The Pittsburgh Pirates have promoted right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole to Indianapolis, according to Cory Giger of the Altoona Mirror. Cole previously would have been in line to make one more start this year with Altoona before the end of the season. The promotion allows him to join an Indianapolis rotation which will be headed to the playoffs. There should be plenty of room for Cole in that rotation, since guys like Jeff Locke and Kyle McPherson are expected to be promoted to the majors as September callups.
In 12 starts with Altoona, Cole posted a 2.90 ERA in 59 innings, with a 60:23 K/BB ratio. He started off slow, but in his last six starts he combined to allow five earned runs in 33 innings, with a 34:16 K/BB ratio. In his last two starts he struggled with control, walking ten in 11 innings.
Cole should remain on track to start the 2013 season in Triple-A, but this promotion should give him a good taste of the level, with some good experience in the post-season.
August 29, 2012 at 11:10 pm
It’s too bad that the club doesn’t see the opportunity they’re missing by not bringing Cole up to the bigs before the end of the month. Look at what the Cards young flamethrower did today. 3 innings of HEAT… We could use that kind of weapon for the playoffs.
Twitter: timwilliamsp2
August 29, 2012 at 11:14 pm
They don’t need Cole in the majors. They’ll have plenty of relievers coming up next month. No need to rush Cole. That move is a luxury, and the only reason to make it for the appeal of having the top prospect in the majors. It’s not a need, and Cole wouldn’t be filling a big role, so it’s not like they’ll really miss him if he’s not up.
August 30, 2012 at 9:22 am
Some AAA guys already on their way up…..hint hint wink wink…….
August 29, 2012 at 11:11 pm
And he was how old? 22. Younger than Cole.
Twitter: timwilliamsp2
August 29, 2012 at 11:15 pm
Also, Cole doesn’t turn 22 until September 8th.
August 29, 2012 at 11:36 pm
it’s really tough to compare pitchers like that; we have no idea how major-league ready each guy is in relationship to each other
August 29, 2012 at 11:45 pm
Hey Kristy, told ya so! Lol! I figured he would be in Indy for their playoff run, since they will be losing guys to September call-ups.
Twitter: timwilliamsp2
August 30, 2012 at 12:01 am
We were going off the information the Pirates were giving on Cole possibly being promoted to Indy. This was a bit of a surprise.
August 30, 2012 at 11:04 am
Lol I know. I’m just being a wise guy! It just made alot of sense to me for him to get promoted now. Indy will be losing a starter or two to the big club, and would need reinforcements from Altoona. Cole had 13 starts in Bradenton before his promotion, and now has 12 starts in Altoona and has pitched well. It gives him a chance to get a taste of the next level, as well as the playoff atmosphere.
August 30, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Even still she sounded pretty confident without there being anything for certain. “Cole will finish in AA.” is that she said, can’t help but at least chuckle a little bit at the irony. Just sayin
Twitter: timwilliamsp2
August 30, 2012 at 2:59 pm
She sounded confident because that’s what was said. It was certain when she said it. Then for whatever reason, after they said he would finish in AA, then promoted him.
August 30, 2012 at 5:47 pm
Fair enough, just never saw anything on there being no chance of a promotion is all and I kind of saw this one coming(or at least made sense in my mind). But you guys are obviously more in the know then I am haha. I’m just stoked on the promotion and hope he does well for Indy in the postseason!
August 30, 2012 at 4:27 am
Gerrit Cole should smuggle Victor Black in his duffel bag before leaving Altoona for Indy. Black looks ready for AAA and should replace Bryan Morris when (if) he is called up in September.
August 30, 2012 at 9:39 am
Victor Black instead of Tanner Scheppers is looking pretty good right now. If Black continues to improve his control and stay healthy i don’t know how you stop him from making the team out of camp next year. 13.1 K’s/9 is something that can make you skip a level. Still, I am guessing we will be conservative with him. It’s not like we don’t have other options.
August 30, 2012 at 9:40 am
Hopefully we have similar luck with the Mark Appel comp pick.
August 30, 2012 at 8:47 am
Any chance Taillon gets promoted to Indy after his next start? Even just for experience. Could he end up starting there next year?
August 30, 2012 at 9:52 am
Not really any point jumping Taillon to AAA. The AA jump is a big jump anyways. He needs to prove himself more than just a few games there. Then again, if no one can touch him next spring the sky is the limit. With Cole ahead of him and Charlie Morton working his way back and Locke/Wilson around there is no need to rush Taillon at all.
August 30, 2012 at 10:43 am
As Tim detailed a month ago, I’m not sure Morton gets tendered for 2013. He’s out until at least June and would make at least $2M in arb, assuming you keep his 2012 number and not increase him.
Additionally, with 4 rotation spots locked for 2013 (Burnett, McDonald, Karstens, Rodriguez) here’s the competitors for the 5th — Locke has the inside track, McPherson, Leroux, Phil Irwin (longshot), and Gerrit Cole could/should be ready by late June 2013. So you really only need a placeholder guy until Cole is ready. The Pirates have a lot of depth with the middle-back rotation guys right now, with a top rotation guy coming on strong.
August 30, 2012 at 8:59 am
Good for him, bad for me…I have tickets to see Altoona this weekend in Erie…
August 30, 2012 at 9:43 am
I purposely didn’t purchase tickets yet for that game because I had a weird feeling this was going to happen. At least we have Taillon coming to town on Friday!
August 31, 2012 at 9:14 pm
If you are in Erie Frank Coonelly is at Uht Park watching the game.
August 30, 2012 at 9:53 am
Tim, I was wondering…is there any chance VandenHurk gets a shot down the stretch? i feel like with his still young age (27) and how well he has pitched combined with his mlb experience we need to give him a start or two to see what we have. Control was his only issue in the majors and he appears to have that now. I see he averaged around 93mph in 2010-11 in the mlb and he fits the big and tall type the fo likes. I think we may have another steal with him…even if only out of the pen.
August 30, 2012 at 10:39 am
I like Vandenhurk and would love to see him stay in the org next year, but the numbers game (and lack of being on the 40 man, at this point) doesn’t point to him being in Pittsburgh in September. I think Locke, Wilson, McPherson, Morris could all be up and that would keep Rick out.
August 30, 2012 at 11:52 am
Yes. This is something I am still getting used to. (The Pirates having more talent so they can’t keep a few decent arms.) Vandenhurk would have been the perfect guy for us to add in the Littlefield days…except instead of a 6’5″ guy that can touch 95 he would have signed a guy that throws 89-90 with control.