In the sun-drenched fields of Scottsdale, Arizona, RJ Petit is finding his groove with the Rockies. Freshly plucked from the Tigers in the Rule 5 Draft, Petit is no stranger to adapting, and he's got a familiar face in his corner: Gabe Ribas, his former instructor now serving as the Rockies' assistant pitching coach.
Petit, towering at 6-foot-8 and 300 pounds, is already making waves. In the Cactus League opener, he shrugged off a leadoff walk to deliver a scoreless inning against the Diamondbacks, showcasing the kind of resilience that could secure his spot on the team. With a bullpen brimming with talent, Petit knows he's got to stand out to stick around.
Manager Warren Schaeffer has taken notice, particularly impressed by Petit's sharp slider and his ability to induce groundball double plays. It's clear the Rockies are intrigued by what Petit brings to the mound.
Reflecting on his growth, Petit credits Ribas for helping him refine his approach. Gone are the college days of overpowering hitters with sheer force. Now, it's about strategic attacks, a mindset that served him well with a 2.44 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A last season.
Meanwhile, starter Antonio Senzatela is on a mission to reinvent himself. After a tough season, he's diversifying his arsenal, reducing his reliance on four-seam fastballs and experimenting with sliders, sweepers, changeups, and a new two-seam sinker. Although Nolan Arenado took one of his sweepers deep, Senzatela remains optimistic, viewing it as valuable feedback in his quest to keep hitters guessing.
On the flip side, lefty prospect Sean Sullivan turned heads with a dominant performance, striking out three of the four batters he faced. Despite a pitch count that stretched to 22, Sullivan's precision was evident, a promising sign for a pitcher who’s bouncing back from hip surgery.
With the Rockies' bullpen looking solid, these pitchers are adding intriguing layers to the mix. As spring training unfolds, all eyes are on these arms, each vying to carve out their place in the Rockies' future.