Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Sunday he's been impressed with how rookie starting pitcher Gerrit Cole has been able to keep the ball down in the strike zone, reports the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
"A lot of the big throwers, at least in my experience, spray the ball. And when they spray it, it's up top," Hurdle said. "That hasn't been the case with Gerrit at all. He really gets out and down with his delivery. It's a quick arm (action) at the end. It's down angle."
Cole has a 49 percent ground-ball rate.
"It's probably the way he's been built since he's been on a mound," Hurdle said. "The low drive, the big legs. He's got that build where -- you hate to use the term -- but it's almost a drop-and-drive type delivery."