Pirates to minimize distractions for Cole

CHICAGO -- Anticipation for Gerrit Cole's Major League debut will naturally grow until he delivers that first pitch from the PNC Park mound at 7:05 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

However, the build-up will be all "external," as Pirates manager Clint Hurdle likes to refer to the noise outside of his team's clubhouse.

The Pirates are ensuring that Cole's big league entry will be as muted and calming as possible.

The top overall pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft will be in-house Monday to check out his PNC Park locker and try on his new No. 45 uniform.

But Monday is a break in the Pirates' schedule, and the team will not hold any media events involving Cole. Thus, given starting pitchers' pregame routines, Cole will not get to meet with reporters until after his debut outing.

Hurdle does plan to share a quiet moment with the right-hander on Monday.

"I'll be interested to get his feedback on how he feels the progression of his season has gone," the manager said. "I'll ask him about what areas he feels he nailed down, and the things in front of him he thinks he still has to master."

Otherwise, Cole's entrance will be kept as low key as plausible. Just another one of 162.