The Rockies have agreed to a minor league contract with right-handed pitcher Jake Woodford, as reported by MLB.com’s Thomas Harding. The deal likely includes an invitation to big league Spring Training, giving Woodford a chance to compete for a spot in the rotation or bullpen when camp opens next month.
Woodford, 28, was a first-round pick by the Cardinals in 2015. After progressing through the minor leagues, he made his major league debut in 2020. His performance that season wasn’t impressive, posting a 5.57 ERA in 21 innings. Over the next few years, he continued to pitch for St. Louis in a versatile role, showing solid results in 2021 and 2022 with a 3.26 ERA (121 ERA+) and a 3.93 FIP across 116 innings, split between nine starts and 42 relief appearances. However, his 15.4% strikeout rate during this period was well below average, raising concerns.
In 2023, Woodford’s strikeout struggles became more problematic, as he posted a 6.23 ERA in 47 2/3 innings. His strikeout rate dropped to 13.1%, and his walk rate rose to 9.1%, which contributed to his poor performance. Despite a solid 51.2% groundball rate, he allowed significant damage when batters managed to elevate the ball, as evidenced by an 11.3% barrel rate. These struggles led the Cardinals to non-tender him in November 2023.
Woodford signed a minor league contract with the White Sox for the 2024 season, and was called up in late May to replace injured pitcher Mike Clevinger. He made two starts for Chicago, allowing ten runs on 15 hits, two homers, and five walks in 8 1/3 innings, before being designated for assignment in June. He elected free agency and quickly signed with the Pirates, where he made seven appearances (five starts and two relief outings), posting a 7.09 ERA. Although his 4.07 FIP suggested some bad luck, his strikeout issues continued, with only 15.7% of batters struck out.
Woodford was eventually outrighted off the Pirates’ roster at the end of the season and returned to minor league free agency. Now, he will have a chance with the Rockies, a team that has faced challenges with pitching due to the high elevation at Coors Field. As a result, they often prioritize groundball pitchers, making Woodford’s 45.1% career groundball rate appealing.
However, given his recent struggles, Woodford will have to earn a spot on the roster during Spring Training, as the Rockies appear set in their rotation with Germán Márquez, Kyle Freeland, Austin Gomber, Ryan Feltner, and Antonio Senzatela. The bullpen may offer more flexibility, and with a strong Spring Training, Woodford could potentially beat out players like Angel Chivilli or Tanner Gordon for a roster spot.
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