Surrounded by the feverish atmosphere of Yankee Stadium, Gerrit Cole strolled to the pitcher's mound and began his pitching today with a 97 mph inside fastball, sending Astros' batters away in order in the first inning after just seven pitches.
In the VIP suite of Yankee Stadium, Brian Cashman, the architect of the Cole trade, nodded in satisfaction: although the Yankees nearly emptied their farm system of top prospects to acquire Cole, based on his performance since arriving in New York, the trade has proven to be quite worthwhile.
Having joined his childhood's favorite team, Cole quickly demonstrated his exceptional qualities as the 2011 draft's top pick, immediately securing a fixed spot in the Yankees' starting rotation with his excellent performance — considering Tanaka Masahiro's inconsistent stability and Sabathia's noticeable aging, this trade has undoubtedly secured the Yankees' future.
