No more juggling: Resilient Goudeau makes Rox Opening Day roster

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- While it’s fitting that Rockies right-hander Ashton Goudeau passes the time by juggling, it has to come as a relief for him to no longer be juggling from the perspective of someone just barely holding on.

From November 2020 through most of last season, Goudeau’s employment was as up in the air as the objects he juggles. He was a part of five different teams -- one he never played for, three others with which he never appeared in as much as an official Minor League game.

But manager Bud Black said Saturday morning that Goudeau has made the Rockies' 2022 Opening Day roster, after rejoining the club in late July and appearing in 11 games down the stretch (following a stint with the Reds, after Colorado didn't retain him after '20).

“In 2014, I was in Rookie ball with Kansas City and Tim Hill -- he’s with the Pirates now -- we were roommates, messing around in the dugout one day and he started juggling,” Goudeau said. “I was like, ‘I’ve always wanted to do that.’ So he taught me. It took a couple of games.”

Goudeau can often be spotted juggling in the bullpen. For a visual, please move to the 23-second mark of this Photo Day post from the Rockies’ Twitter page:

The versatility that Goudeau, 29, proved in his late-season trial last year with the Rockies (2-1, 4.26 ERA in 11 games and one start) and his efficient strike-throwing this spring helped him make this year’s squad.

It will be his first Opening Day in the Majors.

“He showed in this camp and last year that he’s very versatile, and obviously a strike-thrower with a three-pitch mix,” Black said. “He’s real resilient and fills a lot of different roles.”

In three spring appearances totaling 7 2/3 innings, Goudeau has a 3.52 ERA and a 0.65 WHIP.

“At the end of last year, when I got the opportunity to start the last game in Arizona, I felt I was in a pretty good position to make the team this year, whether it was as a starter or a long guy again,” Goudeau said. “That was before we had signed Chad [Kuhl, a righty starter].

“I trained in Denver, wanting to get my body ready for a full season. I came in pretty confident.”

Goudeau appeared in four games for the Rockies in 2020 (0-0, 7.56 ERA), then in November the Pirates claimed him off waivers.The Orioles claimed him before Spring Training 2021 and kept him until the last week of camp. The Giants brought him to the alternate training site for about a week, before the Dodgers and the Rockies each claimed and lost him. The Reds would claim him and use him in five games (4.00 ERA) until he landed with the Rockies and found a home.

Goudeau gives the bullpen additional right-handed relief capable of multiple innings. The Rockies also have Jhoulys Chacín, previously a starter, out of the bullpen as well. Chacín, though, has been used in short outings this spring. Non-roster lefty Ty Blach, who is stretched out enough to start games, appears to have earned a role, although the Rockies will have to clear a 40-man Major League roster spot to make room.

Also on Sunday, the Rockies optioned right-handed reliever Justin Lawrence to Triple-A Albuquerque. Lawrence had a strong camp and showed up with a breaking ball to go with a fastball that can reach 100 mph. The move means Lawrence will pitch high-leverage innings in the Minors while trying to earn a big league opportunity.

As for Goudeau, his strong spring earned him a spot -- and, he hopes, a chance to put an end to his balancing act.

Speaking of which, how did Goudeau learn to juggle?

“You have to start with something light, like a Kleenex, because it floats a little bit,” Goudeau said. “Then you can work with heavier objects.

“I just went to baseballs.”