Vodnik pitching fearlessly and consistently

This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

SAN FRANCISCO – Trying to swing the most competitive game of the weekend series against the Giants their way, the Rockies sent their most successful acquisition of last year’s Trade Deadline period – Victor Vodnik, the closest pitcher they have to a closer – to pitch the eighth inning on Sunday afternoon.

This being San Francisco, where the Rockies have dropped 12 straight, it almost went horribly wrong. Tyler Fitzgerald’s line drive fortunately wasn’t high enough to threaten Vodnik’s head, but it hit hard off the back of his right arm, just below his shoulder. The 24-year-old was able to complete the inning scoreless. However, Colorado fell short to the Giants, 5-4, in the series finale.

Vodnik gave a postgame thumbs-up, saying he was all right and showing the spot where he was hit.

Going into the season, Vodnik – who came from the Braves with starting pitcher Tanner Gordon for veteran reliever Pierce Johnson on July 24, 2023 – looked destined for the shuttle between the Rockies and Triple-A Albuquerque. He entered the year with all his Minor League options. But from the start, he threw hard and effectively.

Vodnik's 97.8 mph fastball average has him in the 97th percentile among MLB pitchers, which is a key to his 50 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings. He also is in the 89th percentile at forcing ground balls – a great benefit.

Colorado worked Vodnik into higher-leverage innings as the season progressed, and it used him for more than one inning in tight games on several occasions. But he has found himself pitching later in games. In 10 appearances in July, Vodnik has converted all three of his save chances, and he has struck out 12 against three walks in 12 1/3 innings.

“I’ve always grown up being ‘a dog’ – wanting the ball and wanting to compete, and not losing that drive,” Vodnik said. “It’s part of the dream, and I’m just going to continue to do it.”

Colorado worked Vodnik into higher-leverage innings as the season progressed, and it used him for more than one inning in tight games on several occasions. But he has found himself pitching later in games. In 10 appearances in July, Vodnik has converted all three of his save chances, and he has struck out 12 against three walks in 12 1/3 innings.

“I’ve always grown up being ‘a dog’ – wanting the ball and wanting to compete, and not losing that drive,” Vodnik said. “It’s part of the dream, and I’m just going to continue to do it.”

Not even one of the Rockies’ biggest gut punches slowed Vodnik’s aggression. On June 18, Vodnik, his teammates and pretty much everyone at Coors Field thought he had struck out the Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez to earn a save. But Hernandez was ruled to have checked his swing, then he poked Vodnik’s next pitch over the right-center-field wall for an 11-9 Dodgers victory.

But Vodnik’s next six outings were scoreless, and the pitches were fearless.

“Guys with power and guys who turn it loose, I mean, that’s just who he is,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “There’s an aggressive nature to his style, which I love.”

Vodnik leads the Rockies in relief innings pitched with 55 1/3, and his 45 appearances are tied with Jalen Beeks for second on the team behind Tyler Kinley's 47. Vodnik, who adheres to an arm care program devised by The Art of Pitching in Upland, Calif., said he feels healthy, and the frequent opportunities have given him a chance to harness his pitches.

“It’s more about consistency, and I’ve done a good job of that so far,” Vodnik said. “I’ve been battling keeping the monster that’s inside of me tame. It’s just knowing a good time to release it – let it all out.”