2012 Non-Roster Invites: Pitchers

To go along with the 12 position players the Rockies also invited 9 non roster pitchers to camp.

Chad Bettis – Highly touted prospect with a sinker/slider mix. Has a career 18-6 record with a 2.70 ERA and averages over a strikeout per inning over two MiLB seasons. There has been talk of a moving the 22 year old righty from the rotation to a bullpen role if he doesn’t develop better off speed pitches.

Joe Gardner – The third pitcher in the Ubaldo Jimenez trade, he profiles as a good innings eater with a heavy sinker. There is possibility the 24 year old right hander moves to the bullpen, but I hope he gets a shot to stay a starter somewhere in 2011.

Dustin Molleken – The 27 year old right hander spent most of 2011 in AA Tulsa after coming over from the Pirates organization. A reliever with good control, but is hittable, profiles as minor league depth.

Jamie Moyer – I am not sure what the plan is for a 49 year old coming off Tommy John surgery. He will at least give veteran-ness to the rotation in spring training, but if he makes the team out of camp, it means something went wrong with one of the younger pitchers ahead of him.

Rob Scahill – An 8th round pick for Colorado in 2009, the 25 year old right handed starter is coming off a strong showing in AA Tulsa and in the Arizona Fall league.

Josh Sullivan – A right handed starter who lost all of 2009 to injuries and pitched above single A for the first time in 2011, going 5-9 with a 5.51 ERA. Very low on the depth chart and will probably repeat AA.

Stephen Dodson – Drafted by the Rockies in 2008, Dodson is making his first appearance in major league camp after going 10-2 with a 3.47 ERA from the bullpen in AA Tulsa in 2011.

Carlos Torres – The 28 year old right hander spent the 2004-2010 seasons in the White Sox system as both a starter and reliever, before going to Japan in 2011. Profiles as a long reliever/sixth starter in AAA.

Mike Ekstrom – Another 28 year old right handed reliever, signed as free agent by Colorado in December, Ekstrom has 36 games of MLB experience over the past 4 seasons with the Padres and Rays.