Ranking The Rockies: 16 Adam Ottavino

We at BSN Denver are running a series where we rank how valuable each of the Colorado Rockies’ 51 players was to the team in 2015. Value was calculated by statistics, viewing, and how memorable each player’s contributions were. The rankings will be from last to first, you may view the full rankings (here)

Player: Adam Ottavino

Stats: 10 G, 10.1 IP, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.484 WHIP, 1.49 FIP, N/A ERA+, 11.3 K/9, 1.7 BB/9, 0.4 WAR

Big Moment: April 12, the Colorado Rockies are at home in their season’s first series facing the Chicago Cubs. Ottavino came on to start the 7th with pinch-hitting pitcher Travis Wood stepping into the box. He struck him out, he also struck out Anthony Rizzo. He wasn’t able to go three up, three down due to an error, but he also started the eight recording a third strikeout against Jorge Soler. He struck out three in an inning and a third. That same game LaTroy Hawkins blew the save and Ottavino was named the closer the next day. The Rockies lost 6-5.

Season Recap: The 30-year old right-hander finished the season with his ERA being the same number as his uniform number, zero. He was on his way to cementing himself as one of the best closers in baseball by way of his nasty cement mixer. He added more to his repertoire this year which Fangraphs notes, he was truly fantastic in April before his season was ended by injury. He tore his ulnar collateral ligament and Dr. James Andrews operated Tommy John surgery on “Otto” in early May

What’s Ahead: Recovery takes 12 to 18 months and it is expected the Rockies will have their closer back sometime in May of 2016 if everything goes according to plan. He is arbitration eligible, so it will be interesting to see what kind of money the Rockies give to him under the circumstances of his major injury.