Evan Justice
{{short description|American baseball player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name = Evan Justice
| image =
| caption =
| team = Colorado Rockies
| number =
| position = Pitcher
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|7|7}}
| birth_place = Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
| bats = Left
| throws = Left
| debutleague = MLB
| debutdate = August 26
| debutyear = 2023
| debutteam = Colorado Rockies
| statleague = MLB
| statyear = 2024 season
| stat1label = Win–loss record
| stat1value = 0–0
| stat2label = Earned run average
| stat2value = 8.22
| stat3label = Strikeouts
| stat3value = 8
| teams =
- Colorado Rockies ({{mlby|2023}}–{{mlby|2024}})
| awards =
}}
John Evan William Justice (born July 7, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Colorado Rockies organization. He played college baseball for the NC State Wolfpack.
Amateur career
Justice attended Collegiate School for high school. As a senior in 2017, he was Virginia Player of the Year.{{Cite web |title=Evan Justice - 2021 - Baseball |url=https://gopack.com/sports/baseball/roster/evan-justice/9657 |access-date=March 4, 2025 |website=NC State University Athletics}}
He played college baseball at NC State.{{Cite web |last=Barber |first=Mike |date=June 21, 2021 |title=Move to bullpen helped turn around Evan Justice and North Carolina State's baseball season |url=https://richmond.com/sports/college/move-to-bullpen-helped-turn-around-evan-justice-and-north-carolina-states-baseball-season/article_0fc332a6-98d3-5a40-884e-3b396577a1e6.html |access-date=September 7, 2024 |website=Richmond Times-Dispatch |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=December 5, 2022 |title=Catching Up With Evan Justice '17 |url=https://www.collegiate-va.org/news-detail?pk=1405856 |access-date=September 7, 2024 |website=Collegiate - VA |language=en}} In 2018, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Charlottesville Tom Sox. The following summer, he pitched for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{Cite web |title=Evan Justice Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=justic000eva |access-date=March 4, 2025 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 39th round of the 2019 MLB draft but did not sign with the team. In 2021, Justice was NC State's closer, saving 13 games. In four years with the Wolfpack, Justice was 11–2 with 13 saves and a 4.71 ERA.
Professional career
Justice was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the fifth round, with the 140th overall selection, of the 2021 MLB draft.{{Cite web|title=Former Collegiate standout Evan Justice is drafted by Colorado|url=https://richmond.com/sports/college/uva/former-collegiate-standout-evan-justice-is-drafted-by-colorado/article_7336f190-63e9-5240-bbc8-42567d93afc5.html|access-date=October 19, 2023|website=richmond.com|language=en}} He made his professional debut with the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Rockies. In 3 games, he logged a 3.00 ERA with 4 strikeouts in 3 innings of work.{{Cite web|title=Evan Justice - Stats - Pitching|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/john-justice/30008/stats?position=P|access-date=October 19, 2023|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}} Justice missed the entirety of the 2022 season due to a shoulder strain injury.{{Cite web |date=December 5, 2022 |title=Catching Up With Evan Justice '17 |url=https://www.collegiate-va.org/news-detail?pk=1405856 |access-date=March 4, 2025 |website=Collegiate School}}{{Cite web|title=Colorado Rockies prospect rankings, mid-season 2023: Nos. 35 to. 31|url=https://www.purplerow.com/2023/8/16/23834057/colorado-rockies-prospect-rankings-mid-season-2023-nos-35-to-31-noah-davis-evan-justice|access-date=October 19, 2023|website=purplerow.com|language=en}}
Justice started the 2023 season in the low minors but ended the season in the major leagues. His year began in with the High-A Spokane Indians, and he was promoted to the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats in May, then the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes in July. In 38 combined games between the three affiliates, he posted a 3.49 ERA with 63 strikeouts, holding opposing batters to a .131 average.