The 2011 MLB Draft starts on Monday night, and UCLA pitcher Gerrit Cole will be the first overall pick, according to reports at MLB.com. Cole will be the highest ever draft player out of UCLA.One of the reasons the Pirates want to take Cole, and probably the biggest reason, is his big arm.
↵↵↵There's no question why a team would consider Cole, a power pitcher, for the top spot. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder has the look of a strong, durable front-line starter and the pure stuff to match. He's been clocked as high as 102 mph on radar guns and routinely hits triple digits. He maintains his velocity deep into games, sitting comfortably at 95-96 mph throughout a start.
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Cole has struggles a little bit this Spring, and hasn't looked as dominant as he has in the past. His velocity hasn't dropped off, but hitters are just making much more consistent contact off of him. But Cole still figures to be a great pitcher at the next level.