Colorado Rockies: 3 players who could make their MLB debuts in 2021

Ben Bowden

Thanks to a rash of ineffectiveness, Colorado finished the 2020 campaign without a southpaw in the bullpen. The Rockies may start the 2021 season in the same pattern, but don’t expect that to last.

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Bowden, a left-handed reliever who was a second-round pick of the Rockies in 2016, has seemingly been knocking on the door of his big league debut for some time now. However, injuries have kept that from becoming a reality.

But Bowden’s third career spring training with the Rockies could finally prove that the third time is indeed the charm. Entering 2021’s camp healthy, Bowden has impressed in the spring, posting a 1.69 ERA and 0.94 WHIP while opponents are hitting just .158 against him. Heading into Saturday’s action, Bowden was struck out eight in 5.1 innings of work while allowing just three hits. Those numbers include striking out the side in his one frame of action against San Francisco on St. Patrick’s Day.

Bowden finally seems to have the statistics and health stars aligning, pointing toward a big-league debut sooner than later.

Justin Lawrence

We’ve detailed Lawrence’s suspension from baseball in 2020 here, as well as Rockies assistant general manager for player development and farm director Zach Wilson’s thoughts on what Lawrence would bring to the table. Before the suspension, the 26-year-old right-hander struggled in 2019, posting an 8.76 ERA in 38 appearances (37.0 innings) split between Double-A Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque.

There’s the bad. Here’s the good.

Colorado Rockies

Lawrence first really put himself on Colorado’s radar in 2018 with a career-high 55 appearances for Class-A (High) Lancaster, where he logged a 2.65 ERA and struck out 62 in 54.1 innings of work. He was named a Rising Star in the Arizona Fall League after that season and, after being added to Colorado’s 40-man roster shortly thereafter, he seemed on the fast track for Coors Field.

Now, after a two-year bump in the road that comprised that fast track, Lawrence seems to be finding his groove again. This spring (heading into Saturday), the sidearmer has scattered four hits over 4.2 innings and opponents are hitting .143 against him.

There is still some control work for Lawrence to do, however, as he has walked three in those 4.2 frames. But if Lawrence can harness a power sinker that has hit 97.8 mph this spring, there is plenty of opportunities for him to showcase that at the Major League level this season.

“The way he’s thrown the ball, it gives us a great deal of hope that we have something on our hands in the future,” Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black recently said.

Colton Welker

If there was one thing that was whispered often in Rockies camp this spring while I was there, it was to keep an eye on Welker. Not only because he has put together yet another solid spring, but also that the 23-year-old is starting to come into his own physically and worked hard in the offseason in transforming his conditioning.

The possibility of Welker making the big leagues in 2021 seems perhaps a little closer after a certain All-Star third baseman who was blocking Welker’s path to Denver was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals back in February. Now, with Brendan Rodgers slowed by a hamstring injury and the Rockies having to shuffle their infield, could that open the door for Welker to make his debut?

Heading into Saturday, Welker is certainly making it known that he can produce at the plate this spring, going 10-for-28 (.357) with a homer and a team-leading 10 RBI. Welker is tied with Alan Trejo for most games played (17) and has bounced between first and third base, with only Ryan McMahon playing more innings at third this spring than Welker.

Take a look at Welker’s power swing below.

“Just a year older — maturity,” Black recently said of Welker. “His body is firing. The bat speed is there. He’s moving well in the field. In morning practice, he’s doing the things you’d like to see for a guy that’s getting closer to potentially being a big leaguer.”