Yankees select RHP Cole with #28 overall pick

GERRIT COLE, RHP - Orange (Calif.) Lutheran HS

MLB.com has Cole's scouting video here.

Scouting report from Baseball America:

Cole is the best righthander out of Southern California since Phil Hughes starred at Santa Ana's Foothills High in 2004. Cole's four-seam fastball ranges from 93-96 mph, occasionally peaking at 97-98. He adds a hard, late-breaking curve which shows bite, tilt and depth. Cole used his changeup sparingly early in the season, though he used it more later. Adding to Cole's considerable appeal to scouts is his tall, lanky and projectable frame, which is nearly ideal for a prep righthander. Scouts are split over whether Cole profiles as a starter or closer. He maintains velocity and pitch movement deep into games, but his inconsistent command and tendency to run up high pitch counts may move him to the bullpen. Some scouts have compared him to Mariners closer J.J. Putz. Cole does bring mechanical concerns. He lands on a stiff front leg, and he recoils his arm during his follow-through. Both hurt control and raise injury concerns. Complicating the situation, Cole's adviser is the Scott Boras Corp., which may eliminate many clubs from consideration. Cole also hasn't endeared himself to scouts or teammates with what one scout described as his immature mound demeanor.

Keith Law has Cole ranked as the tenth best talent in the draft:

Cole is a strongly built right-handed pitcher with the best arm among prep players in this draft. His fastball is electric, with a four-seamer at 96-97 mph and a two-seamer with good tail at 93-95 mph. His arm is loose and unbelievably quick. His delivery isn't smooth, however: His arm action is long and he gets his elbow up a little too high in the back. His breaking ball is a sharp curve with slider-like tilt, but it's inconsistent and he doesn't use it that often in games, pitching mostly off his fastball. Cole also has a changeup with good fading action that he tries to guide out of his hand. Makeup concerns surfaced after he chose Scott Boras as his advisor, but weren't a factor prior to last autumn. Stuff this good wouldn't get out of the top 10 picks if Cole was signable for slot, but the Boras connection and Cole's commitment to UCLA will see him fall to a team willing to pay top dollar for a top arm.