The road traveled by A.J. Cole as he debuts with the Nationals in Atlanta

It is exciting to see one of the Nationals' top prospects, A.J. Cole, get a shot tonight and a chance to stop his club's longest losing streak of the season in his major league debut.

I remember saying hello to the tall, lanky and quiet right-hander at a minor league game a couple of seasons ago. He was charting pitches, and was cool and calm, just like he is on the mound.

It all starts with Cole's difference-making fastball, plus a changeup and an improving slider. Baseball America editor-in-chief John Manuel told me in December that if Cole can make that slider a pitch that major league players go after, he could be a Rick Porcello-type of starter in the bigs.

"He keeps on doing it," Manuel told me. "He's getting a little bit better every year. And to me, what I like about him is he throws a lot of quality strikes with the fastball. Changeup sounds like it's his second pitch, slider is making progress."

And it makes for a great story if Cole can succeed tonight and in the future with the Nats after he was traded to Oakland and then traded back to the Nationals a season later. After struggling at the Single-A level with the Athletics, he has rolled with the Nats, and seems more sure of himself.

He was drafted in the fourth round by the Nationals in 2010. When he first signed with the Nats, he talked about why he decided to go pro instead of accepting a scholarship at University of Miami, and also spoke about his admiration for former Braves pitcher John Smoltz.

His stuff certainly plays. Last season, he was 7-0 with Triple-A Syracuse and 6-3 with Double-A Harrisburg, combining for a 3.16 ERA in 25 starts and striking out 111 batters.

I'd also be willing to bet that his family and friends have quickly dropped everything and made the 455-mile trip from Oviedo, Fla., to see Cole pitch tonight against the Braves.

Maybe even Smoltz will notice him tonight.