Halvorsen, Vodnik vying for closer role

4:25 PM UTC

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.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Two of the Rockies¡¯ newest relievers -- rookie and second-year man -- are the best candidates to turn save situations into safe propositions.

Last year, even big leads were anything but safe. The Rockies blew five leads of four or more runs in the ninth inning or later, the most by any team in the last 50 years.

The hard-throwing Halvorsen, 25, felt the delight and the disappointment in consecutive games at Dodger Stadium. He blew a 100.2 mph fastball by Max Muncy for a bases-loaded strikeout to earn his first Major League save in his ninth appearance on Sept. 21. The next day, Halvorsen served consecutive homers to Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts in the bottom of the ninth and took his first career blown save in a 6-5 loss.

Vodnik, 25, experienced one of those games, also against the Dodgers, that led to the dubious record. The Rockies¡¯ five-run ninth-inning lead at home was dissipating on June 18 when manager Bud Black turned to Vodnik for his first ninth-inning save chance. But a disputed two-out, two-strike check-swing call kept the game alive for Teoscar Hern¨¢ndez to knock a lead-flipping, three-run homer in the Dodgers¡¯ 11-9 victory.

Vodnik absorbed a less-colorful blown save against the White Sox on June 30, but from there turned in the best performance of the Rockies¡¯ pitchers who took turns in the closer role. He had nine saves before going to the injured list with right biceps inflammation in late August. He returned at the end in a setup role.

So the two prime candidates for the ninth inning understand the highs and lows of the job. They also have top-end velocity and secondary pitches that can make either the main guy in a hard-throwing bullpen that showed promise at season¡¯s end.

As camp begins, Black is looking at the bullpen as a whole as opposed to just a contest for closer.

¡°We have some ideas there, but that will fall into place as we get later in the spring -- the last couple of weeks,¡± Black said. ¡°But when you talk about the eight-man group, we feel good about it as it stands, barring any unforeseen rash of injuries or anything that might occur. The talent is as good as we¡¯ve seen, as far as the depth piece.¡±

The Rockies eyed Halvorsen as a key late-inning piece who didn¡¯t need a lot of development time from the day they selected him in the seventh round of the 2023 Draft. Halvorsen was mostly a starter at Missouri in 2019 and ¡®21. He missed 2022 with a fractured right elbow, then struck out 52 in 52 innings at Tennessee in 2023.

The lengthy college career as a starter helped Halvorsen build his strategy for the relief role.

¡°That¡¯s helped to be able to learn to pitch and I take things from that time in my life, but I also changed my repertoire since going from starting to relieving.¡± Halvorsen said. ¡°I adapted my slider. My changeup is the exact same as it was when I was a starter in college, and my slider has a little bit more of a horizontal break.¡±

Halvorsen flashed closer stuff during his inning in Wednesday¡¯s 7-6 Cactus League victory against the Royals at Surprise, Ariz. Halvorsen gave up a ground-ball single on a 99.2 mph sinker to Cam Devanney but put the inning down on two more grounders. Daniel Vazquez hit into a double play and Jack Pineda grounded out on a 91.6 mph splitter, after Halvorsen had exceeded 100 mph on three of the previous four pitches.

¡°He has a lot of characteristics of a Major League pitcher -- not only stuff, but makeup,¡± Black said. ¡°That was the player development [department¡¯s] take -- his poise, his demeanor, his aptitude, a lot of things that players need to conquer the Major Leagues. He did that in a relatively short period of time.¡±

The Rockies acquired Vodnik and righty starter Tanner Gordon from the Braves for veteran reliever Pierce Johnson at the 2023 Trade Deadline. Vodnik can sit close to 100 mph with his fastball, and the Rockies encouraged him to use a slider that he had pocketed with the Braves. He debuted late in ¡®23, and had his moments in ¡®24.

Vodnik¡¯s goal is becoming a pitcher more than a thrower.

¡°Everybody knows I throw hard, so a lot of teams are going to be looking out for that,¡± said Vodnik, who gave up a leadoff double to Brewer Hecklen in his one-run spring debut on Feb. 23 against the Brewers, but received high marks from Black for his hard slider. ¡°I¡¯ve improved the slider this year with some more depth, so that will be fun.¡±

Vodnik, who also is working on developing more deception with his changeup by making sure it¡¯s from the same release point as the fastball, also must channel his aggression. He used all three pitches while earning the save in Thursday's 2-0 Cactus League victory over the Dodgers.

While the check-swing incident would challenge anyone¡¯s composure, in general Vodnik wants to eliminate negative body language.

¡°A lot of young pitchers do that out of frustration and a strong willingness to succeed,¡± Black said. ¡°They¡¯re disappointed in the outcome of a pitch or a bad outing. Can¡¯t do that. You¡¯ve got to show confidence, poise no matter what happens.¡±

The Rockies hope much more good happens at the end of games in 2025.

universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
soxtry.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
maw-pr.com
zaaksen.com
ypxsptbfd7.com
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
onlinenewsofindia.com
worldgraphic-team.com
bnsrz.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
webmanicura.com
osostore.com
softsmob.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
odskc.com
inzziln.info
leaiiln.info
cq-oa.com
dqtianshun.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
bartoysdirect.com
taquerialoscompadresdc.com
aaoodln.info
amcckln.info
drvrnln.info
dwabmln.info
fcsjoln.info
hlonxln.info
kcmeiln.info
kplrrln.info
fatcatoons.com
91guoys.com
signupforfreehosting.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
topsedu.xyz
xmxm7.com
x332.xyz
sportstrainingblog.com
autopartspares.com
readguy.net
soniasegreto.com
bobbygdavis.com
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
qazwsxedcokmijn.com
parabis.net
terriesandelin.com
luxuryhomme.com
studyexpanse.com
ronoom.com
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
snn01.com
hope-kelley.com
bancodeprofissionais.com
zjccp99.com
liturgycreator.com
weedsmj.com
majorelenco.com
colcollect.com
androidnews-jp.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
nova-click.com
abeautifulcrazylife.com
diggmobile.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
sizam-design.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
bamthemes.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com
avgo.top