Colorado Rockies: One of the Best Young Pitching Staffs in the Game?
The Colorado Rockies have been known for having notoriously bad pitching staffs over the past few years, but a new infusion of youth in the rotation looks to pay dividends for years to come.
When you think of somewhere where you never want to pitch, Denver comes to mind immediately. The altitude makes it difficult to keep the ball in the park, and that has been apparent in recent years. Last season, the Rockies posted a cumulative team ERA of 5.04, worst in the majors and .45 worse than the 29th-ranked Phillies. In 2014, they were dead last once again, with a 4.84 mark.
As a result, the team hasn’t finished a season above .500 since 2010. They’ve moved on from star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, sending him to Toronto, and Carlos Gonzalez may be on his way out of town. Position players like David Dahl and Nolan Arenado appear to be a major part of the future of this team, but arguably the most exciting part of the Rockies’ future lies in the young pitching.
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Jon Gray may be known for being picked directly after Kris Bryant in the 2013 Draft, but he’s beginning to make a name for himself in the Majors. His numbers so far in his career are far from impressive, but he’s shown glimpses of the ace the Rockies were looking for when they drafted him. He has a 4.69 ERA so far this season, with a 5.11 mark at home and a much better 4.29 ERA on the road.
The months of April and August have tremendously increased his ERA, with an 11.42 mark in the former and a 9.53 mark in the latter. In the months of June an July, however, he posted a combined 2.81 ERA in 64.1 innings pitched. Gray has posted 13 quality starts in his 22 appearances this season, and he looks to be a big part of the Rockies rotation going forward.
The team has called up stud prospect Jeff Hoffman to make the start tonight against the Cubs. Hoffman was acquired as the main piece in last summer’s Troy Tulowitzki blockbuster, and he hasn’t disappointed thus far. He was selected 9th overall by the Blue Jays in the 2014 draft, and as a college pitcher he has moved up the farm system quickly. His numbers weren’t great in AAA, as he was 6-9 with a 4.02 ERA in 118 2/3 innings. However, the upside is still very evident as he is only 23 years old and still improving. Facing the Cubs’ potent lineup at Coors Field will certainly be a difficult test for the youngster, but the organization believes he is ready for his shot in the big leagues.
The two less-heralded young starters in the organization are Tyler Chatwood and Tyler Anderson. Chatwood was acquired in 2011 after his rookie season for the Angels in exchange for Chris Iannetta. He was not good at all for the Rockies in 2012, but had a nice bounceback season in 2013, posting a 3.15 ERA in 20 starts. After only four starts in 2014, he had a series of elbow injuries eventually leading to Tommy John surgery, causing him to miss not only 2014 but also the 2015 season as well.
As a 26 year old who hadn’t pitched in almost two years, Chatwood was a major wild card for the Rockies this year. He has delivered thus far, posting a 3.75 ERA, even with a rough patch in his last seven starts. He’s currently on the DL with an upper back strain, but he looks to play a significant part in this rotation’s future (and present).
Anderson was drafted out of Oregon in 2011 in the first round, but it took him years to fully develop. He’s finally made it to the Majors for the first time this season, and he appears to be worth the wait. In his 12 starts up to this point, he has an impressive 3.42 ERA. He’s actually been better at home this season, unusual for Colorado pitchers, with a 3.04 mark in Denver as opposed to his 4.35 mark on the road. The big lefty has been largely overlooked his whole career, but he has shown his value to the Rockies organization this season.
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With four young guns all under the age of 27, the Rockies rotation may very well be one of the best staffs in the game for the next few years. This, of course, depends on the development of both Hoffman and Gray, but if they become the pitchers they are capable of becoming, this could be one of the most feared rotations in baseball.