The Major League Baseball season is almost underway, with spring training starting this weekend.
In the leadup, the MLB ranked their top 100 active players, and one former Bruin cracked the top 10.
New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole came in at 9th on the list. The 2023 AL Cy Young winner and six-time All-Star played for the Bruins from 2009 to 2011. In his time as a Bruin, Cole pitched his way to second in career strikeouts (376), third in career games started (49), and 153 strikeouts in 2011, the third-most in a single season at UCLA.
One of the best pitchers to com out of the program, the honor of 9th best in 2024 is a reflection of the UCLA baseball program.
.@GerritCole45 at No. 9️⃣ 👀#GoBruins https://t.co/g6jruWTaRM
— UCLA Baseball (@UCLABaseball) February 22, 2024
Drafted #1 overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cole has lived up to the lofty expectations. Recording the most strikeouts in a single season for two franchises, the Astros (326) and Yankees (257), Cole is one of the premier aces in all of baseball.
With the Yankees loading up for a potential World Series run, Cole can make soem more history for New York this season and make his alma mater proud.