Call to the pen
Fansided

A look at the MLB debuts in 2017

By Benjamin Chase

May 6, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) follows through during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
May 6, 2017; San Diego, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) follows through during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kyle Freeland, LHP, and Antonio Senzatela, RHP, Colorado Rockies

While the Rockies have seen four rookie-eligible pitchers start a game for them this season, Freeland and Senzatela are the ones who have made their debuts this season.

Freeland was a top-10 overall selection by the Rockies, being drafted #8 overall in 2014. After some injury issues and surgery, Freeland has become a very contact-oriented lefty with excellent sinking stuff, generating plenty of ground balls. This has been a focus of the Rockies this season, and Freeland’s heavy fastball has been a driving force of his early success.

Senzatela is a bit of a different case as an international free agent signing originally by the Rockies organization out of Venezuela that has worked his way up the Rockies minor league system. While he’s never had a bad season at any level, per se, he’s never been a guy who was a top Rockies prospect. John Sickels at Minor League Ball ranked Senzatela #16 in the Rockies system coming into 2017.

Using the focus on generating weak contact and relying on defense, both pitchers have found success with the Rockies. Freeland is currently sporting a 3.13 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 22/29 BB/K ratio over 46 innings. Senzatela has arguably been even better, albeit with a higher ERA, with a 3.67 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 18/34 BB/K over 54 innings.

The Rockies have put together a very good defensive unit behind their young rotation, and certainly neither Freeland or Senzatela is working with weak stuff, as both can reach mid- to upper-90s with their fastball with heavy sink on the pitch along with good secondary offerings. As long as they have the defense behind them, they should be able to continue having similar levels of success.

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