Old Friends: How Are The 2014 Colorado Rockies Faring?

Apr 22, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Franklin Morales (47) delivers a pitch in the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Minnesota won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

In our first installment of ‘Old Friends,’ let’s take a look at how some former Colorado Rockies – from the forgettable 2014 team – are doing around the league so far this season.

The 2014 version of the Colorado Rockies was, um, forgettable, and at times downright unwatchable. So to the cynics among us, it only makes sense that of the 49 men who suited up for that awful club, 33 are still in the organization expecting to win soon, right?

As for the other 16 players, that’s what this post is about: old friends. And for the first installment of a series that we’ll be doing more or less every week here from on throughout the season, today we take a look at a few former Rockies from that 2014 team that are now playing elsewhere throughout the league.

Michael Cuddyer was having a great season for the Rockies in 2014 (/317/.366/.500) before getting injured June 5th and only playing in 18 games the rest of the way. Of course, he rejected the Rockies’ qualifying offer this winter, and signed a two-year deal with the New York Mets. He hasn’t been anything special in New York, hitting just .250/.319/.389 over his first 30 games. The Rockies though, by virtue of Cuddyer’s winter rejection, will receive a draft pick at the end of the first round this June.

Franklin Morales is doing well if you remove one bad game against the Cleveland Indians. Other than that, he’s given up three runs in 13 games/13 innings for the Kansas City Royals. Save for very brief periods of hope, Morales was a two-time loser with the Rockies, and his second tenure in 2014 went no better than his first from 2007-11. Morales comes cheap for the Royals (one year, $1,85 million), so a nice season for the 29-year old could earn him a pay day this winter. It won’t be in Denver.

Matt Belisle was one of the most tenured relievers in Rockies history, throwing 392 games from 2009 through 2014 with great success for several years until the overuse (including one year where he led the league in appearances) wore out his welcome in Denver. Now, he’s pitching well for the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing just three runs across his first 15 games. He will turn 35 in June, and will be a free agent at the end of the season.

Josh Rutledge was traded to the Los Angeles Angels this winter, and was expected to compete for a starting infield job, but after a tough spring is now buried at AAA Salt Lake, where he’s predominantly playing shortstop. This tells you all you need to know: “Josh Rutledge entered spring training as the favorite in a four-man race for the Angels’ second-base job, but he didn’t make it to the finish line.”

Jackson Williams, a catcher, had 14 at-bats for the Rockies in 2014, but hit a three-run home run in September. After the Angels claimed him over the winter, they shipped him back to the Giants (his original organization) in March, where he finds himself at AA Richmond hitting only .145/.284/.242. He’ll turn 29 on Thursday, and may not be long for affiliated professional baseball.

Jason Pridie got four at-bats for the Rockies last year, but damn if he’s not a baseball lifer and quintessential AAAA player; he’s in the Oakland Athletics’ organization now at AAA Nashville as the everyday left fielder, waiting again for the call – however brief – back up to the big leagues.

Nick Masset overcame significant injuries to make it back to the big leagues last year with the Rockies. He now finds himself in the Marlins’ organization, and has been recalled to Miami twice already this season as a relief pitcher.

And one 2015 former Rockie… Jorge Rondon, who was designated for assignment last week. The Baltimore Orioles claimed the hard-throwing reliever, and will send him to their AAA affiliate.