The reliever wasn’t able to deliver like he did in 2024
Welcome to the 2024 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we take a look back at every player to log playing time for the Rockies in 2024. The purpose of this list is to provide a snapshot of the player in context. The “Ranking” is an organizing principle that’s drawn from Baseball Reference’s WAR (rWAR). It’s not something the staff debated. We’ll begin with the player with the lowest rWAR and end up with the player with the highest.
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No. 38, Matt Koch, -0.4 rWAR
If you blinked, you might have missed Matt Koch’s time with the Rockies this season. After making 39 appearances, including one start, and notching 38 2/3 innings in 2023, Koch only recorded one out in two appearances for the Rockies in 2024.
Koch, a seven-year MLB veteran who also spent time playing in Japan, ranked No. 14 in our Ranking the Rockies series at a 0.6 rWAR in 2023. After joining the team on June 27, 2023, he held onto a 0.00 ERA after throwing 10 scoreless innings over 10 relief appearances.
The RHP ended the season with a 5.12 ERA and a 3-2 and was sent down to Triple-A Albuquerque after the season ended. Koch elected for free agency on Oct. 20, but signed a one-year deal with the Rockies on Dec. 18, only to be assigned back to the Isotopes.
Koch started the 2024 season on Albuquerque’s roster, but the Rockies called him up on May 19. Koch, who was a third-round draft pick in 2012 by the New York Mets, made his first appearance three days later. He faced pressure right away, entering a game against the A’s in the 12th inning. The Rockies had a 4-2 lead, but a single and double play had already helped Oakland cut the lead to 4-3. Nick Mears had then walked Tyler Nevin, ending Mears’ night.
With the tying run on first, Koch walked Kyle McCann to put the tying run in scoring position. Koch fired in a cutter for a called strike and another that Max Schuemann to go ahead 0-2 in the count. Koch then got Schuemann to fly out to earn the save and maintain an 0.00 ERA.
The next day, Koch again entered the game in extra innings in Oakland. This time it was the 11th and the Rockies had scored four runs in the top of the inning to take a 9-5 lead. Koch gave up a double, single and homer, allowing the A’s to tie the game without recording an out. Peter Lambert entered the game, and despite getting two outs, he also surrendered two hits and two walks, including walking in the winning run.
Despite the great first appearance, Koch was done in by his second and the Rockies designated him for assignment the next day. After clearing waivers, he returned to the Isotopes on May 27. He stayed there for the rest of the season before electing free agency on Sept. 30.
In total, Koch made 49 relief appearances with a 4.83 ERA, a 6-5 record, 38 strikeouts compared to eight walks, 10 homers, two holds and five saves.
The 33-year-old will turn 34 in November. He remains a free agent and his future, much like the state of the Rockies bullpen, remains uncertain.
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