Colorado Rockies: 3 things that stood out from the spring opener

After a washout on Saturday, the 2020 version of the Colorado Rockies made its collective debut on Sunday in Tempe against the Los Angeles Angels in the spring training opener for both teams.

While it is impossible to put a great amount of stock into any numbers from spring, there were a few things from the Colorado Rockies that stood out to me in their 7-5 loss.

First, we wrote before the game about how every outing was important for Jeff Hoffman as the Rockies try to figure out exactly what his role should be in 2020.

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Getting the start on Sunday, it was a bag of mixed reviews for the 27-year-old right-hander. In his two innings of work, Hoffman faced 10 batters and allowed three hits and a walk. The walk was a four-pitch free pass to open the game and two of the three hits came into the second with two outs that plated a run after Hoffman appeared to be cruising through the inning.

Those are the bad points. On the good side, Hoffman struck out three and said after the game he threw all of his pitches and now it’s about fine-tuning. Again, take numbers with a grain of salt but Hoffman will need to tighten things up in his next outing.

Second, Ryan Castellani still has some work to do on the mound as well. He started his spring by walking the first two batters. The 23-year-old right-hander would walk three in his one inning of work and allow an infield single on his way to two runs scoring against him.

Was Sunday indicative of Castellani’s talent? Absolutely not. But, like Hoffman, there is plenty of work to do before his next time on the bump.

Honestly, the same could be said for Ashton Goudeau and Joe Harvey, who were both tagged for runs. The only pitcher to have a scoreless outing was James Pazos, who walked one and struck out one in his single frame of action.

Third, Eric Stamets did not hit a home run in his 15 games last season with the Cleveland Indians. However, he provided the offensive highlight of the day for the Rockies in the fifth, blasting a full count pitch over the left-center field wall for a three-run homer.

Signed to a minor league deal in November, Stamets certainly made his presence known in his first at-bat in a purple jersey.