Grading The Brewers: Rob Wooten

Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Like basically everyone else on the Milwaukee Brewers, Rob Wooten made his major league debut last season after he was promoted from Triple-A Nashville. He appeared in only 27 games with the Brewers.

Grading Wooten will be difficult especially since I don’t like labeling someone who hasn’t had a full season under his belt. But I’ll assess him based on what I’ve seen so far.

Wooten posted an ERA of 3.98 ERA (4.16 FIP) in 27 innings while boasting a 5.86 K/9. The right-hander held opponents to a .255 batting average but allowed a .299 BABIP. The reason his ERA almost touched 4.00 is because of his performance in September. Hitters feasted on him, hitting .349 against him which led to his allowing eight earned runs in 11 innings. Fortunately, he was only used in low leverage situations; he was never relied on to pitch in late close games.

His arsenal features a high-80’s fastball and a slider that stays around the mid-70’s. I call him the Tom Gorzelanny of righties. But as much as he’s like Gorzelanny, he has yet to prove himself in the big leagues. Granted he’s only been involved in 27 major league games in his career, but in the two months he was in Milwaukee, he couldn’t find consistency.

Unless the Brewers decide to fill the bullpen with a few free agent arms, Wooten should be in consideration for the opening day roster, although Donovan Hand could beat him out. Hand is a bit more versatile and has experience starting. Wooten will have to have a strong spring for the Brewers to make it.

Grade: C-

If it weren’t for his abysmal September, Wooten would have received a solid B, but September worried me. He looked extremely predictable.