The Colorado Rockies are hoping John Axford can be the next prominent Canadian to thrive in Denver. Axford agreed to a minor league deal with the Rockies, the longtime team of 1997 NL MVP Larry Walker and left-hander Jeff Francis, and the current team of defending NL batting champion Justin Morneau.
Axford, who led the National League with 46 saves in 2011, should get the opportunity to pitch high-leverage innings in Colorado, while the Rockies get a former big league closer who posted a career-best ground ball rate in 2014.
The 31-year-old Port Dover, Ont. native spent the 2014 season with the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates, posting a 3.95 ERA with 63 strikeouts and 36 walks in 54.2 total innings. He lost the closer’s job in Cleveland, but posted a robust 53.6 percent ground ball rate on the season with an average fastball velocity of 94.7 m.p.h. Those numbers may have contributed to the Rockies’ interest, since their home park, Coors Field, has long been regarded as MLB’s most hitter-friendly stadium.
Last month Axford made it clear that he wanted the chance to close again.
“I want to be able to grab a hold of that job again at some point in my career and prove that I can do it again, and it’s not just a two-year fling,” he told Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi.
The veteran of six MLB seasons drew interest from other big league teams, including the team he rooted for growing up, the Toronto Blue Jays.