Colorado Rockies: Ashton Goudeau continues strong spring

SCOTTSDALE — While many eyes were intently watching the performance of Kyle Freeland on Sunday, the starting pitcher wasn’t the only Colorado Rockies hurler to have a solid performance in the team’s 3-1 Cactus League win against the Cleveland Indians.

Ashton Goudeau continued his recent run of strong outings with two innings of scoreless relief, not allowing a hit in his time on the mound while fanning two. He retired the Indians in order in the fifth inning. He needed only 24 pitches (15 for strikes) to cover the two innings.

Goudeau, who was signed by the Colorado Rockies as a minor league free agent in November of 2018, has now allowed just nine hits in eight innings of relief this spring. He has permitted three earned runs while striking out five.

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After joining the Rockies, Goudeau was sent in 2019 to the club’s Double AA affiliate, Hartford, where the Newport, Arkansas, native began what has turned out to be a quite a string of consistent outings.

“We did a lot of good work in Hartford,” said Goudeau, who went 3-3 with a 2.07 earned run average in 16 starts and 78.1 innings pitched for the Yard Goats.

“I got reunited with one of my old pitching coaches, Steve Merriman,” he added. “He has a lot of information, like how to kind of clean up what you are doing to make you more effective, based on your identity.  (He helped me) figure out some of the small mechanical tweaks and really simplify mechanically what I was doing. He helped me simplify my game plan as far as my fastball, curveball and changeup … just making pitching easier and being able to concentrate on what I am doing. I think that has had a lot to do with it.”

Last fall, Goudeau continued his array of impressive mound performances as a member of the Salt River Rafters, who claimed the Arizona Fall League title.

For the Rafters, Goudeau made six scoreless relief appearances, permitting four hits with no walks and 18 strikeouts in 13 innings.

In the title game, he earned the win with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit, as the Rafters topped the Surprise Saguaros 5-1 for the championship.

Yes. It has been quite a journey for Goudeau, originally selected by Kansas City in the 27th round of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, who spent time in the Double AA Texas League with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals and Arkansas Travelers before being released by the Seattle organization.

Now the lanky right-hander is seeking to secure a spot on the Rockies opening day roster.

“I never really think about spots, especially this spring training,” he said.

“This is my first big league camp. I am just really focused on keep doing those things I focused on in Hartford. I want to get ready for another successful 2020 season. If I get that opportunity, just make the most of it and have fun along the way.”