MLB Network continued their rankings of the top ten players at each position on Thursday night. Gerrit Cole didn’t make the main list for the show(known as the Shredder), but he did get some notice from guests on the show.
Mike Petriello, who is a baseball analyst for MLB.com, had Cole ranked ninth overall.
Vince Gennaro, who is the President of SABR, had Cole ranked seventh.
Brian Kenny, John Smoltz and Bill James did not have Cole in their top ten.
The rankings are based on what to expect from the pitchers in the 2016 season. Cole turned 25 in September and he’s coming off a season in which he had a 2.60 ERA in 208 innings, with 202 strikeouts and an 1.09 WHIP. He finished fourth in the NL Cy Young voting.
The Shredder’s top ten from 1-10 had Clayton Kershaw, Jake Arrieta, Zack Greinke, David Price, Chris Sale, Max Scherzer, Corey Kluber, Dallas Keuchel, Felix Hernandez and Adam Wainwright.
Jose Fernandez, Jacob DeGrom, Matt Harvey, Jon Lester, Cole Hamels, Carlos Carrasco and Madison Bumgarner all made at least one top ten list.
They have now covered four positions on MLB Network. Andrew McCutchen was ranked between 2-4 by everyone for center fielders last Thursday. The Pirates came up empty at first base and shortstop.
