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Colorado Rockies: 3 pitchers who could be “X factors” in 2020

By Kevin Henry

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 12: James Pazos #47 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field on September 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Cardinals defeated the Rockies 10-3. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 12: James Pazos #47 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field on September 12, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Cardinals defeated the Rockies 10-3. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 24: James Pazos #47 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on September 24, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 24: James Pazos #47 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on September 24, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /

On April 26, 2019, James Pazos was traded by Philadelphia to the Rockies in exchange for minor league Hunter Stovall. Assigned to Triple-A Albuquerque, Pazos struggled with the Isotopes, giving up 69 hits in 44 innings spanning 39 games.

However, the 29-year-old southpaw showed much better after being called up by Colorado on September 1. In 10.1 innings over 12 games, Pazos posted a 1.74 ERA while holding opponents to a .200 batting average.

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He also showed well in spring training in March before the pandemic struck, allowing just two hits in 5.2 innings of work.

In 149 career games at the Major League level (for the Rockies, New York Yankees, and Seattle Mariners), Pazos has a career 1.32 WHIP and 3.38 ERA. He adds an interesting option to a bullpen that has only two other left-handers (Phillip Diehl and Jake McGee) with MLB experience.

Control has been his biggest issue in recent seasons as he has logged 3.5 walks per nine innings on average. This spring, he struck out three while walking two.

If he performs well in the spring training reboot, don’t be surprised if Pazos plays a more pivotal role for the Rockies in 2020.

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