Pirates pick UCLA pitcher Cole

The Pittsburgh Pirates selected hard-throwing UCLA righty Gerrit Cole with the No. 1 pick in the baseball draft Monday.

Cole, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior, posted mediocre numbers this season for the Bruins (6-8, 3.31 ERA), but has what many consider to be the best pure stuff in the draft.

He was a first-round pick of the New York Yankees in 2008, but refused to listen to an offer and instead attended UCLA — as he insisted to teams he would.

The Pirates, picking No. 1 for the fourth time in franchise history, are hoping Cole ends up being the ace of their pitching staff. He has a fastball that’s consistently clocked around 95 mph and was up around 100 at points late this season. Cole’s changeup and slider are also outstanding.

For more details, read Tuesday's Vindicator.