Friday, April 04

TAMPA -- Rockies right-handed pitcher Germán Márquez’s toughest day of Spring Training went a long way toward building confidence that he would be ready for his return to the mound -- which will happen Monday at Philadelphia.

Márquez underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023. After one Major League start last year, he was shut down because of a stress reaction in his right forearm.

On March 2, in his second Spring Training start, Mariners prospect Colt Emerson and star outfielder Julio Rodríguez had consecutive plate appearances that totaled 25 pitches. It was enough for the Rockies to pull Márquez after two innings. 

Although there was work on the Minor League side, which is more controlled, Márquez made just three more Cactus League starts. Only his last two had the normal four days in between. Monday’s initial start will be on five days’ rest.

“Everything is coming out good,” Márquez said. “My delivery and my fastball command have been good lately.”

Pitching coach Darryl Scott added, “The velocity has been good all spring -- I look for that. Being out as long as he has been out, almost two years, there’s a buildup to handle the wear and tear. He’s done a good job.”

Care and patience are keys for Márquez as he heads into the final year of his contract with the Rockies.

“I had surgery two years ago, so I know recovery between starts is not as easy as in the past,” he said. “In the past, I didn’t feel anything. I was ready every five days like it was nothing. Today, this year, it’s more stretching and more ice to be ready for the next outing.”

The Rockies’ home opener is set for Thursday afternoon. But there are 80 more home games, and many ways to watch a package of games. It’s never too late to purchase a ticket plan.

Here’s how.

A sign of the Rockies’ improving depth was the difficulty of cuts late in Spring Training. But an option or a reassignment to Triple-A Albuquerque is not goodbye forever. General manager Bill Schmidt discussed some of the players who didn’t quite make the Opening Day 26-man roster but could end up important figures this season.

RHP Chase Dollander (Rockies No. 1/MLB Pipeline No. 25): Dollander, 23, tied Kyle Freeland for the team lead in Spring Training strikeouts with 24, in 1 1/3 fewer innings in his first Major League camp. He also yielded a team-high five home runs and walked 10 in 17 2/3 innings. But he has the talent to clean things up quickly.

Schmidt: “He’s got to be more efficient. His last outing [in the Minors in 2024], he was 4 2/3 [innings], [86] pitches. So let’s get him some experience in Triple-A. We like him a lot.”

On Sunday afternoon in his first start for Albuquerque, Dollander held Sacramento to one run and six hits, struck out five and threw 79 pitches (48 strikes) before being removed.

2B Adael Amador (Rockies No. 7): For Amador, 21, improvement was dramatic from last year’s callup, when he was dealing with oblique soreness and was laboring with the switch from shortstop to second base. The Rockies optioned him before the final decisions, but considered bringing him back after Thairo Estrada sustained his right wrist fracture.

Schmidt: “[Amador] worked very hard this offseason and I give a lot of credit to Rolando Fernandez [vice president of international scouting and development] for spending time with him and our Dominican staff. He leaned out a little bit. The at-bats were better. Defensively, he was better.” 

OF Zac Veen (Rockies No. 8): Veen, 23, batted .270, led the team with 11 RBIs, homered twice and stole nine bases in the spring. But some fundamental mistakes in key spots of games and mistakes of exuberance defensively were signs of inexperience. He missed significant time the last two years with injuries to his left hand and right thumb.

Schmidt: “What’s in Zac’s best interest. He wanted to be on the team on Opening Day. Everybody does. But what’s best for everybody concerned is that there’s still work to be done. Getting consistent at-bats every day is what he needs now. We want him up here. Hopefully, it’s sooner than later, but he’ll show us when he’s ready.”

RHP Jaden Hill (Rockies No. 19): A reliever, Hill, 25, struck out 11 in 9 1/3 Cactus League innings, plus three in the Spring Breakout game against the White Sox. Hill can increase confidence in the changeup, but the best explanation was it being a case of not enough spots.

Schmidt: “A lot of tough decisions had to be made, and I would classify that as one of them. Hopefully, he goes down there and performs -- puts himself in a situation where he’s ready and we need to go get him.”

RHP Zach Agnos (Rockies No. 28): Much like Hill, Agnos, 24, was close. Also, he isn’t on the Major League roster, and that affected the decision. But there was a compelling baseball reason he was sent down as well.

Schmidt said: “He needs to get some experience at altitude, so Triple-A will do him good. He can learn some adjustments because eventually, we want him pitching late in games.”

Ryan McMahon’s bunt single off Rays left-hander Mason Montgomery on Opening Day was such a surprise that it sent us digging into his history, only to find out it wasn’t all that surprising.

McMahon went to a speed-based workout in the offseason, but that was more for durability over a full season than any plan to play small ball. However, the drag bunt has always been a small part of his game.

McMahon has eight bunt singles over a career in its ninth season. The one on Friday was much smoother than his last one, last Aug. 21 against Nationals lefty Mitchell Parker.

All of McMahon’s bunt hits have come against lefty pitchers. Just one has been to the third-base side, this one against the Royals’ Gabe Speier on May 13, 2022.

“It’s something you’ve got to have in your pocket,” McMahon said. “Tough lefty … tough shadows. I felt like it was a good way to get on base, and I executed it. You’ve got to be a ballplayer, gotta be able to do everything.

“I’m better going to first than the one to third. I’m still working on the one to third.”

• Displaying dandy defense

• Freeland’s feats not forgotten

• Hunter Goodman gets going

• Discussing depth

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