Colorado Rockies Morning After: Appreciating The Value of Chris Rusin

Chris Rusin’s injury in spring training was noted but put on the backburner when offensive weapons like Ian Desmond, David Dahl and Tom Murphy were also shelved with injuries in Arizona. However, Rusin’s return to the Colorado Rockies shortly after the season began could well be one of the biggest yet unheralded reasons for Colorado’s early success.

In just three games since returning from an oblique strain, Rusin has compiled a 2-0 mark and 1.35 ERA. He earned his second consecutive win last night when he stepped in for a struggling Kyle Freeland with 1.1 innings of flawless work in Colorado’s 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Stepping in has become Rusin’s calling card over the last two games. On April 13 in San Francisco, when the Rockies suddenly lost Jon Gray to what would be a stress fracture in his left foot, it was Rusin who was brought in from the bullpen to make the transition between Colorado’s starter and what has become a lights-out back end of the bullpen.

More from Rox Pile

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: What if Todd Helton had played football instead?
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023?

That night, Colorado’s go-to long reliever allowed two hits in 3.1 innings of action as the Rockies started their California road trip with a 3-1 win at AT&T Park. While Gray’s injury was certainly a rough bit of news for the Rockies to swallow, knowing Rusin was available and then helped to bring a big win over Madison Bumgarner and the Giants to fruition was a psychological boost for a team just started a big road trip against National League West rivals.

Rusin has settled into his role as long reliever with the Rockies, and he has become one of Colorado’s bullpen weapons in a season where Adam Ottavino, Mike Dunn and Greg Holland have grabbed the bullpen headlines.

Last season, Rusin didn’t start a game after returning from a shoulder injury in late July. His return was the start of an impressive run for the 30-year-old southpaw who finally was able to settle into a role after bouncing between starter and reliever during the first part of the season. In 29.2 innings from the start of August through the end of the season, reliever Rusin was solid, including 8.2 innings of scoreless action in September, a month where he allowed just two hits and struck out 12.

Next: Grading and Analyzing Rusin and the 2016 Colorado Bullpen

On a team loaded with weapons and big names, Rockies fans shouldn’t overlook the important role that Rusin plays. Colorado manager Bud Black has faith in his ability to get the big outs in the middle of the game. Rusin has already proven his manager’s confidence in him is justified.