No longer a free agent, Rob Wooten signs with Atlanta

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 11, 2016 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

During his trips with the Milwaukee Brewers to Atlanta, Rob Wooten secretly did the iconic "tomahawk chop" out of the sight of his teammates while sitting in the bullpen.

Now, Wooten has the chance to take the mound at Turner Field and watch as the infamous music blares over the sound system and 50,000 fans do the chop in unison.

Wooten signed to play with Atlanta -- his all-time favorite Major League Baseball team -- on Friday after entering the free agent market this past November. The Fremont native will start his career with Gwinnett, a Triple-A affiliate of the Braves that plays in the International League.

Ironically, Wooten signed two years to the day that Tom Glavine and John Smotlz - two of his childhood baseball heroes -- were elected for enshrinement in Cooperstown.

"I didn't even really know that .... is kind of ironic growing up and watching those two pitch and try to model their game in the backyard," Wooten said. "It's with an organization that I grew up loving with posters all over my wall in my bedroom. It's pretty surreal to be part of that organization now.

"It's new a chapter in my life and it almost feels like I'm coming home, to be honest."

Drafted by the Brewers in the 13th round in 2008, Wooten worked his way through the minor leagues and made his Major League debut in 2013. He posted a 3-1 record that included a 3.90 earned run average in 27 2/3 innings of work.

Wooten split time between Milwaukee and Triple-AAA Nashville during the 2014 season as the Brewers made a run at the pennant. But his career took an unexpected turn that started on a tour to Japan with a MLB All-Star team during the offseason.

Instead of shutting down pitching in October, he didn't put down a baseball until Thanksgiving. Four weeks later, he had to begin his strengthening and conditioning routine for spring training this past February. The Milwaukee organization noticed the difference.

Shoulder tendinitis bothered Wooten.

"Early on I could tell I had that 'dead arm' thing, I just couldn't get it going," Wooten said. "I knew it was nothing serious at all, but it was nagging ... wouldn't allow me to pitch like I'm capable of pitching. Then I finally got to the point where I had to stop and take three or four weeks off during that season.

"That helped."

Milwaukee sent Wooten to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Pacific Coastal League. He ended up 5-2 with a 4.52 ERA in 52 innings -- the most innings he had thrown in a single season since his 2013 campaign in Nashville before he got the call to join the Brewers.

Wooten rejoined Milwaukee, but threw just six innings in four appearances.

When the season ended, the Brewers took Wooten off the 40-man roster and he dropped into the free agency pool. His health dropped his value as a player and Wooten, for the first time in his career, faced uncertainty.

Those eight seasons in Milwaukee helped Wooten define himself as a quality pitcher who could compete on some of the biggest MLB stages in America. But who would take a chance?

"It's a business," Wooten said. "(Free agency) is a process that you never want to happen. It was a learning experience going through it for the first time ... very stressful, very frustrating at times, (makes you) anxious because every year you knew exactly where you were going and you know where your family might be this year."

That is, until three days ago.

Wooten admitted he and his agent started negotiations with Atlanta two months ago. The contract didn't exactly work out in favor of the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder, but he realized that a childhood dream was now within his reach.

Gwinnett decided to take the chance.

As soon as he received the news, he called long-time friend and mentor Jerry Narron. The two spent three seasons together in Brewer uniforms and Narron offered a single piece of advice -- put on the uniform, compete and things will work out. Sometimes the worst situation ends up being the best situation.

Milwaukee will always remain in Wooten's heart.

"I'm extremely thankful for the opportunity they gave me -- a chance to live my dream on a Major League mound for three years," Wooten said. "There were ups and downs through the whole process, gave me the ball in extremely close situations at the end of the game.

"It has prepared me to move on and be ready for a new organization, a new chapter in my life."

Wooten joins an organization that has experienced a couple of lean campaigns since winning the NL East in 2013. Over the past two seasons, the Braves have finished a total of 40 games back of the eventual division champion.

Atlanta last won an NL pennant in 1999 and World Series crown in 1995.

The organization acquired overall No. 1 draft pick, shortstop Darby Swanson from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Braves stayed busy in the offseason and signed more young talent, especially in the bullpen.

Gwinnett used 32 different relievers last season.

"They give guys opportunities, doesn't matter if you've been in the system one year or 10 years, if you're producing and able to help the team, they'll bring you up," said Wooten, whose main strength with the Brewers was his ability to stay calm, collected and do his job on the bump.

"There's challenges. The main one for me is get healthy, strong and prepare the best I can for (Glint). If I do the best job I can and they recognize it, they'll bring me up to Atlanta. Hopefully within the next year, which I fully anticipate doing, I'll be in that Braves uniform and helping them win ballgames."

Bring on the tomahawk chop.