Rockies shockingly omit key bullpen piece from Opening Day roster

Early Tuesday afternoon, there was speculation about Rockies' hard-throwing reliever Seth Halvorsen not having a locker in the clubhouse.

The speculation proved accurate following the announcement that Halvorsen was demoted to Triple-A Albuquerque after a disappointing Cactus League performance.

Halvorsen was recovering from a right elbow flexor injury sustained in August and has yet to fully regain his previous form. The right-hander allowed 12 runs on eight hits in five innings this spring, resulting in a 21.60 ERA.

Even more shocking is that he recorded only four strikeouts, compared to 12 walks, as his command was very shaky.

This move allows Halvorsen to regain his form and refine his mechanics in a low-pressure situation. This move allows the team to retain Chase Dollander on the roster, utilizing him in the bullpen to refine his mechanics, rather than demoting him to Triple-A, which could negatively impact his confidence following a challenging spring.

Halvorsen led the Rockies in saves last season with 11, while Victor Vodnik was close behind with 10. Halvorsen also ranked third in baseball, averaging 100 mph on his fastball. This included a 103.3 mph fastball in July, the fastest by a Rockies pitcher in nearly a decade.

Seth finished the 2025 season with 36 strikeouts in 39.2 innings, posting a 4.99 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP, while converting 11 of 14 save opportunities.

Such a move would likely make Vodink the top choice for closer, at least initially, with Juan Mejia available as a strong setup option. However, I would prefer Mejia get a chance in that role.

Bullpen related, the Rockies have discussed using an "opener," starting games with a reliever before bringing in a starting pitcher. Zach Agnos, Jimmy Herget, and even Antonio Senzatela, who is expected to be in long relief, could potentially fill this role.