Gerrit Cole was the first-overall pick in the MLB amateur draft in 2011 after starring for three seasons in college.
He was picked by the Pirates and made his debut at 22, halfway through his second full professional season.
Paul Skenes is on a similar, but not identical, path.
The fireballing 21-year-old has made a name for himself with a fastball that regularly tops 100 mph.
Like Cole, he’s from southern California and has dominated in his first pro season after being the No. 1 overall pick after three years of college — also by the Pirates — in last year’s draft.
Skenes is getting called up to make his MLB debut on Saturday, the Pirates announced Wednesday afternoon.
When he gets to the majors, he’ll bring with him the fastest four-seam fastball of any starter, as well as plenty of attention — including Cole’s.
“I’ve been watching and seen his highlights,” Cole said. “I can relate to his situation, but I didn’t throw that hard. It seems like his fastball is meant to be thrown another 10 feet further. It just gets there a lot quicker than others, like he’s supposed to be throwing from 70 feet.”
It’s that unmatched velocity that’s helped put Skenes in the spotlight and also created concern that he’ll become yet another young pitcher who gets hurt.
“I’m just rooting for him to make it,” Cole said. “Some can just pick up a ball and throw it like that. I’d say it’s safe to say he has one of those kinds of arms and now we’re in an environment that allows you to max out sooner.”
Cole stayed remarkably injury-free until this spring, when he was sidelined by elbow inflammation. He avoided surgery and could be back by midseason.
And he threw plenty of pitches as a young pitcher in the minors — something Skenes hasn’t been permitted to do with the Pirates.
Skenes has made seven starts at Triple-A this season and not thrown more than 75 pitches.
Cole was throwing more than 100 pitches at Double-A by the latter part of his first pro season and is not a fan of the change in development.
“We don’t know how good this guy is,” Cole said. “Nobody does. He could break the whole mold. He could be the greatest of all time. Why hold him back? Let him throw more, let him throw 98 [mph] instead of 102. If you limit him to 60 [pitches], he’s gonna go 103 [mph]. Let the horse run. Stretch him out. You’ve got a window now where you can develop him.”
The 6-foot-6, 235-pound Skenes starred at LSU after spending his first two collegiate seasons at the Air Force Academy.
He’ll turn 22 this month and has thrown just 27 ¹/₃ innings this season. Skenes has struck out 45 batters, walked just eight and has an ERA of 0.99.
“I know he’s been blowing everyone’s minds,’’ Cole said. “He looks like he’s one of those generational-type arms. I’m excited to see what he does. He’s got a lot of work ahead of him, but right out of the gate, he has the tools.”
