Colorado Rockies: Re-ranking Colorado’s 40-man roster

Now at the unofficial halfway point of the Major League Baseball season, the Colorado Rockies sit in third place in the National League West and hold their own fate in their hands when it comes to the postseason.

It’s been an interesting first half of the season to say the least. No one could have predicted the struggles that Trevor Story and Carlos Gonzalez have endured all season. No one saw the impact that rookie pitchers would have on the Rockies in 2017. And how about the years that Gerardo Parra and Mark Reynolds are enjoying at the plate?

There are a lot of things to love about this season … as well as some things that aren’t so great currently. But the All-Star break is a time for renewal, reflection on the first half of the season and gearing up for the second half of the campaign. It should be a fun ride.

As we look back at the first half of the season, it’s a great time to look back at how our writers ranked Colorado’s 40-man roster heading into the season … and how those rankings have changed.

You can check out our preseason rankings here. However, on the following pages, we unveil our updated 40-man roster rankings based not only on how the players performed in the first half but also the impact they could each have in the second half of the season.

You’ll see a lot of movement in the rankings. You’ll also see some new faces in the rankings as four new players have joined the 40-man roster since we ranked it in the preseason. That means four have left, so no rankings this time for Cristhian Adames, Miguel Castro, Jason Motte or Chad Qualls.

So how do the midseason rankings look? Let’s dive in…

40. Rayan Gonzalez

Preseason: 40

The 26-year-old right-hander has not pitched a single inning so far this season. He injured his elbow in spring training and underwent Tommy John surgery shortly thereafter.

Colorado Rockies

He reached as high as Double-A before his injury. He will have a lot of work ahead of him to re-take the mound. However, the Rockies think highly enough of him that they protected him by placing him on the 40-man roster just before his injury occurred and the team has plenty of history with pitchers who have undergone the surgery (Tyler Chatwood, Greg Holland and others).

39. Zach Jemiola

Preseason: 39

The 23-year-old right-hander has also had his share of injury as well. As the Rockies headed to the All-Star break, Jemiola was on a rehab assignment with Class A Boise.

He has made just eight starts this season, including six in Triple-A. An overall ERA of 5.95 shows he still has plenty of work to do as he comes back from his injury.

38. Shane Carle

Preseason: 38

Carle got his first taste of Major League Baseball in April when he saw an inning of action for Colorado against the San Francisco Giants. He struck out a batter in his scoreless frame.

A reliever, Carle has a 6.02 ERA in 25 Triple-A appearances this season.

37. Zac Rosscup

Preseason: NA

Rosscup, a southpaw acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs for Matt Carasiti, showed up on Colorado’s 25-man roster just before the All-Star break. He has Major League experience with the Cubs and could make an impact in the Colorado bullpen as the season grinds on.

36. Jairo Diaz

Preseason: 24

It’s been a disappointing season so far for Diaz, who has been battling his way back from elbow surgery. Regarded as an “X Factor” for the Rockies heading into the season, he’s needed time away from the minor leagues for personal reasons. Then, when he did get a chance to pitch for Colorado, the Giants lit him up for three runs and four hits in a single inning.

*Note: All stats prior to Sunday play

30. Jordan Lyles

Preseason: 29

What to do with Jordan Lyles? He may not be on Colorado’s 40-man roster much longer, especially with Tyler Anderson and Chad Bettis coming off the disabled list soon. A 6.45 ERA this season seems to be the capper of a frustrating time for Lyles with the Rockies.

Opponents are currently hitting a career-high .298 against him this season. The writing seems to be on the wall for Lyles and the Rockies, who will have stronger options in the bullpen soon enough (through trade or attrition from what will be a packed rotation).

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29. Tom Murphy

Preseason: 15

You can file Murphy’s season so far right along with David Dahl’s. Much was expected of Murphy this season, but a broken forearm in spring training derailed much of the excitement.

When Murphy did come back, he went just 1-for-20 before being sent to Triple-A.

Murphy has plenty of potential, but will need to prove himself again before getting another shot with the Rockies.

28. Carlos Estevez

Preseason: 20

Here’s a statistic you probably would not have predicted before the season either: Carlos Estevez with a 4-0 mark and an ERA of 8.10. Yikes.

The 24-year-old right-hander has so much potential but hasn’t been the same since being pulled from Colorado’s closing role after two devastating blown saves last August.

27. Mike Tauchman

Preseason: NA

Tuchman got to taste big league life during his recent call-up. Like Jordan Patterson, though, is there room for him in Colorado’s outfield in the near future? He has the talent and has shown good patience at the plate against Major League pitchers (three walks in 12 trips to the plate).

