Jake Woodford Bio
Jacob Robert Woodford, known professionally as Jake Woodford, is an American professional baseball pitcher currently in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He has pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Arizona Diamondbacks since making his MLB debut in 2020. A former first-round amateur selection, Woodford has spent his career moving between starting and relief roles while logging time at every level of the minor leagues.
Early Life and Background
Jacob Robert Woodford was born on October 28, 1996, in Tampa, Florida. He grew up in the Tampa area and attended Plant High School, a program with a strong baseball tradition. At Plant, Woodford played alongside future MLB outfielder Kyle Tucker, forming part of a talented high school roster that drew regional attention.
As a senior, Woodford posted a 7-0 record with a 0.67 ERA, establishing himself as one of the top prep pitchers in Florida. Following that season, he committed to the University of Florida to play college baseball. His senior-year performance, however, set the stage for an early jump into professional baseball.
Path to Professional Baseball
Woodford’s path to professional baseball accelerated during his senior year at Plant High School, when his performance on the mound drew national scouting attention. The St. Louis Cardinals selected him with the 39th overall pick in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, making him a first-round selection. He signed with the Cardinals and chose to forgo his commitment to the University of Florida, beginning his pro career that summer.
That decision launched a development path that took him through every level of the Cardinals’ minor league system. Woodford’s transition from prep star to professional pitcher was managed gradually, with the organization moving him step by step from the rookie level through High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A before his major league debut.
Jake Woodford Career
Early Career (2015-2019)
Woodford made his professional debut in 2015 with the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Cardinals, going 1-0 with a 2.39 ERA in eight appearances. In 2016, he advanced to the Peoria Chiefs of the Midwest League, where he was named a Midwest League All-Star and posted a 5-5 record with a 3.31 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 21 starts. He spent 2017 with the Palm Beach Cardinals, going 7-6 with a 3.10 ERA in 23 games, and was a non-roster invitee to 2018 spring training.
The 2018 and 2019 seasons saw Woodford move steadily up the ladder. He began 2018 with the Springfield Cardinals, was named a Texas League All-Star, and was promoted to the Memphis Redbirds, compiling a 3-8 record with a 5.22 ERA at Springfield and a 5-5 mark with a 4.50 ERA at Memphis. In 2019, he returned to Memphis, earned Pacific Coast League All-Star honors, and went 9-8 with a 4.15 ERA and 131 strikeouts across 151 2/3 innings. Following that season, the Cardinals added him to the 40-man roster.
St. Louis Cardinals Era (2020-2023)
Woodford was promoted to the majors on July 28, 2020, and made his MLB debut on August 15 against the Chicago White Sox, pitching three innings with one earned run and three strikeouts. For the shortened 2020 season, he went 1-0 with a 5.57 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 21 innings. The 2021 season saw him work primarily as a reliever while also starting eight games in the second half, finishing 3-4 with a 3.99 ERA and 50 strikeouts across 67 2/3 innings.
In 2022, Woodford shuttled between Memphis and St. Louis, appearing in 11 games with the Redbirds and 27 with the Cardinals, where he went 4-0 with a 2.23 ERA across 48 1/3 innings. He was reassigned to the minors in October 2022 and activated again in January 2023 before being non-tendered on November 17, 2023, ending his initial Cardinals tenure.
Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates (2024)
Woodford signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox on January 10, 2024, and opened the year with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, where he recorded a 5.26 ERA and 42 strikeouts across 49 2/3 innings in ten starts. He was selected to Chicago’s active roster on May 28 after an injury to Mike Clevinger, made two starts, and was designated for assignment on June 7. He cleared waivers and elected free agency on June 9.
On June 10, 2024, Woodford signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates and joined the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, where he went 2-2 with a 2.29 ERA in seven starts. The Pirates selected his contract on July 30, and he made six appearances for Pittsburgh, going 0-4 with a 6.95 ERA before being designated for assignment on August 26. After clearing waivers and rejecting an outright assignment, he re-signed on September 2 and made a spot start against the Cardinals on September 18, pitching 4 2/3 innings with five strikeouts. He was designated for assignment again the next day and elected free agency on October 2.
Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays (2025)
Woodford signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies on January 12, 2025, opted out on March 23, and signed with the New York Yankees organization the following day. With the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, he went 2-2 with a 4.54 ERA and 39 strikeouts across 39 2/3 innings before opting out on June 1. On June 5, he signed with the Chicago Cubs, going 1-1 with a 4.57 ERA in 21 2/3 innings at Triple-A Iowa before exercising an opt-out on July 1.
On July 2, 2025, Woodford signed a major league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 22 relief appearances, he went 0-4 with a 6.44 ERA, 23 strikeouts, and three saves across 36 1/3 innings before being designated for assignment on September 21. He cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Triple-A Reno Aces on September 23, then elected free agency on October 1. On November 21, 2025, Woodford signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays that included an invitation to major league spring training.
Driving Style and Strengths
Woodford is a right-handed pitcher who has been used in both starting and relief roles throughout his career. His minor league track record shows strikeout capability at every level, and he has logged innings as a multi-inning reliever during his time with the Diamondbacks. His movement between starting and bullpen work has required versatility, and he has been deployed in spot starts when needed.
Notable Events and Milestones
Woodford’s 2015 selection as the 39th overall pick by the Cardinals marked him as a first-round talent out of Plant High School. His MLB debut on August 15, 2020, against the Chicago White Sox, and his 2024 spot start against the Cardinals stand as key career moments. The 2025 season was defined by frequent movement between organizations, with multiple opt-outs and a major league deal with the Diamondbacks.
Jake Woodford Career Wins
Across his MLB career, Woodford has recorded a small number of major league decisions, with his 2022 season with the Cardinals producing a 4-0 record and a 2.23 ERA across 48 1/3 innings as his most effective MLB stretch. In the minor leagues, he has compiled winning records at multiple levels, including All-Star selections in the Midwest League, Texas League, and Pacific Coast League.
Minor League and MLB Highlights
Woodford’s Midwest League All-Star season came in 2016 with the Peoria Chiefs, when he went 5-5 with a 3.31 ERA and 82 strikeouts. He earned Texas League All-Star honors in 2018 with the Springfield Cardinals and Pacific Coast League All-Star recognition in 2019 with the Memphis Redbirds, where he struck out 131 batters across 151 2/3 innings. His 2020 MLB debut and 2022 4-0 mark with the Cardinals remain his signature major league accomplishments.
Other Performances
Beyond his All-Star seasons, Woodford posted a 7-6 record with a 3.10 ERA for the Palm Beach Cardinals in 2017 and recorded a 2.29 ERA across seven starts for the Indianapolis Indians in 2024. His 2025 Triple-A work with the RailRiders and Iowa Cubs showed continued strikeout production across more than 60 innings.
Jake Woodford Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jake Woodford grew up in the Tampa, Florida, area and attended Plant High School, where he played alongside future MLB outfielder Kyle Tucker. Public details about his parents and broader family are limited.
Personal Life
Woodford was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. Public information about a spouse or children has not been disclosed in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Woodford’s 2025 season was defined by frequent movement between organizations. He split time in the Yankees and Cubs systems before joining the Arizona Diamondbacks on a major league contract in early July. With Arizona, he appeared in 22 relief outings, posting a 6.44 ERA with 23 strikeouts and three saves across 36 1/3 innings.
He was designated for assignment in late September as Arizona reshaped its roster, cleared waivers, and was outrighted to the Triple-A Reno Aces before electing free agency on October 1. The frequent transactions reflected the volatile nature of his 2025 campaign, which included opt-outs in both the Rockies and Yankees organizations earlier in the year.
Woodford’s outlook for 2026 began on a positive note when he signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays on November 21, 2025, that included an invitation to major league spring training. The deal returned him to his home state of Florida and gave him a clear path back to the majors.