Gerrit Cole Promoted to AA-Altoona

According to the team Twitter account, the Pirates have promoted right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole to Double-A Altoona. He will make his Curve-debut this Wednesday at home against the New Britain Rock Cats, start time at 7 p.m. Cole went 5-1 with a 2.55 ERA in 67 innings for the High-A Bradenton Marauders, while posting a 69:21 K/BB ratio.

Gerrit was the Pirates' first-overall pick in 2011 amateur draft, and this promotion means he's only a few more steps away from pitching at PNC Park.