Pounding strike zone key for Rodríguez

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The route to the Rockies’ season-opening pitching staff is straight through the strike zone for non-roster hopeful Dereck Rodríguez.

In his three innings in Saturday’s start against the Angels, a game the Rockies won 8-2, Rodríguez threw strikes on 28 of his 41 pitches.

Jo Adell knocked one for a two-run homer in the second inning and Jon Jay managed a wind-blown triple with two out in the frame, but the homer accounted for the only runs.

Rodríguez gave up four hits and struck out two in an overall solid performance. While walks are in Rodríguez’s Major League history (75 in 221 1/3 innings), he's had effective stretches when he has avoided them.

“If I make my pitch and the location that I want, with the confidence I have, I can get anybody out,” Rodríguez said. “I just wanted to attack, get on top, start them off with the strike. It's a whole different at-bat when you got somebody down.”

As camp began, Rodríguez, fellow non-roster invitee Chi Chi González and 2020 rookie Ryan Castellani were considered competitors for the fifth rotation spot. However, early results favor lefty Austin Gomber, who was part of the Nolan Arenado trade with the Cardinals. If that holds, and righty Antonio Senzatela rebounds in time from his right hamstring strain, there won’t be a rotation spot.

? Gomber clicking on all cylinders

But the returning bullpen group does not include a long reliever, which would leave the Rockies vulnerable in case of injury or an early ineffective start. The Rockies have a crowd of one-inning pitchers, but little in the way of multi-inning relievers -- it’s the perfect spot for a starter not in the rotation.

“I just want to put a Rockies uniform on, if it's in a rotation or it’s in the bullpen -- whatever my role is,” said Rodríguez, who still has a Minor League option.

Manager Bud Black said, “I like his mix of pitches. He moves the ball in and out. He has an idea of how he gets his outs.”

Offensive outburst
The Rockies would love to bottle their seven-run fourth inning.

Chris Owings started it with a homer off Angels reliever Mike Mayers, who gave up five runs without recording an out. There were solid at-bats throughout -- a first-pitch double from Josh Fuentes, a run-scoring single from Sam Hilliard and a walk to load the bases by Garrett Hampson. There was an alert double from Elias Díaz as sidearmer Ben Rowen tried to surprise him with an over-the-top delivery. Also, Raimel Tapia and Owings drove in runs with productive outs.

First-base riches?
Fuentes started at first base and continued his strong spring with a two-run double during the Rockies’ seven-run fourth inning. Non-roster veteran C.J. Cron also logged his first Cactus League hit, a line-drive single that hit Mayers.

Fuentes, Cron and Greg Bird have been billed as being in a competition for the first-base job, but Fuentes’ versatility means it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way. As long as Fuentes hits, there is playing time at third base and possibly left field. With his strong glove at various positions, there are ways to cobble enough at-bats for him to be considered a regular.

It’s clear that Cron’s power makes him attractive for the everyday lineup. Where things get interesting is with Bird, who showed power earlier in his career with the Yankees but has oft battled injuries. He missed last year because of a calf injury with the Rangers and had a positive COVID-19 intake test with the Phillies.

If Bird shows a solid swing, he has a shot at occasional first-base duty and also as a left-handed pinch-hitter.

Looking at new arms
Right-handed bullpen hopeful Robert Stephenson, obtained from the Reds for righty Jeff Hoffman, struck out three batters in his scoreless inning on Saturday.

“I like his breaking ball. He has confidence in it, and it looks like he can throw it for a called strike when he needs to,” Black said.

Lefty Helcris Olivarez, 20, ranked 18th on MLB Pipeline's Rockies list but surely headed higher, hit 98 mph during his two-inning outing with no hits and one strikeout. With one out in his first frame in the sixth, an Adell bullet ate up third baseman Elehuris Montero. Olivarez, who has received high marks for poise, walked toward Montero with a calming gesture and got out of the inning despite balking Adell to second.

“He’s still developing -- he needs reps here this Spring Training to get him as comfortable as possible, then totally let him loose this season [in the Minors] so he can keep growing,” Black said.

Up next
Projected Opening Day starter Germán Márquez will start on Sunday against the White Sox in Glendale, Ariz. Lefty Ryan Rolison, the Rockies’ No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is scheduled to pitch two innings.