The the first overall pick in the 2011 MLB Draft the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Gerrit Cole. Cole was slotted to go first in many recent mock drafts but he wasn't a sure thing first pick.
Cole has been a highly-touted pitching prospect for a number of years and in fact was a first round pick by the New York Yankees out of high school in 2008. The big righty (6-4, 220 lbs) has two plus pitches at the tender age of 20 and shows flashes of a third. His four-seam fastball is normally in the mid-to-high 90's and has been known to touch 101 mph. He's got a devastating changeup that he throws with fantastic and deceptive arm speed. His slider is decent and could improve with time.
Cole is considered to have great intangibles with a competitive desire and work ethic that should get him to the majors within a few years.
The knock on Cole has been less-than-stellar college record. His career ERA in two years with the Bruins is 3.42 with a 15-12 record over 208 innings pitched. Some scouts feel that a pitcher this dominant should put up better college numbers while others say his outstanding stuff will quickly make him a top of the rotation arm in the major leagues.
Seattle Mariners are up next with the second pick in the 2011 MLB Draft with the Diamondbacks third.
For more on the 2011 MLB Draft, visit AZ Snake Pit for in-depth coverage of the Arizona Diamondbacks and SB Nation's Baseball Nation for national draft coverage.