Grading every Rockies’ first round pick in franchise history

Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

1996 – Jake Westbrook RHP (27th overall) Madison County High School (Georgia)

Westbrook started his long and successful career in the Rockies’ farm system, pitching for the Arizona League Rockies and Portland Rockies of the Northwest League in 1996. He was promoted to the Class A Asheville Tourists of the South Atlantic League in 1997 where he made 27 starts. Following the 1997 season, Westbrook was traded to the Montreal Expos with fellow minor leaguers John Nicholson and Mark Hamlin for infielder Mike Lansing.

Following two more seasons, making 27 starts in the Expos’ minor league system, Westbrook was traded again, this time to the New York Yankees in 1999. He made his Major League debut on June 17, 2000 with the Yankees and appeared in just three games before getting traded again on June 29, 2000 to the Cleveland Indians.

Westbrook found a home in Cleveland, pitching for the Indians from 2000-2010. He became a full-time starter in 2004 and was named to the American League All-Star team that season. In 2007, he signed a three-year, $33 million contract extension keeping him in Cleveland through the 2010 season.

At the trade deadline in the 2010 season, Westbrook was involved in a three-team trade that sent him to the St. Louis Cardinals. He won a World Series ring with the Cardinals in 2011 and announced his retirement from baseball before the 2014 season.

 Numbers with Rockies: (Minor League numbers) 24-17, 3.12 ERA, 244 K, 344.2 IP

Where Are They Now? After 13 seasons in the Major Leagues, Westbrook announced his retirement on February 14, 2014 . He is enjoying his retirement with his wife and four children at their home in Georgia.

Grade: B. Westbrook had a solid career, one that the Rockies would be happy with if he had spent some or any of it in Colorado. It turned out to be a good pick, just a bad choice to trade him before he developed into a good Major League arm.