Gerrit Cole vs. Luke Nelson — Career Comparison

Gerrit Cole
MillenialCaliforniaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaPittsburgh PiratesNational LeagueStarting PitcherCy Young AwardAll-Star
Luke Nelson
Lost GenerationIllinoisThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaNew York YankeesAmerican LeagueRelief Pitcher

Gerrit Cole built a career as a starting pitcher and Luke Nelson as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Luke Nelson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.96 and WHIP 1.356 compared to 3.18 and 1.092 for Gerrit Cole. By the career numbers, Luke Nelson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Gerrit Cole and Luke Nelson

Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
12
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
317
1.46
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
3.33
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
317
1.46
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.37
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
153
0.7
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
1.11
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
80
0.37
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
65.67
65.67
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
11.11
11.11
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
0.04
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
0.02
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
690
3.18
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
2.96
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.18
3.18
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.96
2.96
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.85
2.85
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.6
3.6
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
3
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.11
4.11
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.225
0.225
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.244
0.244
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5862
27
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
73
27
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1954
9
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
24.1
9
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1627
7.49
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
22
8.14
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.49
7.49
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.14
8.14
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
217
1
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.37
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.37
0.37
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.68
0.68
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.11
0.11
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
500
2.3
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
11
4.07
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
0.03
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.3
2.3
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.07
4.07
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2251
10.37
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
11
4.07
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
10.37
10.37
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.07
4.07
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.1
7.1
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.22
1.22
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.408
1.408
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.904
0.904
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
58
0.27
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
61
0.28
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
0.37
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
0.04
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
7861
36.21
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
102
37.73
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
1.48
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
740
3.41
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
3.33
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.41
3.41
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.33
3.33
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
36
0.17
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
31
0.14
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
140
0.64
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.089
1.089
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.356
1.356
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7233
33.31
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
90
33.29
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.33
2.33
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
1
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.296
0.296
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.269
0.269
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
36.21
36.21
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
37.73
37.73

Fielding Stats for Gerrit Cole and Luke Nelson

Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
12
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
317
1.46
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
317
1.46
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5862
27
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1954
9
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
116
0.53
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
209
0.96
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
10
0.05
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
335
1.54
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
325
1.5
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
97.01
97.01
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
100
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.025
1.025
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.667
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
0.06
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0

Hitting Stats for Gerrit Cole and Luke Nelson

Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
12
12
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
1
1
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
320
671.33
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PAverified
9
771.43
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
286
600
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
7
600
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
251
526.57
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PAverified
7
600
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.163
0.163
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.143
0.143
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.46
0.46
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.429
0.429
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
41
86.01
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
1
85.71
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
36
75.52
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
2
4.2
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
6.29
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
5
10.49
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 600 PA
0.122
0.122
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.012
0.012
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.073
0.073
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
10.08
21.14
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.29
24.64
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
52
109.09
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
171.43
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
48
100.7
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
1
85.71
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.186
0.186
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.143
0.143
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 600 PA
0.207
0.207
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.286
0.286
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 600 PA
0.393
0.393
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.429
0.429
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 600 PA
0.044
0.044
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.143
0.143
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 600 PA
0.136
0.136
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.136
0.136
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 600 PA
0.276
0.276
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 600 PA
0.279
0.279
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
17
35.66
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
15
31.47
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
171.43
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
29
60.84
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
257.14
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6.18
12.97
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.07
5.62
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
2.1
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
12.59
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 600 PAverified
112
234.97
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
4
342.86
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.55
2.55
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
1.75
1.75
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.05
0.05
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
28
58.74
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 600 PA
4
8.39
Luke Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Gerrit Cole
Career
Per 600 PA
Luke Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA