Chad Girodo’s remarkable rise to the Big Leagues
Chad Girodo made his big league debut last week with the Toronto Blue Jays. His turnaround, which started at MSU, is remarkable.
Chad Girodo came to Mississippi State as a freshman in 2010. The Diamond Dawgs weren’t very good and neither was Chad. He posted a 2-3 record with a 7.40 ERA in 48.1 innings.
In 2011, State experienced a resurgent season by making a Regional for the first time since 2007. But Girodo was hardly the reason as he struggled once again. This time with a 5.76 ERA in 29.2 innings pitched.
2012: more struggles. In fact, he barely got time on the mound with only 7.2 IP as MSU soared to a SEC Tournament championship. He was no where near a MLB draft pick after his junior season.
Then heading into his senior year at State, pitching coach Butch Thompson suggested Girodo go to a three-quarter arm slot delivery. That adjustment changed everything.
In 2013, Girodo proved early on to be a different pitcher. Coach John Cohen slowly gave him more and more responsibility until he was ready to unleash Chad in crucial situations. Ultimately, he finished the year 9-1 with a 1.36 ERA in 59.2 innings.
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That postseason, Chad Girodo was one of the Bulldogs’ most valuable weapons. He had been a one or two inning reliever all year, but suddenly became a long-reliever. Each of his last four appearances went for at least four innings – three of them going for more than six – and he posted an ERA of less than 2 in each.
That great senior year earned him a 9th round draft choice by the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
He struggled slightly with the adjustment after being drafted in 2013, but since the 2014 season he’s been the same Chad we saw at MSU during his final season.
2014 in high A: 7-3 with 2.47 ERA in 76.2 IP.
2015 in high A, AA and AAA: 4-2 with 1.34 ERA in 60.1 IP.
He started 2016 with the Buffalo Bisons when he got the call to join the Blue Jays. Chad was only able to make one appearance before he had to go back down to the minors but it was a successful one: two scoreless innings with a strikeout.
There’s little doubt Girodo will be back up the the Blue Jays soon. With his devastating slider and funky arm angle, he can be very deceptive. Not to mention he’s a lefty. At 25 years old now, he’s got plenty of time to make a name for himself in Major League Baseball.