Márquez's progress latest highlight for Rockies' rotation

This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

DENVER -- Right-hander Germán Márquez is excited about a Rockies starting rotation that he plans to rejoin around the All-Star break.

The outlook for the rotation was not good last May, when Márquez underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Nonetheless, he agreed to a two-year contract extension in September through next season, believing that things will be better for him and the pitchers around him.

Márquez is excited about the rotation's performance in May -- a 3.77 ERA in 23 games -- and the expected mid-June return of lefty Kyle Freeland from a left elbow strain. Veteran lefty Austin Gomber has the Majors’ fourth-lowest ERA for May (0.68), righty Cal Quantrill's 1.71 ERA this month ranks eighth, and all that is separating righty Ryan Feltner from a hot streak is consistently staying away from the big inning.

“It’s just been little things that are between us and winning the game,” said Márquez, who has been rehabbing at the team’s complex in Scottsdale, Ariz., but will be with the Rockies through their series next weekend at Dodger Stadium to allow the Major League staff to observe his throwing. “If we get everything together -- starters, relievers -- man, we’re going to win a lot of games.”

Márquez sustained what he termed a minor setback -- pain behind the elbow after he threw in a Rookie-level Arizona Complex League game on May 10. He has not appeared in a game since, but that is not entirely bad since his downtime will allow his 30-day Minor League rehab clock to restart.

“I was super good -- my velocity was good, I had some life and I was ready -- but that day I got a little inflammation at the back of my elbow,” said Márquez, who threw a “touch-and-feel” bullpen session on Saturday and soon will schedule a full bullpen.

Márquez had seen dips in velocity and location in 2021 and, especially, '22. He had fallen into releasing his fastball with his fingers more to the outside of the baseball, but he felt he had corrected the issue last spring. However, elbow problems flared when he tried increasing his extension toward the plate.

Márquez said the early feedback tells him he will be able to throw all his pitches safely with the corrected mechanics.

“Everything is good -- my slider, my curveball, my changeup,” Márquez said. “I’m just trying to get to 100 percent again and get back on the field.”