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By Andrew Gould
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Gerrit Cole could secure an obscure MLB record as the 2026 season winds down.
The Athletic's Tyler Kepner noted that Cole is three wins away from passing Mike Moore for the most wins by a pitcher drafted No. 1 overall. The New York Yankees ace enters Friday's start against the Toronto Blue Jays with 159 victories.
Cole didn't know about the history he's approaching until Kepner informed him earlier this week.
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"That’s wild," Cole said. "That’s wild. That's kinda neat, I've got to be honest."
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Cole chose to attend UCLA after the Yankees made him the No. 28 pick in 2008. Three years later, the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him No. 1 overall.
The right-hander has met the high billing, recording a 3.18 ERA in 13 MLB seasons. Cole won his first Cy Young Award in 2023 with a 2.63 ERA and 222 strikeouts in 209 innings.
After missing all of the 2025 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, Cole has returned to post a 3.35 ERA in 14 starts this season. The six-time All-Star passed David Price's 157 wins by winning each of his last three turns, allowing three combined runs with 21 strikeouts.
Cole has garnered the third-most wins of all active pitchers behind former No. 2 pick Justin Verlander (266) and former No. 11 selection Max Scherzer (222). The 35-year-old could hope to eventually join the increasingly elusive 200-win club, which may serve as a new Hall of Fame barometer for modern pitchers.
Cole will seek his 160th career triumph when the Yankees start a three-game series against the Blue Jays on Friday. Apple TV will stream the AL East matchup at 7:15 p.m. ET.
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