2011 MLB Draft Re-visited: Cole, Fernandez or Gray?

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

A year before, the 2010 MLB draft, simply put, was the year of Bryce Harper. It’s highly probable that no team slotted to select first overall that year would have passed on the young phenom from Las Vegas, NV. The Washington Nationals are that relentless senior citizen plugging a singular slot machine at the casino, purging dime after dime into its orifice knowing the huge jackpot payoff is inevitable.

2015 looks to be the Nats’ payoff season, a preview into what’s to come from the 22-year-old slugger. Under club control until 2019, management can now start to imagine what riches await their organization at the hands of Harper. A World Series? A possible Hall of Famer? If anything, a marketable player who will make them tons of money in tickets and merchandise sales.

But if 2010 was the year of Harper, the year after’s MLB draft was the year of the pitcher. Three clubs drafted them in the first round and already have arms appearing to be capable of headlining a rotation for years to come as legitimate aces. The teams fortunate enough to strike the jackpot with their first round picks so far are the Pittsburgh Pirates that took Gerrit Cole first overall, the Miami Marlins then followed by selecting Jose Fernandez and then the Oakland Athletics drafted Sonny Gray.

Even outside of these three difference makers, there are a number of starters from the 2011 draft who are showing real potential towards becoming impact hurlers in MLB and are on the cusp of breaking into the league with a bang.

Though it’s probably too soon to be sure who was the best investment, let’s weigh the pros and cons and speculate as to which one(s) has a chance of reaching Cooperstown.

Be sure to cast a vote on the final slide for the guy you see leaving the most lasting impression on the game.

Next: Gerrit Cole