If you like what you’re reading then you will like my 2015 Fantasy Baseball Guide! Last year’s fantasy guide was more than 150,000 words and had 440 player profiles (of hitters and pitchers). My approach to player evaluation is to ask questions about what the player has done in the past and what he may do in the future. I certainly provide a narrative on how I feel a player will perform, but I also ask a lot of open ended questions that I hope will get you thinking about the information I’ve provided.

Last year I was huge believer in Gerrit Cole because of his raw stuff, the impeccable command (at times) of the fastball and how quickly he made adjustments in 2013. In last year’s guide I predicted the strikeout rate would increase to 24% and it did. What I didn’t plan for was him missing a third of the season with shoulder a strain and fatigue.

For me, his raw skill set is so good that he could be a top five starting pitcher in baseball. What’s going to suppress his ADP is the injury last year and the “lack” of production in minors and majors. In regards to the numbers in the minors it’s important to remember when players are in the minors they are developing and working on things.

What’s interesting is Cole seems to change when he wants or does not want to dominate. In his last nine starts he had a 3.14 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 29.0% strikeout rate, 5.4% walk rate with a .311 BABIP. In his first 14 starts he posted a 4.02 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 21.0% strikeout rate, 8.1% walk rate and a .325 BABIP. In regards to his 2014 statistics I have no idea how much injuries effected his season so instead I’m going to rely on the eye test and the scouting reports I’ve read.

Overall, his skill set and makeup are so good I’m going to target him in every draft because his upside is so high. In order to win in fantasy baseball you need players to outperform their draft day values and Cole is a prime candidate to do that. Last year he only started 22 games, but he won 11 of them and that’s indicative of how good the Pirates defense and bullpen are. He has a very good chance to win 14-plus games if he can make 30-plus starts.

My projection for Gerrit Cole in 2015 is 190 IP, 3.30 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 200 Ks and 14 wins.