Colorado Rockies: German Marquez will prove to be a better ace

There have been quite a few bold predictions made about the Colorado Rockies regarding the upcoming season. Some seem to be blown way out of proportion while others are what is expected. I thought I would get in on the predictions train as well. Instead of having a few at the moment, I only have one. You have already read the headline so you know what it is.

German Marquez is going to show that he’s ace material by the end of the 2018 season.

That’s my prediction and it’s more so a logical one than anything else. Marquez, 23, has, in my opinion, already proven what a vital asset he is to the Rockies. Just last year, you could see the difference in him from the 2016 season. One of the biggest differences was his playing time. Marquez was able to pitch 162 innings last season. He finished with an ERA of 4.39 and a record of 11-7.

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With those stats, he’s doing pretty well for a guy who was playing in his first full season. The only way he’s going to be able to show Bud Black and the rest of the coaching staff that he’s capable of being the ace is to show that he can win. And not just win in general but win in the National League West. This division is at the most competitive level it has been in quite some time. If Marquez can shut down the opposing lineups in the NL West, he’s on the right path.

Now I’m not saying he’s going to have to compete with Jon Gray for the “ace” role. He just has to show how well he’s developed. The best time to get people turning their heads about him is on Saturday when he starts on the road against the Arizona Diamondbacks. You not only have plenty of eyes watching you. You also have a chance to impress at a division rival.

The Colorado Rockies have a gold mine when looking at German Marquez. At his age, he’s shown great potential to be the ace for the Rockies. By the end of the season, I predict that, if the Rockies do make the postseason, he should be heavily considered to be the starter for that first game.

I have even written more about him when I went over the pitching situation as a whole. Even though he is only 23, he has shown maturity for his age along with his ability to learn on the fly with his pitching.

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As pitching coach Steve Foster continues to help Marquez develop his arm, you can see him being molded into a prized pitcher that Rockies will take pride in having. This guy even has a stellar strikeout mark of 8.2 per nine innings. With the workhorse mentality he shows, there is a high chance to expect only the best from German Marquez.

Though only known by few and unknown by many before last season, I predict that German Marquez will be a force to be reckoned with by the end of the 2018 season.