​Jun. 30—In minor league baseball, change is the only constant. Just when a player settles at a level or proves popular with the fans, the big league affiliate often promotes him to a higher rung. Such was the case for catcher/first baseman Jack O’Dowd, who enjoyed a brief stay in Spokane before a Tuesday promotion to Double-A Hartford after just 34 games at High-A.
O’Dowd had torched the California League in 22 games earlier this season and then kept his dominance rolling in the Northwest League. In Spokane, he hit .359/.451/.664 with nine homers and 38 RBIs. His rapid rise through the Rockies’ organization contrasts sharply with his college years; at Vanderbilt and the University of Texas over four seasons, he hit .257/.330/.423 with only 12 home runs. Undrafted, he began pro ball in the independent Pioneer League with Billings, where he broke out in his lone season with the Mustangs, batting .333/.449/.642 in 84 games with 22 homers and 91 RBIs—both team records.
That performance helped him secure a minor league free-agent contract with Colorado, a connection that runs deep since Jack’s father, Dan O’Dowd, was the Rockies’ general manager from 1999–2014 and helped steer the franchise to the 2007 World Series. The article includes an edited Q&A with O’Dowd conducted on June 23 at Avista Stadium before the promotion.
S-R: After last season’s success in independent ball, how did you react to the Rockies’ interest in signing you?
O’Dowd: I’ve understood the Rockies organization for a while, and there are people inside the org I’ve known for a long time. It makes it easier to find my footing from day one. It’s personal to me—it’s the team I grew up rooting for and attended games of. Someday I hope to help the Rockies get better. I would have been happy with any opportunity, but the fact that it was the Rockies hits home a little more, and it’s a full-circle moment.
S-R: With your dad spending so much time at Coors Field during your childhood, you’ve likely spent plenty of time in the major league clubhouse. O’Dowd: I basically grew up inside a big-league clubhouse, which is a cool and unique experience I’m grateful for. I got to watch and learn from many great Rockies players. Seeing guys like Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki, Nolan Arenado, and Trevor Story helped me learn about hard work and the right way to play the game. It was a big influence on my development.