Rob Wooten

Robert Davis Wooten

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 210 lb.
• School University of North Carolina
• High School Charles B. Aycock High School
• Debut July 26, 2013
• Final Game May 7, 2015
• Born July 21, 1985 in Goldsboro, NC USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Rob Wooten came to the majors five days after his 27th birthday.

Amateur Career

Wooten was All-State as a high school senior. He missed his freshman year of college due to shoulder surgery, leading to a medical redshirt. He walked 12 in 14 1/3 IP and had a 3.77 ERA in 2005 and struggled in 2006 (12 H, 8 BB, 9 R, 14 K in 7 1/3 IP). In 2007, he was a workhorse, leading NCAA Division I with a school-record 47 appearances; Randy Boone was second in Division I with 41 games pitched. Wooten was 6-1 with a 2.35 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 53 2/3 IP. He had a 3.52 ERA in the 2007 College World Series and set a College World Series record with six appearances. He then had a fine stint with the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod League, going 1-0 with a 1.77 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 20 1/3 IP. Rob remained superb in 2008 (6-2, 5 Sv, 1.87 in 44 G). He led the Atlantic Coast Conference in games pitched, one ahead of Kyle Bellamy. He walked 8 in 7 2/3 innings in the 2008 College World Series (5 games pitched) but allowed only two runs and got a save.

Minors

The Milwaukee Brewers, behind scout Dan Nellum, took Wooten in the 13th round of the 2008 amateur draft. He split the summer between the Helena Brewers (10 H, 2 BB, 14 K, 0 R in 9 IP, 2 Sv) and the West Virginia Power (1-0, 4 Sv, 2.38, 30 K in 22 2/3 IP). He had an excellent 2009 for the Brevard County Manatees (1-1, 18 Sv, 1.20, 44 K in 30 IP) but slipped after a promotion to the Huntsville Stars (0-1, 11 Sv, 4.28, 34 K in 27 1/3 IP). He was 4th in the Florida State League in saves (just 4 behind leader Jonathan Hovis) and led Brewers farmhands (8 ahead of Jimmy Henderson). He was 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League. Wooten missed all of 2010 due to Tommy John surgery, though.

Back in action in 2011, Rob repeated with the Manatees (2-0, Sv, 2.53 in 12 G) and Stars (3-3, 7 Sv, 3.38 in 36 G). He tied Santo Manzanillo and Donovan Hand for second in the Brewers chain in appearances, one behind Roque Mercedes. In 2012, the North Carolina native pitched for Huntsville (3-0, 8 Sv, 1.74 in 17 G) and Nashville Sounds (0-2, 7 Sv, 3.93 in 40 G). He led Brewers farmhands in pitching appearances and tied Henderson for second in saves behind Casey Medlen. He went 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA in 10 games for the 2012-2013 Caribes de Anzoategui. He opened 2013 as Nashville's closer and was very effective (0-1, 20 Sv, 2.94, 1.00 WHIP after 40 G). He was then called up to the majors when Sean Halton was demoted.

Majors

Wooten debuted in the majors in a 8-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies on July 26, 2013. Relieving Wily Peralta with a 7-0 deficit, two on and two out in the 4th, he allowed a run-scoring single to Todd Helton then got Wilin Rosario on a grounder. He let two men on in the 5th on a Juan Francisco error and Tyler Chatwood single but neither scored. In the 6th, he retired Troy Tulowitzki, Mike Cuddyer and Helton in order. Jonathan Lucroy batted for Wooten in the 7th.

Post-Playing Career

Wooten was pitching coach for the Chattanooga Lookouts in 2021-2022.

Sources

• 2013 Brewers Media Guide
• UNC bio
• Purapelota

Related Sites

• Rob Wooten on mlb.com