By: Jay Blue and @JaysGirlEmily

Blue Jays From Away

Now that the season is over, the crew at Blue Jays from Away will take a look at the Blue Jays one by one and review how each player’s season went, whether he met expectations (or not) and look at how he fits into (what we think of) the Blue Jays’ plans going forward.

Chad Girodo, the Jays’ ninth round pick of the 2013 draft, made his major league debut on April 22, throwing two scoreless innings with one hit against and one strikeout before being sent back to Buffalo for a couple of games.

The side-arming lefty returned to Toronto to spend the month of May in the big leagues. He was hit fairly hard, allowing runs in four of his 10 games, including three home runs, allowing an OPS of 1.049. While he limited walks to just two, he struck out only three in 6 1/3 innings.

Girodo pitched three more times in Toronto in June, allowing a run in two innings with a strikeout (and no walks) and went down to Buffalo for the rest of the season, not appearing in Toronto for the rest of the year.

Overall, Girodo had a 3.79 ERA in 35 2/3 innings with the Buffalo Bisons, striking out 24 and walking 13 while posting a 4.35 ERA with Toronto in 10 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out five, giving up three home runs.

Girodo is primarily a LOOGY with a fastball in the mid-to-high 80s and a frisbee-like slider and will get a look in spring training for 2017.

Contract Status

Girodo has less than a year of MLB service time and is on the 40-man roster. If he plays for Toronto in 2017, it’ll be at or near the minimum salary.

Emily Says

25-year-old Chad Girodo made his MLB debut on April 22 against Oakland. He allowed one hit and no runs over two innings, struck out one and also hit a batter.

He then returned to Buffalo, before being recalled on May 4th. He made eleven appearances in May, totaling 6.1 innings, and allowed four earned runs, including three homers. His ERA for the month was 5.68. He also allowed eight hits, struck out three and walked two over the course of the month.

After being sent back down and called up again mid-June, he then made three more appearances, allowed one run and two hits between them. For the season his ERA was 4.35, his WHIP 1.26. He also allowed two of seven inherited runners to score.

He was optioned back to Buffalo on June 27, and did not make the postseason roster.

Regular Season Grades

Jay: D+
Emily: B-