Colorado Rockies: Jhoulys Chacin Progressing With Indians

Jun 23, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin (45) prepares to deliver a pitch in the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

According to Venezuelan news reports, it appears that former Colorado Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin is heading to AAA with the Cleveland Indians. 

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Cronicas Leones, a baseball news website in Venezuela that follows news surrounding current and former players of the Leones del Caracas,  is reporting that former Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin is now heading to AAA with the Cleveland Indians (link in Spanish).

Chacin, of course, had been released by the Rockies during spring training after failing to prove to the team that he was ready to compete in the big leagues after a shoulder injury, and struggled during the spring to get batters out.

Now, it looks as though the Indians are going to give him a shot to impress the club at AAA, with the knowledge that he has an opt-out clause in his contract if he isn’t called up to the Major Leagues by June 1st.

More from Cronicas Leones, translated into (very rough) English:

Pitcher Jhoulys Chacin pitched five innings, allowed one hit and struck out six in extended spring training Sunday for the Cleveland Indians, and was ready for promotion to AAA.“I am very pleased with this performance . It was my last test before going to Triple A to face more experienced hitters and I felt really good during the five innings. As the game passed, my arm was feeling better and I’m ready to go to Triple A to continue my preparation. It will be left to the Indians to decide to call me to the big leagues, but I have a clause in my contract in that I can ask my freedom if I do not go up before June 1.”

Chacin had only ever known the Rockies organization before signing with Cleveland last month, and AAA will be a test for him to prove he is still strong enough to pitch.

Obviously, if he acquits himself well and gets called up before June 1, Rockies fans all over will sigh at the thought of having released a potential big league pitcher considering the current rotation in Denver, but… let’s cross that bridge when (if) we reach it.

For what it’s worth, the Indians’ starting rotation has done poorly, with Corey Kluber struggling (0-5, 5.04 in seven starts), TJ House opening up the season very badly before heading to the disabled list, and Bruce Chen now making starts.

Should Chacin throw well in AAA the next two weeks, it’s feasible there could be a spot for him in Cleveland.