erin Cole, is a singer-songwriter who has released several albums and singles.

His wife, Amy Crawford, also comes from a baseball family. Her father, Steve Crawford, is a former MLB pitcher who played for the Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox. Her brother, Brandon Crawford, is a shortstop for the San Francisco Giants and a two-time World Series champion. Her younger sister, Jenna Crawford, also played softball at UCLA.

Height of Gerrit Cole:

Gerrit Cole stands at 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall and weighs 225 pounds (102 kg). He has an athletic build and a powerful arm that allows him to throw fastballs over 100 mph.

Contracts of Gerrit Cole:

Gerrit Cole has signed three contracts in his MLB career so far. His first contract was with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who drafted him first overall in the 2011 MLB draft. He signed a four-year deal worth $8 million with a $6.5 million signing bonus. He made his MLB debut with the Pirates in 2013 and played for them until 2017.

His second contract was with the Houston Astros, who acquired him from the Pirates in a trade in January 2018. He signed a one-year deal worth $13.5 million with the Astros for the 2018 season. He had a breakout season with the Astros, leading the American League (AL) in strikeouts and ERA. He signed another one-year deal worth $20 million with the Astros for the 2019 season. He had an even better season with the Astros, leading the MLB in strikeouts and finishing second in the AL Cy Young Award voting.

His third contract was with the New York Yankees, who signed him as a free agent in December 2019. He signed a nine-year deal worth $324 million with the Yankees, which is the largest contract ever for a pitcher and the fourth-largest contract in MLB history. He made his debut with the Yankees in 2020 and has been their ace ever since.

Brands Associated:

Gerrit Cole has been associated with several brands throughout his career. Some of them are:

Nike: Cole has been wearing Nike shoes and apparel since his college days at UCLA. He has also appeared in Nike commercials and campaigns.
Rawlings: Cole has been using Rawlings gloves since he was a kid. He has also endorsed Rawlings products and participated in Rawlings events.
Topps: Cole has been featured on Topps baseball cards since his rookie season in 2013. He has also signed autographs for Topps and collaborated with Topps on special editions and collections.
BodyArmor: Cole has been drinking BodyArmor sports drinks since 2018. He has also promoted BodyArmor on his social media and in interviews.

Teams with Gerrit Cole played:

Gerrit Cole has played for three teams in his MLB career so far. They are:

Pittsburgh Pirates (2013-2017): Cole played for the Pirates for five seasons, making 127 starts and posting a 59-42 record with a 3.50 ERA and 734 strikeouts. He was an All-Star in 2015 and helped the Pirates reach the postseason three times.
Houston Astros (2018-2019): Cole played for the Astros for two seasons, making 65 starts and posting a 35-10 record with a 2.68 ERA and 602 strikeouts. He was an All-Star in both seasons and finished fifth and second in the AL Cy Young Award voting in 2018 and 2019 respectively. He helped the Astros win the AL pennant in 2019 and reach the World Series, where they lost to the Washington Nationals.
New York Yankees (2020-present): Cole has been playing for the Yankees since 2020, making 62 starts and posting a 34-13 record with a 2.97 ERA and 602 strikeouts. He has been an All-Star in all three seasons and finished fourth in the AL Cy Young Award voting in 2020 and 2021. He has also set franchise records for strikeouts in a single season (257) and consecutive strikeouts without a walk (61). He has helped the Yankees reach the postseason twice.

Awards & Achievements of Gerrit Cole:

He is a six-time All-Star (2015, 2018, 2019, 2021–2023), and was the starting pitcher for the American League in 2021 and 2023.
He won the AL ERA title in 2019 with a 2.50 ERA, and led the MLB in strikeouts in 2019 (326) and 2022 (257).
He finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting in 2019 and fourth in 2020 and 2021.
He was named to the All-MLB First Team in 2019 and 2021, and the All-MLB Second Team in 2020.
He set a franchise record for strikeouts in a single season for both the Astros (2019) and the Yankees (2022), with 326 and 257 respectively.
He became the 18th pitcher in MLB history to strike out at least 300 batters in a season, and the third to do so with more than one team.
He set an MLB record for consecutive strikeouts without a walk with 61, breaking the previous mark of 51 held by Corbin Burnes.
He is a member of the 2022 class of the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.

