Freeland (8 K's) sharp in spring outing vs. Reds

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The sensors and the pitching glossary will catch up with Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland, which is fine as long as the hitters lag behind.

Making more-frequent-than-normal use of his new slider -- which for a brief period in camp was called a sweeper -- Freeland struck out eight in 4 2/3 innings during Tuesday’s 8-5 loss against the Reds.

Mining through how his 73 pitches were defined by MLB Gameday, Freeland provided a guide for when the Rockies’ analytics team and the Gameday crew compare data before the regular season.

“When Gameday has slider up there, it’s cutter,” Freeland said. "And when [it says] knuckle-curve, it’s either my slider or my actual knuckle-curve.”

Freeland, 31, has grabbed a leadership role with the Rockies’ pitching staff, partly because of his adaptable nature. After helping the Rockies to the postseason in his first two seasons, 2017 and 2018, Freeland struggled and was sent to Triple-A to develop his changeup. He has kept adapting through hot streaks and occasional struggles and injuries.

By any name, his pitches were effective Tuesday.

“The breaking ball was good,” manager Bud Black said. “I know he’s changed the grip a little bit. It’s still curveball-slurvish-sweeper-slider, whatever you want to call it, but it’s an effective pitch.”

Freeland finished last season with a 5.24 ERA, but after a slow start and a left elbow strain that sidelined him from mid April to late June, he pitched to a 3.96 ERA in his final 17 starts. Now he wants to be better.

“I’ve probably said it a million times and it’s been drilled through my head – you can’t stop learning in this game,” Freeland said. “The little things that you can pick up along the way – a new pitch, new mechanics, big, little, doesn’t matter. If you can pick up some little advantage, understand it, harness it and use it to the best of your ability, it’s going to help carry you to more success.”

Rough one for Halvorsen
Righty Seth Halvorsen, a rookie with closer stuff, missed up with his fastball and changeup, serving up Dominic Pitelli’s solo homer during a 2/3-inning outing in which he surrendered five runs on three hits and two walks.

“It’s an education for young pitchers when you get to this level,” Black said. “Even though those guys he faced were Minor League players, they’re in big league camp for a reason.

“He’ll bounce back. He’s a sharp kid. He’ll get the ball again this Spring Training and he’ll get going.”

Is the force arriving?
Outfielder Jordan Beck has a long home run this spring, but hasn't made consistent hard contact. But his first-inning single had a 107.4 mph exit velocity.

“There's an upside that we hope shows up soon,” Black said.

Keen on Veen, Yanquiel for real
No. 8 prospect Zac Veen launched his second home run of the spring, a three-run, left-on-left, 441-foot shot off the Reds’ Sam Moll in the seventh to give the Rockies a lead. Veen’s last two seasons at Double-A Hartford have been interrupted by hand and thumb injuries, but he has shown enough to continue in Major League camp.

Outfielder and No. 6 prospect Yanquiel Fernandez, optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque earlier in the day, clubbed his first homer of the spring – an opposite-field shot to left off righty Ian Gibaut in the eighth.

Every game is a test
The competition for a roster spot is on for a long reliever role.

Righty Jake Bird (2.35 ERA through 7 2/3 innings this spring) was solid before giving up two runs on one hit and three walks against the Giants on Monday. Wednesday’s home game against the Padres will feature multiple candidates – right-handers Jake Woodford, Bradley Blalock and Diego Castillo.

Right-hander Jimmy Herget, who is out of Minor League options and therefore a candidate to begin the year with the Rockies, is capable of going beyond one inning. Herget’s next outing is scheduled for Thursday.

Return of the fastball
Righty Antonio Senzatela, limited to three starts last year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, fanned six in four innings against the Angels on Monday. Black said Senzatela’s fastball was reminiscent of his best pre-injury days, in terms of effectiveness and his zeal for using it.

“He’s always been very proud of his fastball – he’s aggressive with it,” Black said. “There are some pitchers who like their fastball but tend to mix pitches a little bit more. But I like that Senza really believes in his fastball. With that belief, so do the other teams, so that when he does throw his secondary pitches, they’re more effective. He needs to have that sort of philosophy about how to use his stuff.”