SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Lefty Kyle Freeland will make his Rockies-record fourth Opening Day start on March 28 against the Rays in Tampa, Fla., Rockies manager Bud Black announced Sunday.
“His total commitment to the organization and how he’s throwing the ball this spring, it’s a situation where, for us, he was our guy to take the ball,” Black said.
Freeland, 31, will surpass current rotation mate Germán Márquez in Rox Opening Day assignments. The pair have started every Rockies opener since 2019, with Freeland having done it in 2019, ‘22 and ‘24, and Márquez receiving the assignment in ‘20, ‘21 and ‘23.
“Whenever you get called into Buddy's office in a situation like this, you know, you start getting those butterflies and start getting excited,” Freeland said. “You pretty much know the news is coming, and it's really cool. I’ve been with Bud nine years now, and he's been able to name me four times as the Opening Day starter.”
The announcement comes during a mostly solid spring from Freeland, although Sunday was tough in a 10-2 loss against the Royals at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Freeland gave up seven earned runs in the Royals’ eight-run second inning. He ended up tossing 4 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and striking out five. He’s now struck out 13 in his past two outings.
“I was fighting my mechanics in the bullpen and was able to skate by in the first inning,” Freeland said. “And the second inning unraveled on me with my mechanics. That'll happen.
“But [Black] pulled me after all that happened in the second inning. I was sitting in the dugout to kind of collect myself, get my cues. ‘OK, this is what I need to work on.’ Sure enough, those cues worked.”
This spring, Freeland has added one secondary pitch, a true slider, and changed the name of another -- with what was called a slider last year now being called a cutter. He also has a solid fastball and a changeup, which has taken work but became a solid pitch, to complete his mix.
“He’s worked so hard over the years to find a good changeup,” Black said. “He’s a veteran. Like all pitchers, he’s been very diligent on wanting to improve his game -- like all great players do. They want to consistently improve and work. That’s what he’s done. He continues to evolve as a pitcher.”
For all anyone knows, Sunday’s struggle against the Royals could be a good omen.
No one wants to have a bad outing, and last spring he didn’t have one. He went 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA in five Cactus League starts, striking out 16 in 19 innings. Then he began the regular season at Arizona and gave up 10 runs in 2 1/3 innings. It was the start of a slow start in which he posted a 13.21 ERA in four starts before going to the injured list with a left elbow strain. But after returning in late June, Freeland posted a 3.96 ERA in 17 starts for the rest of the season.
Martini leaves with wrist injury
Veteran non-roster invitee Nick Martini went 1-for-1 against the Royals to raise his batting average to .406, but left the game after being hit by a pitch from Royals lefty Angel Zerpa. Martini was removed from the game and sent for X-rays, but those came back negative.