26. Chad Bettis

Preseason: 13

Absolutely the best story of the season is still unfolding when it comes to Bettis, who has battled cancer and made it through chemotherapy. He’ll be pitching for Double-A Hartford right after the break and is focused on getting back on the mound in Denver. When he returns, it’s going to be one of the most emotional moments of the season … and quite possibly in franchise history.

25. Mike Dunn

Preseason: 17

The Rockies need Dunn to rediscover the stuff he had in April when he was 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA. If Dunn can become the lock-down lefty specialist the Rockies were envisioning when they signed him in the offseason, it will help the bullpen in numerous ways.

He’s allowed just one run in his last 5.2 innings spanning back to June 23. When he’s on, he’s been on this season. However, in recent weeks, that hasn’t happened enough. That has to change.

24. Pat Valaika

Preseason: 37

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Bud Black will tell you that he’s a big Pat Valaika fan. After seeing what Valaika has added to the team this season, we have to admit that we’re big fans as well.

The 24-year-old utility player went into the All-Star break on a high note, logging five RBI in Sunday’s win over the Chicago White Sox. He’s hitting .243 on the season with seven homers and 22 RBI. He’s also giving Trevor Story a run for his money as Colorado’s starting shortstop.

23. Adam Ottavino

Preseason: 9

Nothing would make us happier than for Ottavino to rediscover his form and bring that nasty slider back as a shutdown pitch. The numbers in both June and July have been over 11.00 ERA and the late June meltdown in Los Angeles is still pretty fresh in everyone’s minds.

Like Dunn, if Ottavino can find his form, Colorado’s bullpen improves dramatically.

22. Scott Oberg

Preseason: 30

While Dunn and Ottavino have struggled, Oberg has been one of Colorado’s pleasant surprises. The numbers may not scream it, but he’s earned the trust of Bud Black in important situations. He’s also throwing strikes a career-high 65.5 percent of the time he’s on the mound.

He hasn’t pitched since a July 6 appearance against the Reds when he gave up three hits and three runs. Here’s hoping that was just a glitch.

21. Tyler Anderson

Preseason: 10

A knee issue has plagued Anderson all season and the Rockies are hopeful that arthroscopic surgery will fix the issue. The southpaw is due back around the start of August, but is that the main reason his ERA has ballooned to 6.11 this year? Maybe it’s the knee. Maybe it’s the home run as he has surrendered 15 in 63.1 innings.

If nothing else, he learned how to hack off Clayton Kershaw this year, so that’s something.

20. German Marquez

Preseason: 22

The 22-year-old right-hander showed his stuff in scattering three hits over eight innings against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on May 10. That showed the kind of pitching that has Marquez with six wins this season and a bright future ahead of him.

19. Alexi Amarista

Preseason: 21

The Little Ninja. Sneaky pull pop. Versatility. There have been plenty of things associated with Amarista in his first year with the Rockies. He’s been good, but not spectacular. However, he’s one of Bud Black’s favorites to come off the bench when a change is needed on offense or defense.

He’s already played five positions this season for the Rockies and Black even teased that he could be Colorado’s position player to pitch if the need ever arose. Here’s hoping it doesn’t.

18. Jeff Hoffman

Preseason: 16

Hoffman bounced back and forth between Denver and Albuquerque for a while this season before finally landing as a key component of Colorado’s rotation. He’s now put together a 5-1 record and 4.15 ERA in 10 games (nine starts). The ERA is ballooned from a disastrous outing against Arizona on June 21 where he gave up nine runs in 3.2 innings.

He’s also gone 20.2 innings over his last three starts, giving Colorado quality length out of its starter.

17. Ryan Hanigan

Preseason: NA

He was the catcher for Kyle Freeland‘s near no-hitter on Sunday. He has given the Rockies a veteran presence behind the plate when perhaps their young pitching corps needed it the most. While he’s not doing anything spectacular at the plate (hitting .246 with two homers and nine RBI), he adds experience to a battery that needs just that.

He’s also leapfrogged (for now) Murphy and Garneau on the depth chart, so that says a lot about what Rockies management thinks about him and his importance to the team.

16. Raimel Tapia

Preseason: 26

Con mucho swagger, right? Colorado’s fastest player hits the All-Star break on a tear, hitting .323 for the season, including .379 in July. He provides a spark for the Rockies and has shown he can get on base and cause some damage when he gets there.

15. Trevor Story

Preseason: 6

He’s hitting .224 and has 100 strikeouts in 255 plate appearances this season. Granted, he has 11 homers on the season but the sequel to the amazing Story from last year hasn’t lived up to his expectations. If he doesn’t turn things around soon, he is in danger of losing his hold on the shortstop position … and not just temporarily.

He provides a great glove for Colorado’s infield but more is needed. Will the Rockies trade at the deadline to improve the position? That’s one of the thoughts we explored in this article.