{{Cite web |title=Tom Sox Alumni Evan Justice Called Up to Colorado Rockies |url=https://tomsox.com/tom-sox-alumnus-evan-justice-called-up-to-colorado-rockies/ |access-date=October 19, 2023 |website=Charlottesville Tom Sox}} On August 25, Justice was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web|title=#Packpro Evan Justice Earns MLB Call-Up|url=https://gopack.com/news/2023/8/26/baseball-packpro-evan-justice-earns-mlb-call-up|access-date=October 19, 2023|website=gopack.com|language=en}} He made his debut the next day, allowing a run in one inning against the Baltimore Orioles. In 9 games during his rookie campaign, he struggled to an 8.59 ERA with 7 strikeouts across {{fraction|7|1|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web |title=Evan Justice 2023 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=justiev01&t=p&year=2023 |access-date=March 4, 2025 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
Justice was optioned to Triple-A to begin the 2024 season.{{Cite web|title=Rockies' Evan Justice: Optioned to Albuquerque|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rockies-evan-justice-optioned-to-albuquerque/|access-date=March 21, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He went on the injured list on April 16, not returning to Triple-A until June.{{Cite web |date=April 28, 2024 |title=Rockies' Evan Justice: Shut down with injury at Triple-A |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rockies-evan-justice-shut-down-with-injury-at-triple-a/ |access-date=March 4, 2025 |website=CBS Sports}}{{Cite web |date=June 9, 2024 |title=Rockies' Evan Justice: Healthy again at Triple-A |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rockies-evan-justice-healthy-again-at-triple-a/ |access-date=March 4, 2025 |website=CBS Sports}} He was called up to the Rockies on September 1 and made his only MLB appearance of the season that day. Facing the Orioles, he walked Gunnar Henderson then struck out Eloy Jiménez.{{Cite web |date=September 1, 2024 |title=Gunnar Henderson walks. Colton Cowser to 2nd. |url=https://www.mlb.com/video/evan-justice-ball-to-gunnar-henderson-xwgecq |access-date=March 4, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=September 1, 2024 |title=Eloy Jiménez strikes out swinging. |url=https://www.mlb.com/video/eloy-jimenez-strikes-out-swinging-zlbp9x |access-date=March 4, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} Colorado sent Justice back to the minors on September 5.{{Cite web |date=September 5, 2024 |title=Rockies' Evan Justice: Back in minors |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rockies-evan-justice-back-in-minors/ |access-date=March 4, 2025 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}} In 32 games with Albuquerque, he had an 8.76 ERA.
After the season, Justice played for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League. He earned the save in the Fall League Championship game for Salt River.{{Cite web |date=November 16, 2024 |title=Evan Justice secures the Fall League Championship |url=https://www.mlb.com/video/evan-justice-secures-the-fall-league-championship |access-date=March 4, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} Justice was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque to begin the 2025 season.{{Cite web|title=Rockies' Evan Justice: Optioned to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rockies-evan-justice-optioned-to-triple-a-951283/|access-date=March 10, 2025|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He was designated for assignment following the promotion of Zach Agnos on April 20, 2025.{{Cite web|title=Rockies Place Victor Vodnik On Injured List, DFA Evan Justice|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/04/rockies-place-victor-vodnik-on-injured-list-dfa-evan-justice.html|access-date=April 20, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} Justice cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A on April 23.{{Cite web|title=Rockies Option Zac Veen, Outright Evan Justice|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/04/rockies-option-zac-veen-outright-evan-justice.html|access-date=April 26, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Baseballstats |mlb=687145 |espn=4345849 |br=j/justiev01 |fangraphs=30008 |brm=justic000eva |retro=J/Pjuste001}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Justice, Evan}}
Category:Albuquerque Isotopes players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Arizona Complex League Rockies players
Category:Baseball players from Richmond, Virginia
Category:Colorado Rockies players
Category:Cotuit Kettleers players
Category:Fresno Grizzlies players
Category:Hartford Yard Goats players
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers