Rockies Spring Training: Jon Gray headlines non-roster invitees

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Real baseball news has arrived, as the Colorado Rockies announced their non-roster invitees this week.

All eyes will be on the pitcher who is expected to be a savior.

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2013 first round pick Jon Gray headlines the list of Spring Training non-roster invitees for the Rockies. Here’s a look at that list, found at the Denver Post, and which players have a real chance to make the 40-man roster.

1. Jon Gray

As mentioned, this is where everybody will start on this list. It seems impossible to overstate the pressure on Gray at this point. Even with a number of indicators that we should pump the brakes and quit expecting this guy to be an ace upon arrival, there is still this lingering hope that Gray is going to arrive and be the young stud pitcher the Rockies never have.

Gray is still the top prospect in the organization and still could be great, but if he ends up being a reliable, no. 3 starter, would we actually be disappointed? Hopefully we would know better.

Will he make the team out of Spring Training? Nope. And I don’t think the Rockies want him to, as indicated by the additions of David Hale and Kyle Kendrick. A September call-up seems like a realistic timetable, but I would be comfortable with Gray’s big league debut coming in 2016.

2. John Axford, Rafael Betancourt

Old, is the blunt and rude way one would describe the potential fixtures in the back of the 2015 Rockies’ bullpen. Experienced and savvy, are two adjectives one could use to more politely say that these guys are old.

LaTroy Hawkins will close, at least initially, but I am inclined to think that Axford or Betancourt could end up in that role at some point during the season. If you forced me to predict, I would say that Axford is going to enjoy a bounce-back season that will coincide with the inevitable regression of Hawkins in his final season. I say Axford is the closer by June 1st.

As for Betancourt, provided that he is healthy he could provide an immediate upgrade over any number of guys who struggled last year (including the lovable but run-down Matt Belisle). Adam Ottavino will be the stud and the primary set-up man, but given the miles on his arm from 2014 and the beatings that the bullpen takes each year, it never hurts to have reinforcements. Our old friend Rafael could prove awfully useful in that capacity.

Will they make the team out of Spring Training? I will say that Axford will and Betancourt will not. It would be unwise to take Betancourt’s health and effectiveness for granted, so here’s betting that he starts the year in the minor leagues.

Next: Trevor Story, Yohan Flande, and the rest