Chad Girodo

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Chad Girodo

| image = File:Chad Girodo 2016 (Cropped).jpg

| image_size = 250

| caption = Girodo with the Toronto Blue Jays

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|2|6}}

| birth_place = Decatur, Alabama, U.S.

| bats = Left

| throws = Left

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = April 22

| debutyear = 2016

| debutteam = Toronto Blue Jays

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = June 19

| finalyear = 2016

| finalteam = Toronto Blue Jays

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 0–0

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 4.35

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 5

| teams =

Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2016}})

}}

Chad Alan Girodo (born February 6, 1991) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, who drafted him in 2013. Girodo played in the Blue Jays' minor league organization for parts of four seasons before being called up to the Major Leagues for the first time on April 22, 2016.

High school & college

Girodo was a four-year letter winner at Hartselle High School, playing mostly as a starting pitcher. In his senior year, he pitched to a 17–1 win–loss record and 0.47 earned run average (ERA) with 136 strikeouts in 105{{frac|1|3}} innings.{{cite web|url=http://www.hailstate.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=204883265|title=Chad Girodo - Mississippi State University Bulldogs Official Athletic Site|work=hailstate.com|accessdate=January 12, 2016}} Girodo then attended Mississippi State University, where he made 47 appearances over three years with the Bulldogs, mostly in relief.

Professional career

=Minor leagues=

In the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, Girodo was selected in the 9th round by the Toronto Blue Jays, and assigned to the Class-A Lansing Lugnuts.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=girodo000cha|title=Chad Girodo Register Statistics & History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=January 12, 2016}} In 14 appearances that season, he would post a 1–1 record, 4.18 ERA, and 24 strikeouts in 23{{frac|2|3}} innings.

In 2014, Girodo was assigned to the Advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays for the entire season. In 47 appearances totalling a career-high 76{{frac|2|3}} innings, he pitched to a 7–3 record, 2.47 ERA, and 81 strikeouts. Girodo began the 2015 season in Dunedin, where he was a Florida State League mid-season All-Star.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/documents/7/3/2/129324732/Press_Release_2015_FSL_All_Star_Team_oe0uclhi.pdf|title=Press Release 2015 FSL All-Star Team|work=milb.com|accessdate=January 12, 2016}} He was promoted to the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats in June, and to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons in September. In 45 total appearances in 2015, Girodo would post a stellar 1.34 ERA, 4–2 record, and 58 strikeouts in 60{{frac|1|3}} innings. During the offseason, he appeared in 7 games for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, recording a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings pitched.

Girodo was invited to Major League spring training on January 12, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2016/1/13/10760494/blue-jays-invite-14-to-spring-training|title=Blue Jays Invite 14 to Spring Training|work=bluebirdbanter.com|date=January 12, 2016|accessdate=January 13, 2016}} He was assigned to minor league camp on March 25.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-assign-three-minor-league-camp/|title=Blue Jays assign three to minor-league camp|last=Liddell|first=MacKenzie|work=Sportsnet|date=March 25, 2016|accessdate=March 25, 2016}} Girodo was assigned to the Buffalo Bisons to open the 2016 minor league season.{{cite web|url=http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/170923704/where-blue-jays-top-30-prospects-start-season|title=Where the Blue Jays' Top 30 prospects are starting the season|last=Rosenbaum|first=Mike|work=MLB.com|date=April 7, 2016|accessdate=April 8, 2016|archive-date=September 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906090752/http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/170923704/where-blue-jays-top-30-prospects-start-season/|url-status=dead}} He made 4 appearances for the team, posting a 2–0 record, 1.35 ERA, and 7 strikeouts in 6{{frac|2|3}} innings prior to his call-up.

=Toronto Blue Jays=

On April 22, 2016, Girodo was called up by the Blue Jays.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/04/blue-jays-chris-colabello-80-game-ped-suspension.html|title=Chris Colabello Receives 80-Game PED Suspension|last=Todd|first=Jeff|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=April 22, 2016|accessdate=April 22, 2016}} He pitched two scoreless innings in relief that evening against the Oakland Athletics in his Major League debut. After Brett Cecil was placed on the disabled list, Girodo became the main lefty specialist for the Blue Jays.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/girodo-makes-strong-debut-unusual-circumstances/ |title=Girodo makes strong debut in unusual circumstances |date=April 23, 2016 |accessdate=April 23, 2016 |first=Ben |last=Nicholson-Smith |work=Sportsnet}} He was optioned back to Buffalo on April 23,{{cite web|url=http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2016/4/23/11495446/jays-option-chad-girodo-call-up-drew-hutchison|title=Jays option Chad Girodo, call up Drew Hutchison|last=Dakers|first=Tom|work=bluebirdbanter.com|date=April 23, 2016|accessdate=April 23, 2016}} and recalled on May 3.{{cite web|url=http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/176232864/blue-jays-add-chad-girodo-to-eight-man-bullpen|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506143139/http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/176232864/blue-jays-add-chad-girodo-to-eight-man-bullpen|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 6, 2016|title=Girodo recalled to give Blue Jays 8-man 'pen|last=Chisholm|first=Gregor|work=MLB.com|date=May 4, 2016|accessdate=May 5, 2016}} Girodo was optioned back to Buffalo at the end of May, and recalled by the Blue Jays on June 15.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-recall-andy-burns-chad-girodo-triple-buffalo/|title=Blue Jays recall Andy Burns, Chad Girodo from triple-A Buffalo|last=Simmons|first=Jeff|work=Sportsnet|date=June 15, 2016|accessdate=June 15, 2016}} On February 9, 2017, Girodo was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/02/blue-jays-designate-chad-girodo-for-assignment.html|title=Blue Jays Designate Chad Girodo For Assignment|last=Adams|first=Steve|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=February 9, 2017|accessdate=February 9, 2017}} After clearing waivers, he was assigned to Triple-A Buffalo and invited to Major League spring training.{{cite web|url=http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2017/02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217223445/http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2017/02|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 17, 2017|title=Toronto Blue Jays Transactions in February 2017|work=MLB.com|accessdate=February 16, 2017}} Girodo spent the entire season in the minors, going 2–4 with a 2.96 ERA in 31 games. On January 24, 2018, the Blue Jays invited Girodo to spring training.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-announce-non-roster-invitees-major-league-camp/|title=Blue Jays announce non-roster invitees to major league camp|work=Sportsnet|date=January 24, 2018|accessdate=January 24, 2018}} He was released on April 25.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=milb&player_id=643325#/career/R/pitching/2018/ALL|title=Chad Girodo Stats, Highlights, Bio|work=MiLB.com|accessdate=April 26, 2018}}

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

Girodo was signed to a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 7, 2018, and was assigned to the Double–A Tulsa Drillers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=milb&player_id=643325#/career/R/pitching/2018/ALL|title=Chad Girodo Stats, Fantasy & News}} He pitched in seven games for the Drillers and six for the Oklahoma City Dodgers before he was released on June 16.