Position: RHP
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 215 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 10/28/1996
High School: H.B. Plant HS (Tampa, FL)
Drafted: 1st round, 39th Overall, 2015 (Cards)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
Bonus: $1,800,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Minor League Free Agency: 2024
Options Left: 0
Overview
Woodford was a supplemental first round pick for St. Louis out of high school. He made his way through the minors as a solid but not outstanding starting pitching prospect. He throws a sinker that sits at 91-92 mph and has recently added a cutter. His main secondary pitch is a slider and he occasionally throws a change. The secondary pitches have never been that effective, leading to low K rates, although Woodford has generally had a good groundball rate. He saw major league action every year from 2020 to 2023, moving back and forth frequently between AAA and the majors. At the latter level he’s pitched in more of a swing role, with much better results in relief than starting. The Pirates signed Woodford to a minor league deal for 2024 after the White Sox designated him for assignment and he elected free agency.
2015-17
Woodford moved steadily up through the lower levels of the Cards’ system as a starter. He put up solid numbers in the Gulf Coast League in 2015 and in Low Class A, as a 19-year-old, in 2016, although with low K rates. He got hit a bit more in 2017 in High Class A, with opponents batting .280 against him and striking out only 5.4 times per nine innings. He consistently ranked 17th or 18th in the St. Louis system according to Baseball America.
2018-19
Woodford split the 2018 between AA and AAA, but didn’t pitch well at either stop. He was actually more effective in AAA, with a 4.50 ERA vs. 5.22. Gopher balls were a problem in AA, as he allowed 13 in 81 innings. The Cards sent him back to AAA and he was harder to hit there, posting a 4.15 ERA in the high-offense Pacific Coast League, with 22 home runs allowed in 151.2 IP. He increased his K/9 to 7.8, but his BB/9 mushroomed to 4.5. After the season St. Louis added Woodford to the 40-man roster.
2020-22
With no minor league baseball in 2020, Woodford got into a dozen games for the Cards, all in relief except one three-inning start. He had a 1.19 WHIP, but gopher balls were a huge problem, as he allowed seven in just 21 innings.
Woodford spent 2021-22 shuttling back and forth between AAA and the majors, serving as a starter in AAA and mainly as a reliever for the Cards, although he made eight starts in 2021. He pitched reasonably well for the Cards in 2021, with a 3.99 ERA and 1.35 WHIP. In 2022, he put up a 2.23 ERA in 27 St. Louis games, all but one in relief. He had a 1.12 WHIP but only a 4.5 K/9.
2023-24
In 2023, Woodford again split the season between AAA and the majors, although he also made three starts in AA after an injury. He missed most of May and all of July with right shoulder issues. Woodford pitched in 15 games with the Cards, eight of them starts. He did well in AAA, but had a rough time in the majors, with a 6.23 ERA and poor numbers otherwise. Gopher balls were a problem again, as he allowed nearly one every four innings. After the season, the Cards non-tendered him and he signed a minor league deal with the White Sox.
In 2024, Woodford made ten starts for the White Sox in AAA. His numbers were skewed by one start in which he allowed nine earned runs and recorded only one out. Otherwise, he pitched well and Chicago called him up at the end of May. He made two starts for them that went badly and they outrighted him to AAA. Woodford declined the assignment and the Pirates signed him to a minor league deal the next day. Woodford pitched well for Indianapolis and the Pirates called him up at the end of July. He made six appearances, including four starts, the last two of which went badly. The Pirates designated him for assignment in late August and outrighted him to AAA when he cleared waivers. Then they called him back up in mid-September. He made one start and was dfa’d again the next day.
Stats
Transactions
June 8, 2015: Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1st round, 39th overall pick; signed June 15.
November 20, 2019: Contract purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals.
November 17, 2023: Elected free agency.
January 3, 2024: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Chicago White Sox.
May 28, 2024: Called up by the Chicago White Sox.
June 9, 2024: Outrighted to AAA by the Chicago White Sox and elected free agency.
June 10, 2024: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
July 30, 2024: Called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
August 28, 2024: Outrighted to AAA by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
September 18, 2024: Called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
September 23, 2024: Outrighted to AAA by the Pittsburgh Pirates.