In 2023, no relief pitcher threw more innings than Colorado Rockies reliever Jake Bird. The righty threw 84 1/3 innings over 67 games, posting a 4.27 ERA with a 7.90 K/9 on the year. He was often asked to toss multiple innings, especially at the beginning of the season, when the Rockies starting pitching was often struggling to go more than three innings in a game. He pitched diligently through the season, enduring bumps in the road, but had appeared to establish himself as a quality arm for manager Bud Black to rely on.

However, the expanded exposure to the league in ’23 could have been a root cause for the struggles Bird endured the following season. Through his first 19 appearances, Bird threw 20 2/3 innings of relief and struggled to a 6.10 ERA. Command has always been a known issue for Bird, but his ability to get strikeouts helped counteract the effects of the walks he did issue which was the case in 2023. However, in those 20+ innings, Bird allowed 15 walks against 12 strikeouts and was getting hit hard. He was placed on the injured list with right elbow inflammation on May 19 that season, returning on June 17 for three games before landing on the IL again with a groin strain. He spent the next two months mostly in Triple-A Albuquerque after being optioned before returning to the Rockies at the end of August and finishing the season with the club.

Upon his return, Bird looked like his old self again. In 15 innings over 11 games, he posted a 1.80 ERA with 14 strikeouts against seven walks.

Jumping to 2025, it was unclear if Bird’s spot with the team was clear-cut. The Rockies had found success with some young pitchers in the latter part of the ’24 season. Over the offseason, the team added Jimmy Herget on a waiver claim and signed left-hander Scott Alexander. With rookie relievers Angel Chivilli, Seth Halvorsen, and Luis Peralta expected to make the roster alongside veteran Tyler Kinley, it was getting difficult to find the space for Bird.

The Rockies essentially had one or two spots up for grabs in spring training. They had brought in veteran reliever Diego Castillo on a minor league deal, along with a big league invite to high-jumping Jefry Yan. The Rockies did clear some space by waiving Justin Lawrence, who latched on with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Still, Bird was going to have to earn his spot on the big league roster.

He did just that.

In 16 innings, Bird posted a 2.81 ERA in 10 Cactus League games with 16 strikeouts against nine walks. He secured a spot in the Rockies’ bullpen and has settled into a swing role with the club this season, once again, much like he did in ’23.

Through his first 12 appearances this season, Bird owns a lucrative 1.02 ERA in 17 2/3 innings. He has allowed two runs on 12 hits with 24 strikeouts and 10 walks. What is most impressive is that half of his appearances have seen Bird toss at least two innings of relief, a role that he isn’t necessarily built for but has, to his credit, learned to flourish in.

He is pounding the zone and also getting some luck thanks to the defense behind him, but he still owns a 2.22 FIP. He’s getting ground balls at a 51.3% clip and has reduced his hard hit rate to a career-low 35.9%, which has led to opponents slashing just .190/.311/.254 against him. While a career-best 32.4% strikeout rate likely isn’t sustainable for the whole season, it’s a necessary development to counteract the 13.5% walk rate.

His success can be rooted in his primary two-pitch mix. Using a 94.1 mph sinker that he throws 40.8% of the time, Bird uses it as a means to work the count and set up the opportunities to use his premier pitch, which is his slider.

Bird’s slider is quite effective this season. He used it 42.9% of the time and has used it as a putaway pitch at a 24.3% clip. It has a whiff rate of 36% with an expected batting average of .190 against him. He gets an average of 14.5 inches of horizontal break on the slider, which is tied for fourth in all of baseball (min. 10 PA).

His other pitches include a curveball that he will mix in, mainly to lefties, and a cutter that he rarely throws.

It’s been a welcome development for a team that has been looking for answers and finding none. The bullpen has become a clear strength for the team as they boast a 3.90 ERA as a unit. However, despite the bullpen progress, the starting pitching has faltered and the offense has been non-existent en route to the 4-24 record the team currently sports. Bird’s efforts has resulted in a 0.9 rWAR which leads the entire Rockies roster this season.

The Rockies have a lot of problems, but Jake Bird is proving not to be one of them this season. As the misery continues for the roster, if Bird can continue to perform, especially at home where he sports a 0.93 ERA, he just may end up an All-Star contender and a potential trade chip this summer.

It will be interesting to see just how high Bird can fly this season.