| Jake Woodford | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Woodford with theMemphis Redbirds in 2023 | |
| Tampa Bay Rays | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1996-10-28)October 28, 1996 (age 29) St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 15, 2020, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 10–17 |
| Earned run average | 5.10 |
| Strikeouts | 168 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Jacob Robert Woodford (born October 28, 1996) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher in theTampa Bay Rays organization. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theSt. Louis Cardinals,Chicago White Sox,Pittsburgh Pirates, andArizona Diamondbacks. He made his MLB debut in 2020 with the Cardinals.
Woodford graduated fromPlant High School inTampa, Florida, where he played baseball and was teammates withKyle Tucker.[1][2] As a senior at Plant, Woodford was 7–0 with a 0.67 ERA.[3] He committed to theUniversity of Florida to playcollege baseball.[4] He was drafted by theSt. Louis Cardinals with the 39th overall pick in the2015 Major League Baseball draft and signed, forgoing his commitment to Florida.[5][6]
Woodford made his professional debut with the rookie-levelGulf Coast League Cardinals and spent all of 2015 there, pitching to a 1–0 record and a 2.39 ERA in eight games. He spent the 2016 season with thePeoria Chiefs where was named aMidwest League All-Star[7] and posted a 5–5 record with a 3.31 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 21 starts,[8] and 2017 with thePalm Beach Cardinals, where he went 7–6 with a 3.10 ERA in 23 games (21 starts).[9] Woodford was a non-roster invitee to 2018 spring training.[10]
Woodford began the 2018 season with theSpringfield Cardinals, with whom he was named aTexas League All-Star,[11] and was promoted to theMemphis Redbirds during the season.[12] In 16 starts for Springfield he compiled a 3–8 record with a 5.22 ERA, and in 12 starts for Memphis he was 5–5 with a 4.50 ERA.[13] He returned to Memphis to begin 2019,[14] earningPacific Coast League All-Star honors.[15] Over 26 starts for Memphis, Woodford went 9–8 with a 4.15 ERA, striking out 131 batters over151+2⁄3 innings. Woodford was added to St. Louis' 40–man roster following the 2019 season.[16]
On July 28, 2020, Woodford was promoted to the major leagues. On August 15, he made his major league debut against theChicago White Sox, pitching three innings, giving up one earned run and striking out three.[17] For the 2020 season, Woodford went 1-0 with a 5.57 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 21 innings.[18]
In 2021, Woodford worked mainly as a reliever but also started 8 games in the second half. He went 3-4 with a 3.99 ERA and 50 strikeouts over67+2⁄3 innings.
Woodford spent 2022 being recalled and optioned multiple times from the Memphis Redbirds, appearing in 11 games with the Redbirds (10 starts) and 27 games (1 start) with the Cardinals, where he went 4-0 with a 2.23 ERA across48+1⁄3 innings.
He was reassigned to the minor leagues on October 9, 2022, and activated by the Cardinals again on January 17, 2023.[19] On November 17, 2023, Woodford was non-tendered by the Cardinals.[20]
On January 10, 2024, Woodford signed a minor league contract with theChicago White Sox.[21] In 10 starts for the Triple–ACharlotte Knights, he recorded a 5.26 ERA with 42 strikeouts across49+2⁄3 innings pitched. On May 28, Woodford was selected to the active roster following an injury toMike Clevinger.[22] In two starts for Chicago, he surrendered 10 runs on 15 hits with seven strikeouts across8+1⁄3 innings. On June 7, Woodford was designated for assignment.[23] He elected free agency after clearing waivers on June 9.[24]
On June 10, 2024, Woodford signed a minor league contract with thePittsburgh Pirates.[25] In 7 starts for the Triple–AIndianapolis Indians, he recorded a 2.29 ERA with 37 strikeouts over35+1⁄3 innings pitched. On July 30, the Pirates selected Woodford's contract, adding him to their active roster.[26] In 6 games (4 starts) for Pittsburgh, he struggled to an 0–4 record and 6.95 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 22 innings of work. On August 26, Woodford was designated for assignment.[27] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Indianapolis on August 28.[28] However, Woodford rejected the assignment and elected free agency the following day.[29] On September 2, he re–signed with the team on a minor league contract. Woodford was selected to the major league roster on September 18.[30] In a spot start against theSt. Louis Cardinals, he pitched4+2⁄3 innings and allowed 4 runs on 8 hits with 5 strikeouts. Woodford was designated for assignment by the Pirates the following day.[31] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Indianapolis on September 22.[32] Woodford elected free agency on October 2.[33]
On January 12, 2025, Woodford signed a minor league contract with theColorado Rockies.[34] On March 23, Woodford exercised the opt-out clause in his contract and was released by the Rockies organization.[35]
On March 24, 2025, Woodford signed a minor league contract with theNew York Yankees organization.[36] In 10 appearances (seven starts) for the Triple-AScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, he logged a 2-2 record and 4.54 ERA with 39 strikeouts across39+2⁄3 innings pitched. On June 1, Woodford opted out of his contract and became a free agent.[37]
On June 5, 2025, Woodford signed a minor league contract with theChicago Cubs.[38] In four appearances (three starts) for the Triple-AIowa Cubs, he logged a 1-1 record and 4.57 ERA with 20 strikeouts across21+2⁄3 innings pitched. Woodford was released by the Cubs organization on July 1, after triggering the opt-out clause in his contract.[39]
On July 2, 2025, Woodford signed a major league contract with theArizona Diamondbacks.[40] In 22 relief appearances, he compiled an 0-4 record and 6.44 ERA with 23 strikeouts and threesave across36+1⁄3 innings pitched. On September 21, Woodford was designated for assignment following the promotion ofAustin Pope.[41] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-AReno Aces on September 23.[42] Woodford elected free agency on October 1.[43]
On November 21, 2025, Woodford signed a minor league contract with theTampa Bay Rays, that included an invitation to major league spring training.[44]