Milwaukee Brewers Option David Goforth to AAA

With the season getting closer, the Milwaukee Brewers’ roster is getting closer to how it will look on opening day. Today the roster got smaller as reliever David Goforth was optioned to Colorado Springs. While he didn’t have much of a chance to make the roster this spring, Goforth is a pitcher who has the talent to make an impact on the Brewers’ roster in the near future.

Through four minor league seasons, Goforth saw time as a stater before being moved into a more fitting bullpen role. In this role he has shined. In 16 relief appearances in 2013 Goforth went 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA coming out of the bullpen for AA Huntsville.

Last season he was even better as the team’s closer. Pitching in 54 games, Goforth finished the year with 5-4 record, a 3.76 ERA and 27 saves. Perhaps one of his best numbers throughout the season was that he allowed just two home runs in 64.2 innings of work.

The major issue with Gofoth has been command. Though he has a strong repertoire of pitches, he often struggles to rack up high strikeout numbers. Last season, he averaged four walks per nine innings. This is something that must be improved if he hopes to be a reliable major league reliever.

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This spring Goforth was just as solid when called upon, but still struggled throwing strikes at times. In seven games, (6.1 innings) he allowed only one run and able to average over a strikeout per inning, but he also walked three batters over this short time.

In the Yovani Gallardo trade the Brewers added Corey Knebel, an arm that has future closer written all over it, but that doesn’t mean that Gofoth doesn’t have a future in Milwaukee, too. With a power fastball that he brings in the mid-90s, Goforth is currently rated as the Brewers’ 20th best prospect according to MLB.com. If he is able to find the strike-zone with more regularity he could be another cheap, controllable option that will help make the Brewers’ strong bullpen even stronger as a late inning option soon.

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