Ranking The Rockies: 48 Jason Gurka

We at BSN Denver are running a series where we rank how valuable each of the 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: Jason Gurka

Stats: 9 G, 7.2 IP, 9.39 ERA, 2.348 WHIP, FIP 3.79, ERA+ 52, BF 39, H 16, BB 2, K 7, WAR 0.0

Big Moment: September 15th, in a 16 inning record setting marthon game, Gurka plays right field for the Rockies. He came in after Carlos Gonzalez injured himself batting in the top of the 15th. The game featured a Major League record of 30 players used by one team (the Rockies), 13 pitchers used by one team (the Rockies), also a combined use of 58 players and 24 pitchers used between both teams (both MLB records). Gurka got to field a soft groundball where he didn’t do much but it’s still the crazy game fans dream of seeing. The game was won by the Rockies on a Nolan Arenado solo home run in the 16th inning.

Season Recap: It says a lot that a reliever’s biggest moment was as a right fielder. Gurka was not good this year playing for the Rockies, in more than half of his nine appearances he allowed at least one run. He started the year in AA New Britan getting a promotion at the end of May to AAA Albuquerque. He was very good in the minors this year with a 2.86 ERA in 63 innings, with a five and one record, nabbing 53 strikeouts while yielding 18 walks.

What’s Ahead: Gurka will be a minor league free agent if the Rockies do not tender him this offseason. It is more likely that he will be brought back, not only to compete for a 2016 bullpen role but to be a solid relief option for the Isotopes.