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Colorado Rockies Top Ten Prospects For 2017

By Benjamin Chase

May 15, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; General view of a Colorado Rockies cap and glove in the fifth inning of the game against the New York Mets at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; General view of a Colorado Rockies cap and glove in the fifth inning of the game against the New York Mets at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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9. Antonio Senzatela, RHP

Birthdate: 1/21/95 (21 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: AA
Stats in 2016: 34 2/3 IP, 1.82 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 6.57 BB%, 19.71 K%

With an elite fastball/slider combination, Senzatela made a big impression in 2015 when he was able to hold Cal League opponents to a 2.51 ERA as a 20 year old.

Many I talked with were worried about Senzatela’s long-term projection as a reliever rather than a starter, and after only making 7 starts this season due to shoulder inflammation, those with worries felt it was time to make the move to the bullpen. That level of worry has dropped Senzatela significantly in prospect lists this offseason, but I’m not one that is as worried.

In watching those 7 starts this year, Senzatela showed his excellent fastball that can touch 98 and sit 92-95 and locate exceptionally well, but what I found to be his second-best offering was a change that was a fringe-plus pitch in the games I saw, getting weak contact on the pitch consistently.

His curve was his third pitch until 2014, when he developed his slider, and he still pops out the curve, and as a “show me” pitch, it’s not a bad one, though probably not a pitch that would be a primary pitch.

The slider ranged in starts I saw from a pure plus pitch to a fringe-plus to just average in one start. He absolutely misses bats with the pitch, but he seems to fall in love with that and try to get the pitch out of the reach of hitters, which ends up just costing him a ball.

He does have excellent control, so if the shoulder issues are behind him, I could definitely see Senzatela taking the next step to AAA or even knocking on the big league door soon as he’s an advanced pitcher, but with some more sequencing on the slider and willingness to take the grounder, he could be a #2/#3 type of pitcher.

Next: #8

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