Wrapping Up a Strong Season for the Pitching Prospect Trio

Coming into 2012, the Pirates had extremely high hopes for the future of their rotation. They nabbed Gerrit Cole in the 2011 draft and added him to the pairing of Jameson Taillon and Luis Heredia, hoping to have a deadly 1-2-3 punch in coming years. There were a lot of eyes on those three arms this summer, and they didn't disappoint.

While the minor league seasons aren't all completely over yet, it's safe to say that the numbers we see right now will be about what these pitchers will finish up with this for the year. So let's take a look at what the big three did in 2012.

Gerrit Cole
Season: 26 GS, 132.0 IP, 2.80 ERA, 1.197 WHIP, 7.7 H/9, 0.5 HR/9, 3.1 BB/9, 9.3 K/9
A+: 13 GS, 67.0 IP, 2.55 ERA, 1.104 WHIP, 7.1 H/9, 0.7 HR/9, 2.8 BB/9, 9.3 K/9
AA: 12 GS, 59. IP, 2.90 ERA, 1.305 WHIP, 8.2 H/9, 0.3 HR/9, 3.5 BB/9, 9.2 K/9
AAA: 1 GS, 6.0 IP, 4.50 ERA, 1.167 WHIP, 9.0 H/9, 0.0 HR/9, 1.5 BB/9, 10.5 K/9

Jameson Taillon
Season: 26 GS, 142.0 IP, 3.55 ERA, 1.113 WHIP, 7.6 H/9, 0.6 HR/9, 2.4 BB/9, 7.4 K/9
A+: 23 GS, 125.0 IP, 3.82 ERA, 1.168 WHIP, 7.8 H/9, 0.7 HR/9, 2.7 BB/9, 7.1 K/9
AA: 3 GS, 17.0 IP, 1.59 ERA, 0.706 WHIP, 5.8 H/9, 0.0 HR/9 0.5 BB/9, 9.5 K/9

Luis Heredia
Season (A-): 14 GS, 2.71 ERA, 1.101 WHIP, 7.2 H/9, 0.3 HR/9, 2.7 BB/9, 5.4 K/9

Keep in mind with Heredia that he really wasn't pitching to strike people out. They do a lot of developmental work in State College and statistical results really aren't the goal there. That makes his good numbers even more encouraging; you'll rarely see a pitcher have a good statistical season in State College like Heredia did.

Looking at all of those numbers, you have to be pretty confident about the future of this Pirates pitching rotation. If these three can continue to progress and eventually meet their potential, the Pirates could have the best pitching rotation in the majors, and have it pretty easily.

As for next year, Cole will start the year in AAA, Taillon probably in AA, and Heredia will more than likely go to Bradenton. I would be surprised if Cole didn't debut around June next year, and Taillon could possibly make a start or two later in the year, but they'll probably be patient with him. We're looking at 2015 as the earliest that all three of these pitchers could be in Pittsburgh together, and that could really be something to see.