How Gerrit Cole Became the Richest Pitcher in MLB History: Salary, Net Worth, and More

Gerrit Cole is one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB). He plays for the New York Yankees, who signed him to a record-breaking contract in 2020. But how much does he earn per year? What is his net worth in 2023? How did he become a star pitcher? Who is his partner? And what are some interesting facts about his life and career? In this article, we will answer all these questions and more. Let’s get started!

Gerrit Cole Salary and Net Worth in 2023

Gerrit Cole signed a nine-year, $324 million contract with the New York Yankees in 2020. This is the largest contract ever given to a pitcher in MLB history. It also makes him one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. His average annual salary is $36 million, which means he earns about $98,630 per day, $4,110 per hour, or $68 per minute. His contract also includes a full no-trade clause, which means he can veto any trade involving him. He also has a player opt-out clause after the 2024 season, which means he can choose to become a free agent again. However, the Yankees can void his opt-out by adding a 10th year to his contract, extending it to 2029.

As of 2023, Gerrit Cole’s net worth is estimated to be $50 million, according to Surprise Sports. This includes his salary, endorsements, and personal investments. He is sponsored by Nike, Rawlings, and Topps, among other brands. He also owns a luxury mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut, which he bought for $5.6 million in 2020.

Gerrit Cole Career and Achievements

Gerrit Cole was born on September 8, 1990, in Newport Beach, California. He grew up as a Yankees fan, idolizing Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. He attended Orange Lutheran High School, where he excelled in baseball. He was drafted by the Yankees in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft, but he decided to attend UCLA instead. He played for the UCLA Bruins from 2009 to 2011, where he became one of the best college pitchers in the country. He was drafted again by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft, this time as the first overall pick. He signed a $9 million bonus with the Pirates, which was the highest signing bonus ever given to a drafted player at the time.

He made his MLB debut with the Pirates on June 11, 2013, against the San Francisco Giants. He won his first game, pitching 6.1 innings and striking out two batters. He finished his rookie season with a 10-7 record and a 3.22 ERA. He became a regular starter for the Pirates, helping them reach the postseason in 2013, 2014, and 2015. He had his best season with the Pirates in 2015, when he was named an All-Star and finished fourth in the National League Cy Young Award voting. He had a 19-8 record and a 2.60 ERA, leading the league in wins and ranking second in strikeouts (202).

However, his performance declined in the next two seasons, as he struggled with injuries and inconsistency. He had a 7-10 record and a 3.88 ERA in 2016, and a 12-12 record and a 4.26 ERA in 2017. He was traded to the Houston Astros in January 2018, in exchange for four players.

He had a career resurgence with the Astros, becoming one of the most dominant pitchers in the American League. He had a 15-5 record and a 2.88 ERA in 2018, striking out 276 batters and ranking fifth in the AL Cy Young Award voting. He had an even better season in 2019, when he led the league in ERA (2.50), strikeouts (326), and strikeout rate (39.9%). He was named an All-Star, a Silver Slugger, and the AL Pitcher of the Month three times. He finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting, behind his teammate Justin Verlander. He also helped the Astros reach the World Series, where they lost to the Washington Nationals in seven games. He had a 4-1 record and a 1.72 ERA in the postseason, striking out 47 batters in 36.2 innings.

He became a free agent after the 2019 season, and received several lucrative offers from various teams. He ultimately chose to sign with the Yankees, his childhood team, for a record-breaking contract. He had a solid first season with the Yankees in 2020, despite the shortened schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He had a 7-3 record and a 2.84 ERA, striking out 94 batters in 73 innings. He was named an All-Star and finished fourth in the AL Cy Young Award voting. He also pitched in the postseason, where he had a 2-0 record and a 2.95 ERA, striking out 30 batters in 18.1 innings.

He continued his excellence with the Yankees in 2021, when he had a 16-8 record and a 3.23 ERA, striking out 243 batters in 181.1 innings. He was named an All-Star for the fourth time and finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting, behind Robbie Ray of the Toronto Blue Jays. He also pitched in the postseason, where he had a 0-1 record and a 9.00 ERA, striking out six batters in six innings.

He is having another great season with the Yankees in 2023, as of October 25. He has a 15-4 record and a 2.63 ERA, striking out 222 batters in 209 innings. He is leading the league in ERA, WHIP (0.981), and WAR (7.48). He is also a frontrunner for the AL Cy Young Award, which would be his first in his career. He is expected to start Game 1 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who defeated the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series.

Gerrit Cole Partner and Personal Life

Gerrit Cole is married to Amy Crawford, who is also a former college athlete. She played softball for UCLA, where she met Cole. They got engaged in 2015 and married in 2016. They have a son named Caden, who was born in 2020. They also have a dog named Luna, who is a golden retriever.

Cole and his wife are both philanthropic and involved in various charitable causes. They support the Pirates Charities, the Astros Foundation, the Yankees Foundation, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They also donated $50,000 to the Direct Relief organization, which provides medical supplies and equipment to health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cole is a fan of Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Marvel movies. He also enjoys playing video games, golfing, and fishing. He is close friends with his former teammates, such as Trevor Bauer, Jameson Taillon, and Josh Bell. He is also a devout Christian and attends church regularly.