14. Ian Desmond

Preseason: 7

Colorado’s major offseason signing has played in just 57 games so far this season thanks to injuries. He’s hitting .283 at the break but has a WAR of -0.5. More is needed.

13. Jake McGee

Preseason: 18

A 2.70 ERA in 38 appearances is a vast improvement over last season. Opponents are batting .206 against him this season. McGee has been one of Colorado’s most pleasant surprises this season.

12. Carlos Gonzalez

Preseason: 5

The season-long slump that has dragged Carlos Gonzalez down throughout 2017 had CarGo batting seventh in the final game of the season’s first half. However, he did go to 2-for-4 to raise his average for July to .211. The next few days will tell a lot about his future with the team. One thing is for sure though: A resurgent CarGo would provide a spark to Colorado’s offense and fan base.

11. Tyler Chatwood

Preseason: 12

A 6-10 record and 4.42 ERA is what Chatwood owns at the break. The 10 losses are already more than he had all of last season. He’s also given up 14 homers this season after surrendering 15 all of last year. He’s still been better on the road (3.19 ERA) versus home (6.14 ERA) but it’s nowhere near the historic numbers of last season.

Could Chatwood be moved out of the rotation eventually? Could he be moved at the trade deadline? An unrestricted free agent next season, anything is possible for the 27-year-old right-hander.

10. Tony Wolters

Preseason: 14

Tony Freaking Wolters.

A modest .267 average doesn’t tell everything that the 25-year-old catcher means to the Rockies. He’s a master of pitch framing and has improved his defense even more this season.

9. Gerardo Parra

Preseason: 19

For Rockies fans who saw what Parra brought to the team last season, the transformation for the 30-year-old outfielder has truly been stunning.

He’s hitting .335 this season and his recent return from the disabled list truly showed his importance to the team. Since his return on July 7, he’s hitting .538 in those three games. He also made a sweet diving catch to temporarily preserve Kyle Freeland’s no-hitter on Sunday.

Parra for President.

8. Antonio Senzatela

Preseason: 36

Tied for the team lead in victories with nine, Senzatela has come out of the bullpen in his last three outings. At the break, the 22-year-old right-hander was a member of Colorado’s Triple-A team as he tries to work through some recent struggles, including an 8.10 ERA in June.

7. Chris Rusin

Preseason: 23

Perhaps the unsung hero of the entire team, Rusin has been Colorado’s lifesaver out of the bullpen. Need just one out in a pressure situation? Rusin can do that. Need someone to provide a couple of innings of long relief? Rusin can do that.

A 3-0 mark and 2.30 ERA in 47 innings has made Rusin invaluable to Colorado’s relief corps.

6. Jon Gray

Preseason: 3

Just like when Parra returned to the lineup, Jon Gray’s comeback from a fractured foot was met with much rejoicing. It also came at a time when the Rockies rotation needed it the most.

Since his return at the end of June, Gray has picked up his first two wins of the season and blasted a 467-foot home run. He’ll also draw the first start of the second half in New York as the Rockies will look to start the post-All-Star set on the right foot.

5. Mark Reynolds

Preseason: NA

Think about this: Reynolds wasn’t even on Colorado’s 40-man roster when we did our preseason rankings. Flash forward to near the end of the All-Star break when he was one of five players competing in the Final Vote to make the All-Star Game. Baseball is weird.

Reynolds has 19 homers and 61 RBI at the break. But it’s not just offense that Reynolds brings. His defense is underrated and seemingly makes an impact every game.

The break comes at a great time for Reynolds as he’s hitting just .194 in July. With Desmond coming back from injury after the break and Parra able to play first as well, Reynolds could get some days off if needed.

4. DJ LeMahieu

Preseason: 4

Speaking of defense, how about Colorado’s All-Star second baseman? As Black told reporters the other day before the game, LeMahieu is a player who makes an impact every game.

After a slow start, LeMahieu has pushed his average to .307 at the break, including .381 in July.

3. Greg Holland

Preseason: 11

Hey look, another Rockies All-Star! Holland has 28 saves in 29 chances and has turned the back end of Colorado’s bullpen into something to be feared instead of something that scares Rockies fans.

The ultimate high-risk, high-reward signing, can Holland repeat his amazing first-half performance after the break? If so, and if the Rockies can bolster the bullpen through a trade, look out.

2. Charlie Blackmon

Preseason: 2

Chuck Nazty, All-Star and Home Run Derby participant. A .319 average, 20 homers and already career-high 10 triples. He leads Major League Baseball in hits (117) and total bases (214) and also has 47 extra-base hits. What more can be said?

Next: Looking at the trade value of every Rockies outfielder

1. Nolan Arenado

Preseason: 1

The best third baseman in the game. Period.

He leads Major League Baseball in extra-base hits with 50 and is tied for the Major League lead with 70 RBI. He also makes plays like this.