Colorado Rockies Countdown: Top Five Right-Handed Pitchers

Rockies pitcher Aaron Cook sings from a rope. — Rockies pitcher Aaron Cook swings from a rope.

2. Aaron Cook (2002-2011, 16.8 bWAR)

Starting pitcher (and apparent Tarzan enthusiast) Aaron Cook has pitched more innings than anyone else in Colorado Rockies history. Respectfully, you’ll find Cook’s name toward the top of a lot of Rockies leaderboards. Most notably, Cook is second in career wins and complete games in club history. Cook will be remembered by Rockies fans not for having any one spectacular season, but for his consistency and almost decade-long stint in Colorado’s rotation. If there is a book written on how to be successful at Coors Field, then Cook wrote it. Cook relied heavily on a sinkerball that induced a ton of ground ball outs and won a lot of games for Colorado. Cook finished his Rockies career with a 36-32 record at Coors Field.

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Drafted in the second round of the 1997 draft by Colorado, Cook made his big league debut in 2002. Cook would start the last game of the 2007 World Series, a game which the Rockies lost but Cook gave the home team a chance to win. The following season would be Cook’s best. After representing the Rockies in the 2008 All-Star game, Cook posted a 16-9 record with a 3.97 ERA that season. For his Rockies career, Cook finished with 72-68 record, and a 4.53 ERA with 11 complete games. While not the flashiest pitcher Colorado has ever developed, Cook may be the most stable. Cookie optimizes the definition of a workhorse pitcher. Cook battled a plethora of injuries during his Rockies career and was predictably released in 2011. Cook signed with the Red Sox for the 2012 season and posted a 4-11 record. 2012 would be Cook’s last year in Major League baseball.

Next: Story Behind Rockies First No-No

2. Aaron Cook (2002-2011, 16.8 bWAR)

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