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

Pitching will be a key factor in the successes or failures of the Colorado Rockies in a shortened 2020 Major League Baseball season.

With just 60 games in the 2020 regular season schedule, every game takes on added importance for the Colorado Rockies if they are to make the postseason for the third time in the last four years. Pitching will play a big role in Colorado’s ability to succeed in what has been labeled as the fifth-toughest schedule in MLB next season, going up against teams from the National League West and American League West.

Last season, statistically, the Rockies bullpen outperformed the rotation posting a lower opponent slash line (.263/.343/.467 versus .286/.352/.509), better WHIP (1.465 versus 1.516), and tOPS+ (94 versus 105).

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This offseason, the Rockies signed no free agents to a Major League contract. That, however, did not mean they were completely quiet when it came to signing players, with several being inked to minor league deals.

Among those are two pitchers new to the organization who could play an interesting role in an abbreviated season. A third pitcher who could also be an X factor for the Rockies this season saw action in just 12 games last year for Colorado after being traded to the Rockies during the season.

Let’s take a look at these three newer faces and what they could do to boost Colorado’s pitching prospects, in the bullpen and perhaps the rotation or long relief.

When the signing of Tyler Kinley was announced during the most recent Winter Meetings in San Diego, Colorado general manager Jeff Bridich made it clear that the 29-year-old right-hander had been on Colorado’s radar for some time. You can read his comments and see more about Kinley in this article we wrote the day the signing was made public.

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While Pazos saw his numbers improve when he reached the Major League level, Kinley had mixed reviews last season as he moved back and forth between the Miami Marlins and Triple-A New Orleans.

Kinley went 3-1 with a 3.65 ERA in 52 games for Miami, while, in Triple-A, he logged a 1.72 ERA in 14 games while opponents hit .082 against him and he posted a 0.70 WHIP with seven walks in 15.2 innings. The number of walks spiked during his MLB stint as he surrendered 36 in 49.1 innings.

Kinley, however, dazzled in spring training for the Rockies in March, scattering two hits over six innings while striking out six and walking two. The effort from Kinley in games and in preparation on the side fields drew praise from Nolan Arenado.

Last season, Kinley finished 13 games for the Marlins. Could he see some late-inning action for the Rockies in 2020? With a condensed schedule, the more reliable options available to the Rockies in close games, the better. Kinley could be just that in 2020.

A 23-year-old right-hander who comes to Colorado as a bit of a mystery but had the Rockies buzzing after a singular stellar inning in the spring? That’s Jose Mujica, who could provide some help in the rotation or in long relief in 2020 and beyond for Colorado.

After missing all of the 2019 campaign because of Tommy John surgery, Mujica is looking for a fresh start in a new organization (after electing free agency and leaving the Tampa Bay Rays system). The Rays system is the only one Mujica has ever known, signing with them in 2012 from his native Venezuela when he was just 16 years old.

There is plenty to like about Mujica from his last performance in the Rays organization, however. My colleague Noah Yingling detailed some of those moments in this article after the Rockies signed Mujica back in late November.

In 2018, he split the season between Rookie-ball, Advanced-A ball, and Triple-A. Between the three, he pitched to a 6-2 record with a 3.75 ERA in 13 games (12 starts). In his seven games (all starts) at the Triple-A level, he pitched to a 5-1 record with a 2.70 ERA. In his only 36 2/3 innings at the AAA level (the only innings he has ever pitched there), he allowed 31 hits, walked 10, and struck out 34. He had a WHIP of 1.118 and a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.4:1.

Mujica had just two outings in March’s version of spring training and the total numbers aren’t great (five hits and five runs in three innings with three walks and no strikeouts). However, a young arm with plenty of potential may need a little time to ramp up and be a part of the 2020 plans for the Rockies. If he can reach that potential, Mujica could be an interesting option at the start or in the middle of games.

He’s the likely the longest long shot of the three pitchers I’ve detailed to make a big impact in 2020. But, with a season unlike any others we have ever seen, who knows what could happen?