Rafael Betancourt, Scott Oberg, Brooks Brown Eye Bullpen

Jul 12, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Rafael Betancourt (63) in the ninth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Rockies won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

After the Rockies reassigned left-handed reliever Ken Roberts and righty flame-thrower Jairo Diaz to their minor league camp earlier Saturday, the bullpen picture is becoming slightly more clear for the club, though decisions still need to be made.

It would stand to reason that possibly six of the Rockies bullpen spots are locked and loaded: LaTroy Hawkins, John Axford, Adam Ottavino, Rex Brothers, Christian Friedrich, and Boone Logan.

As for the last spot (or two), that will depend on manager Walt Weiss and general manager Jeff Brdich, as well as whether it even is one spot or two (the Rockies have an early off day that could allow them to break camp with only four starting pitchers for a while, possibly making room for an eighth reliever).

Now, about that seventh (and maybe eighth) reliever.

After Tommy Kahnle was sent to minor league camp last week, the options are thinning out, but it’s clear the one- or two-spot battle is down to three men: Rafael Betancourt, Scott Oberg, and Brooks Brown.

Brown was a find last season for the Rockies, when he allowed only 25 base runners in 26 innings of work with the big league club after making his Major League debut on July 6. Brown’s had a solid spring, too, throwing 8.1 innings across 8 appearances and notching two saves to go along with a 0.84 WHIP.

Live Feed

Rum Bunter

Oberg is more of an unknown candidate, rising quickly through the minors without having the same prospect pedigree as, say, Jon Gray or Eddie Butler. A 15th Round pick in the 2012 draft from the University of Connecticut, Oberg notched 15 saves in 27 games last season and has 61 saves and a 1.068 WHIP across 108 minor league appearances over three years.

He had shoulder surgery at the end of the season last year, but obviously, the Rockies like what they’ve seen of him this spring, despite his pedestrian statistics in Cactus League action.

Betancourt is the forgotten veteran of the bunch; a member of the Colorado Rockies since 2009 and the team’s closer in 2012 and 2013, he’s returning from a year of rehab and recovery after Tommy John Surgery. Betancourt appeared in minor league games last summer and was hit hard, allowing 28 hits in 19.1 innings between Rookie ball and AAA Colorado Springs, but that was during his rehab and recovery from the surgery.

As it stands now, it appears Betancourt is healthy enough to contribute; he’s allowed only one run and one walk in 5.2 spring innings across six appearances, and the Rockies clearly think enough of his makeup, work ethic, and ability to trust him in tight games.

More analysis coming later this weekend with our ideas of who the Rockies should slot in the open relief spaces.Until then, make sure you’re following us on Twitter for up-to-the-minute Rockies information.

And, before we publish our analysis, we want to hear from you: who makes the bullpen on Opening Day, Betancourt, Brown, or Oberg?