2012 Tribe Trio Named Top Prospects by Baseball America
Published on January 15, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
INDIANAPOLIS -- Right-handed pitchers Gerrit Cole (No. 1) and Kyle McPherson (No. 7) and left-handed pitcher Justin Wilson (No. 8) have been named Top-10 Prospects in the Pirates organization by Baseball America . Each player made appearances with Indianapolis last season and could potentially return for stints with the Tribe during the 2013 campaign.
Cole, the most highly-touted of the trio, was chosen as possessing the "Best Fastball" and "Best Slider" in the Pirates organization by Baseball America . Last season, the right-hander pitched across three levels, beginning the campaign with a 5-1 record and 2.55 ERA (19 ER in 67.0 IP) for High-A Bradenton. After earning a victory in each of his final five decisions for the Marauders, Cole then made the move to Double-A where he went 3-6 with a 2.90 ERA (19 ER in 59.0 IP) for the Curve. The No. 1 draft pick in the 2011 MLB Draft finished the season with Indianapolis and picked up the win in his Triple-A debut on Sept. 1 against Toledo. In the victory, Cole surrendered three runs in the opening frame, but recovered to strike out six over 5.0 consecutive, scoreless innings.
McPherson, who made his Major League debut with the Pirates last season on Aug. 20, was also chosen as possessing the "Best Control" in Pittsburgh's system by Baseball America. The Bucs prospect opened last year's campaign at Double-A Altoona, where he posted a 3-5 record with a 4.07 ERA (22 ER in 48.2 IP), followed by an 0-1 mark and dominating 0.98 ERA (2 ER in 18.1 IP) in three games with the Tribe. The hurler shined in his final appearance for the Indians, limiting Columbus to just two hits through 7.0 shutout innings on Aug. 25. He then capped off the 2012 season with an 0-2 record and 2.73 ERA (8 ER in 26.1 IP) through 10 games (three starts) with the Pirates.
Wilson was the Tribe's Opening Day starter in 2012 and finished the season at 9-6 with a 3.78 ERA (57 ER in 135.2 IP) through 29 games (25 starts) for Indy. The southpaw racked up a career-high 138 strikeouts, pacing all Pirates farmhands and ranking second among International League hurlers. Wilson also became just the fourth IL pitcher and the first since 1946 to be a part of two no-hitters in a single season when he combined with relievers Jose Diaz and Doug Slaten for a nine-inning no-hitter of the Durham Bulls on April 29, before tossing a rain-shortened, eight-inning solo no-hitter against the Charlotte Knights on Aug. 9 at Victory Field. The Pirates prospect then concluded the 2012 campaign with a solid 1.93 ERA (1 ER in 4.2 IP) through eight relief appearances for Pittsburgh.
Also included in Baseball America's Top-10 Pirates Prospects list were RHP James Taillon (No. 2), RHP Luis Heredia (No. 3), OF Gregory Polanco (No. 4), INF Allen Hanson (No. 5), OF Josh Bell (No. 6), OF Barrett Barnes (No. 9) and RHP Clay Holmes (No. 10).
The defending International League West Division champion Indians open the 2013 season on April 4 when they host the Columbus Clippers at 7:05 p.m. at Victory Field. For 2013 ticket information and pricing visit IndyIndians.com.
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