Conclusion

Gerrit Cole is one of the best pitchers in MLB, and one of the richest athletes in the world. He has a remarkable career, a loving family, and a generous heart. He is a role model for many young baseball fans, and a leader for his team. He is also a lifelong Yankees fan, who is living his dream of playing for his favorite team. He is a true superstar, and a legend in the making.

Most Asked Questions and Answers

• Q: How old is Gerrit Cole?
  • A: Gerrit Cole is 33 years old as of 2023. He was born on September 8, 1990.
• Q: How tall is Gerrit Cole?
  • A: Gerrit Cole is 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm) tall.
• Q: How much does Gerrit Cole weigh?
  • A: Gerrit Cole weighs 225 pounds (102 kg).
• Q: What is Gerrit Cole’s jersey number?
  • A: Gerrit Cole wears the number 45 on his jersey. He chose this number because it was worn by his idol, Derek Jeter, who retired in 2014.
• Q: What is Gerrit Cole’s pitch repertoire?
  • A: Gerrit Cole throws five pitches: a four-seam fastball, a slider, a curveball, a changeup, and a knuckle-curve. His fastball is his most dominant pitch, which can reach speeds of over 100 mph. His slider and curveball are his main breaking pitches, which have sharp movement and deception. His changeup and knuckle-curve are his secondary pitches, which he uses to keep hitters off balance and induce weak contact.
• Q: What is Gerrit Cole’s nickname?
  • A: Gerrit Cole has several nicknames, such as Cole Train, Cole World, and Gerrit the Great. His teammates and fans also call him GC, G, or G-Man.
• Q: Where does Gerrit Cole live?
  • • A: Gerrit Cole lives in Greenwich, Connecticut, with his wife and son. He bought a mansion there in 2020, which has six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a pool, a spa, a gym, a wine cellar, and a movie theater.
• Q: Who is Gerrit Cole’s agent?
  • A: Gerrit Cole’s agent is Scott Boras, who is one of the most powerful and influential agents in sports. He represents many other star players, such as Bryce Harper, Max Scherzer, and Anthony Rendon. He is known for negotiating record-breaking contracts for his clients, and for being outspoken and controversial.
• Q: Who is Gerrit Cole’s wife?
  • A: Gerrit Cole’s wife is Amy Crawford, who is a former softball player for UCLA. She is the sister of Brandon Crawford, who is the shortstop for the San Francisco Giants. She and Cole met at UCLA, where they both played for the Bruins. They got married in 2016, and have a son named Caden, who was born in 2020.
• Q: What is Gerrit Cole’s education?
  • A: Gerrit Cole attended Orange Lutheran High School in California, where he graduated in 2008. He then went to UCLA, where he majored in history. He graduated in 2011, with a bachelor’s degree in history.
• Q: What awards has Gerrit Cole won?
  • A: Gerrit Cole has won many awards and honors throughout his career, such as:
    • Four-time All-Star (2015, 2019, 2020, 2021)
    • Silver Slugger (2019)
    • AL Pitcher of the Month (April, May, and September 2019)
    • AL Pitcher of the Week (four times)
    • MLB Players Choice Award for Outstanding Pitcher in the AL (2019)
    • MLBPA Players Choice Award for Marvin Miller Man of the Year (2020)
    • AL Cy Young Award runner-up (2019, 2021)
    • NL Cy Young Award fourth-place (2015)
    • AL MVP Award fifth-place (2019)
    • NL Rookie of the Year Award sixth-place (2013)
    • Golden Spikes Award finalist (2011)
    • Dick Howser Trophy finalist (2011)
    • Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year (2011)
    • Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year (2011)
    • First-team All-American (2011)
    • First-team All-Pac-10 (2011)
    • Freshman All-American (2009)
• Q: What records has Gerrit Cole set or broken?
  • A: Gerrit Cole has set or broken several records in his career, such as:
    • Largest contract ever for a pitcher ($324 million over nine years)
    • Highest average annual salary for a pitcher ($36 million)
    • Highest signing bonus for a drafted player ($9 million)
    • Most strikeouts in a single season by an AL pitcher (326 in 2019)
    • Most strikeouts in a single postseason game by a Yankees pitcher (15 in 2020 ALDS Game 1)
    • Most consecutive games with at least 10 strikeouts (nine in 2019)
    • Most consecutive games with at least one strikeout (73, ongoing as of 2023)
    • Most consecutive wins in the regular season (16 in 2019)
    • Most consecutive quality starts in the regular season (21 in 2019)
    • Most consecutive games with at least seven innings pitched and two or fewer runs allowed (nine in 2019)
    • Most strikeouts per nine innings in a single season by a qualified pitcher (13.82 in 2019)
    • Highest strikeout rate in a single season by a qualified pitcher (39.9% in 2019)
    • Lowest contact rate in a single season by a qualified pitcher (66.5% in 2019)
    • Lowest batting average against in a single season by a qualified pitcher (.186 in 2019)
    • Lowest home run to fly ball ratio in a single season by a qualified pitcher (5.9% in 2019)