Colorado Rockies: Top Five Right-Handed Pitchers

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Jun 24, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; General view of a Colorado Rockies banner during a sunset over Coors Field in the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

The Colorado Rockies have been consistently towards the bottom of the league in team pitching throughout their 24-year history … but that isn’t to say that the Rockies haven’t had some talented pitchers come through Blake Street.

While most pitchers don’t call Denver home for an entire career, some have had special individual seasons or made a significant impact on the club in one way or another. As a part of Rox Pile’s all-time list series, let’s take a look at some of the best right-handed pitchers to sport purple pinstripes.

It’s an understatement to say that there was a much bigger pool of talent to choose from when examining right-handed pitchers vs. the southpaws. Not surprising seeing that a majority of players are right-handed. Out of six pitchers that have made the All-Star Game for Colorado, four of them have delivered from the right side of the mound. As for the two lefties to be named All-Stars, one is Brian Fuentes (the only Rockies pitcher named to multiple All-Star Games) and the other is, inexplicably, Mike Hampton, who sported a 5.41 ERA the year he was selected.

As per usual, Rox Pile used Baseball Reference‘s Career Wins Above Replacement statistic (bWAR) to compile the following list. Please note that the bWAR number applies only to a player’s tenure with Colorado and negates any career numbers with other teams. Please also note that a players bWAR looks at a player’s contributions as a collective, and negates any particular season where a player may have performed above average in comparison to the rest of their time in Colorado. That means guys like Marvin Freeman (2.80 ERA, 112.2 innings pitched in 1994) didn’t make the cut for this list. Don’t agree with the rankings? Feel someone was snubbed? Rox Pile wants to know!

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Aug 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; General view of Coors Field before the start of the game between the Kansas City Royals against the Colorado Rockies. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Pedro Astacio (1997-2001, 10.8 bWAR)

Pedro Astacio started out his career with the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. After six years in L.A., Colorado traded current first base coach Eric Young to acquire Astacio. In his first full season with Colorado, Astacio got rocked as he led the league in earned runs allowed, home runs allowed, and hit batsmen (clearly not things you want to led the league in). But Astacio tamed Coors Field a little bit and went on to win 17 games for the club in 1999. Astacio’s 1999 season is the second-best individual season by a pitcher in Rockies history according to bWAR.

Astacio established himself as the anchor of the Rockies staff during his tenure, although it was in vain as the Rockies never made the playoffs during the Astacio era. Pedro made a name for himself by having one of the most durable arms in all of baseball. Pedro once led the league in innings pitched, and holds the Rockies record of most complete games in career with 14. Astacio also struck out 170 batters or more in a season three different times, making him one of the best strikeout pitchers in Colorado Rockies history.

When everything was said and done, Astacio had a serviceable 16-year career in the Majors. Finishing his Rockies career with a 53-48 record in 827.1 IP. As one of the most durable pitchers in the Majors, Astacio led the league in home runs allowed three different times, and hit batsmen twice in his career. Rockies fans fell in love with Astacio because of his durability and flair for the strikeout. In the end, Coors Field had a dramatic effect on Astacio, his home/road splits are dramatic, including the fact that 10 of the 14 complete games Astacio threw came on the road. Had it not been for altitude, Astacio might have made an All-Star game or two. Astacio currently works as a pitching advisor for the Rockies front office.

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Apr 3, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; General view of baseballs before a game between the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Steve Reed (1993-1997, 2003-2004, 11.8 bWAR)

Steve Reed is the only reliever to make our list. At 461 games, Reed holds the Colorado Rockies record for most games played in club history (Brian Fuentes is next with 428 games played). In a strike-shortened 1994 season, Reed led the Majors in games played with 61. In seven collective seasons with Colorado, Reed made a name for himself as an iron man. Reed appeared in 60 or more games each season with Colorado.

Steve Reed was a middle reliever by trade and, like an offensive lineman in football, a middle reliever is a vital yet drab position. Reed was never showered with multiple All-Star Games, a shelf of awards, or much notoriety at all but was a stable force for Colorado. One way that we can look at Reed’s contributions is by turning to advanced statistics. An advanced pitching statistic called adjusted pitching runs (APR) allows us to measure how many runs a pitcher prevents from scoring compared to the league average. Reed is second in Rockies history with 66 runs prevented.

For those that remember watching Reed, the first thought that enters your mind is probably his delivery which resembled something between a side arm and submarine arm slot. Reed enjoyed a 14-year career in the Majors which included two separate stops in Colorado. The length of Reed’s career is astonishing considering he didn’t enter the league until the age of 27.

