"It was a pleasure to play in Houston" - When Gerrit Cole reflected on his Astros tenure sporting a Scott Boras agency hat after World Series loss

Gerrit Cole has developed into one of the best pitchers in MLB. The reigning Cy Young Award winner has been solid throughout his career, however, when he made the move from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Houston Astros in 2018, he became a true superstar.

As a member of the Astros, he pitched two strong seasons with the club, earning an All-Star selection in each season. In what would be his final season with Houston, the right-hander helped the club reach the 2019 World Series.

While they would ultimately fall to the Washington Nationals, Cole was solid for the team, pitching two games in the World Series.

Following the loss, his contract came to an end, making him one of the most coveted unrestricted free agents of the offseason. Cole, who donned a hat of his agent Scott Boras' company, reflected positively on his experience with the team.

"Lots of good friendships. Obviously learned a lot about pitching from my teammates, from the pitching coaches and staff. Learned a lot more about the game from A.J. It was just a pleasure to play in the City of Houston [00:01]," Cole said of his tenure with the Astros.

Over his two seasons with the Astros, Cole posted an impressive 35-10 record with a 2.68 ERA and 602 strikeouts. While he was unable to secure a Cy Young Award or World Series title with the Astros, he built his value ahead of unrestricted free agency.

While he would ultimately leave the Astros in favor of the New York Yankees after signing a nine-year, $324 million contract in free agency, the ace acknowledged the impact that the club and, more importantly, his teammates had on him.

"I said it earlier, I'm going to have some friends from this clubhouse probably for the rest of my life. So, you just don't just take situations like that for granted [00:45]," Cole continued.

Gerrit Cole will try to keep the Yankees' World Series hopes alive in Game 5

Now in his fifth season with the New York Yankees, Cole finds himself back in the World Series. Heading into Wednesday night's action, the Yankees have their backs against the wall, as the Los Angeles Dodgers hold a commanding 3-1 lead over the Bronx Bombers.

The fate of the New York Yankees season could rest in the hands of Cole, who will start Game 5 against the Dodgers. If the ace is going to finally win his first World Series title, he is going to need to perform under the lights in New York in Game 5.