Colorado Rockies: Looking at 3 Position Battles in the Spring

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Jul 7, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Adam Ottavino (0) delivers a pitch in ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field. The Rockies defeated the Phillies 11-2. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Fifth Starter: Chris Rusin, German Marquez, Jeff Hoffman, or Kyle Freeland

For starters, a few other names have been mentioned in connection with the final rotation spot, but I don’t see them as real threats to earn the position. Antonio Senzatela, Zach Jemiola, and Shane Carle face an uphill battle in their respective bids to break the Rockies rotation. As for the true competition, three of the four pitchers are top prospects and offer enormous potential moving forward.

Kyle Freeland was selected in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft, and has rapidly advanced through the minor leagues. He finished last season in Triple-A Albuquerque, where he posted a 3.91 ERA in the hitter-friendly PCL. He spent the first half of the season in Double-A Hartford, where he posted a similar 3.87 ERA. He also faces the toughest odds of the four to earn the final rotation spot, but it is just a matter of time before he becomes a permanent fixture.

German Marquez is another name vying for the final spot in the rotation, and he could earn it with an impressive showing in Spring Training. Marquez was a bit of a surprise after coming over in the Corey Dickerson trade, but he turned some heads after being named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year, posting a 2.85 ERA in Double-A Hartford. He started five games in Albuquerque before receiving a call-up late in the season. He struggled somewhat at the big league level, with a 5.23 ERA over 20 innings, including three starts.

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The two names with the most to prove in Spring Training are Chris Rusin and Jeff Hoffman. Hoffman was part of the Troy Tulowitzki trade, and is viewed as the second best prospect in the Rockies system, according to MLB.com. He started 22 games in Albuquerque in 2016, worked a 4.02 ERA and struck out 124 batters. He also joined the big league club late in the season, but was unable to earn a victory in his six starts.

The most experienced pitcher of the bunch is lefty Chris Rusin. He spent 2016 switching between relief appearances and spot starts, but he finished the year with a 3.74 ERA and three wins. He would be the easy choice to fill the position, but he may provide more value as a long reliever and emergency starter.

Next: Grading and Analyzing the 2016 Colorado Bullpen

After Spring Training, the Rockies will have to decide on a fifth starter, and Jeff Hoffman should be able to pull ahead with a nice showing in Arizona. Marquez and Freeland will get their shot, but they will benefit from consistent starts in Triple-A to start the season. Rusin is a solid long reliever, and can step up in case of an injury. Whoever wins the final spot will have plenty of competition pushing right behind.