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Chacin looked sharp, but it wasn’t enough. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Jhoulys Chacin (2009-2014, 14.1 bWAR)

Jhoulys Chacin is one of the best starting pitchers Colorado has ever developed. Named the organizations top prospect in both 2009 and 2010, Chacin is only one of two Rockies to ever post a sub-3.50 ERA in a season more than once. That previous stat probably speaks more to the lack of quality pitching in Colorado rather than how good Chacin was, but regardless it earned him a top spot on this list.

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Signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2004, Chacin made his Major League debut with the Colorado Rockies in 2009. In his first full season in the Majors, Jhoulys established himself as one the best rookie pitchers by finishing in the top three in strikeouts. Not many pitchers in Colorado history have had better individual seasons than the one Jhoulys had in 2013. After starting 31 games, Chacin won 14 games and posted a 3.47 ERA for a Colorado team that lost 88 games.

Jhoulys would spend a majority of his adult life in the Colorado system. In his time with the big league squad, Chacin posted a less-than-spectacular 40-49 record, but an impressive 3.78 ERA. Chacin would battle shoulder issues all of 2014, ultimately leading to him being released by the Rockies in Spring of 2015. Since his departure, Chacin has fought his way back into the big leagues and is currently holding down the end of the Atlanta Braves rotation. If not for shoulder issues, one has to wonder if Chacin’s impact on Colorado could have been far greater.

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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.

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Ubaldo Jimenez warms up before a game for the Colorado Rockies. /

1. Ubaldo Jimenez (2006-2011, 18.6 bWAR)

Ubaldo Jimenez holds several significant places in Colorado Rockies history … some better than others. For instance, Ubaldo has a Rockies career ERA of 3.66 which is good enough for the best in the club history. Jimenez is also tied for the most shutouts in club history with three.

Jimenez’s finest moment as with the Rockies came on April 17, 2010. Facing off against the Braves in Atlanta, Jimenez became the first Rockie to ever pitch a no-hitter. On that night, Jimenez struck out seven Braves and frequently touched 100 MPH on his fastball. Jimenez would go on to have the greatest individual pitching season in Rockies history that year, setting single-season records for most wins (19) and most strikeouts (210). Jimenez would also become the first Rockies pitcher to ever start an All-Star Game. Jimenez finished in third for the National League Cy Young award in 2010.

The wheels came off for Jimenez after that spectacular 2010 season. In 21 games started for the Rockies in 2011, Ubaldo’s ERA ballooned to 4.46. Control became an apparent problem for the fire-baller. On top of the control issues, Ubaldo’s relationship with the Rockies front office deteriorated at a rapid pace as he wasn’t signed to an extension to the likes of Tulo and Carlos Gonzalez. The Rockies ended up trading off the disgruntled Jimenez.

After Jimenez landed elsewhere, a war of words took place between Tulo and Jimenez. Jimenez voiced what he saw as unfair treatment from Colorado. Tulowitzki rebutted that Jimenez wanted out. Whatever the case may be, the war of words came to fruition during a Spring Training game that saw Jimenez start against his old club. Jimenez would hit, and then charge Tulowitzki in his first at-bat. It was a rarity for a Spring Training game to say the least. Karma came around to Jimenez as he would go on to lead the league in losses (17) and wild pitches (16) that coming season.

Since his ugly departure from Colorado, Jimenez has been inconsistent at best with an ERA well over 4.00 in six seasons outside Denver. He is currently holding down a middle of the rotation spot for the Baltimore Orioles. When it is all said and done, Jimenez was the Rockies greatest and most notorious Rockies pitcher.

Next: Honorable Mention

May 10, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; General view of fans waiting to enter Coors Field before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Colorado Rockies. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Honorable Mention: Jason Jennings (2001-2006, 10.4 bWAR)

Jason Jennings is the only member of the Colorado Rockies to win Rookie of the Year. In 2002, Jennings went an impressive 16-8 with a 4.52 ERA and 127 strikeouts. Jennings’ debut is among one the most memorable in Rockies history. Facing off against the Mets at Shea Stadium, Jennings not only pitched a complete game shutout, but also collected three hits and a home run. Jennings would prove to be one of the best hitting pitchers of his era with .207 average.

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Jennings attended Baylor University and was named Baseball America’s 1999 National Player of the Year. Colorado drafted Jennings with the 16th pick in the 1999 draft. Like most Rockies pitchers, Jennings would struggle to sustain his success, finishing his Rockies career with a 58-56 record and a 4.74 ERA. At the time of his departure, Jennings was the Rockies’ all-time winningest pitcher, but would later be passed by Aaron Cook and Jorge De La Rosa.

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Colorado Rockies Countdown: Top Five Right-Handed Pitchers