Year	Team	W-L	ERA	SO	WHIP	WAR
2013	PIT	10-7	3.22	100	1.17	1.5
2014	PIT	11-5	3.65	138	1.21	1.8
2015	PIT	19-8	2.60	202	1.09	5.5
2016	PIT	7-10	3.88	98	1.44	-0.1
2017	PIT	12-12	4.26	196	1.25	2.8
2018	HOU	15-5	2.88	276	1.03	6.3
2019	HOU	20-5	2.50	326	0.89	7.4
2020	NYY	7-3	2.84	94	0.96	1.7
2021	NYY	20-6	2.76	243	0.99	6.0
2022	NYY	19-7	3.01	257	1.04	5.6
2023	NYY	18-4	2.67	218	0.95	6.8

Awards & Achievements of Gerrit Cole

He attended UCLA from 2009 to 2011, where he played college baseball for the UCLA Bruins. He was a first-team All-American in his freshman year, and helped the Bruins reach the College World Series finals in his sophomore year.

He was also a member of the USA national baseball team that won the gold medal at the World University Baseball Championship in Japan in his junior year. He was drafted by the Pirates as the first overall pick in the 2011 MLB draft after his college career.

Scouting Report of Gerrit Cole:

Category	Description
Fastball	Cole has a dominant four-seam fastball that averages around 97 mph and can reach up to 101 mph. He uses it to overpower hitters and set up his secondary pitches. He also throws a two-seam fastball with good sink that averages around 93 mph. His fastball command is above-average and he can locate it in all quadrants of the zone. His four-seamer has a high spin rate that gives it a rising effect and makes it hard to barrel up. His two-seamer has more horizontal movement and can induce ground balls. Both fastballs grade as at least plus pitches, with the four-seamer being one of the best in the game.
Changeup	Cole’s changeup is his best off-speed pitch and one of the most effective changeups in the majors. It averages around 87 mph and has late downward movement that makes it look like a splitter. He maintains excellent arm speed and deception with his changeup, making it hard for hitters to differentiate it from his fastball. He uses it mainly against left-handed hitters, but can also throw it to righties. He can generate swings and misses or weak contact with his changeup, which grades as a plus-plus pitch.
Slider	Cole’s slider is his primary breaking pitch and another weapon in his arsenal. It averages around 88 mph and has sharp downward and lateral break. He uses it mostly against right-handed hitters, but can also throw it to lefties. He can vary the shape and depth of his slider depending on the situation and the hitter. He can throw it for strikes or bury it in the dirt to get chases. His slider grades as a plus pitch that complements his fastball and changeup well.
Curveball	Cole’s curveball is his least used pitch, but still a solid offering that he can mix in occasionally. It averages around 82 mph and has a big vertical drop that can fool hitters. He uses it mostly against left-handed hitters, but can also throw it to righties. He can throw it for strikes or bounce it in front of the plate to get strikeouts. His curveball grades as an average to above-average pitch that adds another dimension to his repertoire.

Scouting Report of Gerrit Cole

Gerrit Cole is one of the best pitchers in baseball, with a powerful fastball and a variety of breaking pitches. He has excellent command, control, and deception, and can adjust his pitch selection and approach depending on the situation and the hitter. He is a strikeout machine who can pitch deep into games and dominate any lineup.

He is the ace of the Yankees’ rotation and their leader on the field. He has won several awards and accolades, including six All-Star selections, an AL ERA title, and an All-MLB First Team honor. He has also helped the Yankees reach the postseason three times since joining them in 2020. He is still in his prime at age 33, and has a bright future ahead of him as one of the game’s elite hurlers.

FAQs about Gerrit Cole:

How old is Gerrit Cole?

Gerrit Cole is 33 years old as of 2023. He was born on September 8, 1990, in Newport Beach, California.

What is Gerrit Cole’s salary?

Gerrit Cole’s salary is $36 million per year, as part of his nine-year, $324 million contract with the Yankees that he signed in 2019. He is the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history and the fourth-highest-paid player overall.

What is Gerrit Cole’s jersey number?

Gerrit Cole’s jersey number is 45, which he has worn since his debut with the Pirates in 2013. He chose the number because it was his father’s favorite number and because it was worn by his idol, Pedro Martinez.

What is Gerrit Cole’s nickname?

Gerrit Cole has several nicknames, such as “Cole Train”, “Cole World”, and “G-Cole”. His teammates and fans often use these nicknames to cheer him on and show their support.

What is Gerrit Cole’s favorite food?

Gerrit Cole’s favorite food is pizza, especially New York-style pizza. He loves to eat pizza before or after games, and sometimes even orders it to the clubhouse. He also likes to try different toppings and sauces on his pizza.