Pittsburgh Pirates Draft: Revisiting Every First-Round Pick Since 2005

As we approach the 2023 MLB Draft, let's look back and see where former Pirate first-round picks ended up
2005 First Round Pick Andrew McCutchen
2005 First Round Pick Andrew McCutchen / Justin K. Aller/GettyImages
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2011 (Pick 1) - Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA

Career Stats/Accolades: 1759.2 IP, 3.21 ERA, 1.102 WHIP, 2048 K, 138-73 W-L, 5x ASG, 1x ERA Leader

The Pirates used their number one overall pick in 2011 on what has become one of the best pitchers in baseball today. Gerrit Cole made his Major League debut in 2013 after just a season and a half in the minors and took the MLB by storm, posting a 3.22 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 19 games as a rookie. He played for the Pirates (and made the All-Star Game in 2015) until being traded to the Houston Astros in 2018 for Michael Feliz, Jason Martin, Colin Moran, and Joe Musgrove.

He made two All-Star Games with the Astros before signing a nine-year, $324 million deal with the New York Yankees in 2019. In his four seasons in New York, he has 712 strikeouts in 564.2 innings and a 3.19 ERA. Cole looks to be on his way to the Hall of Fame if he can continue his dominance in the Majors.