The Rockies are making a roster move that points in two different directions at once: John Brebbia is headed for assignment, and Gabriel Hughes is on the way up for what would be his MLB debut.
Thomas Harding of MLB.com reported that Colorado plans to DFA Brebbia and replace him with Hughes, a fellow right-hander. Because the Rockies protected Hughes from the Rule 5 draft by selecting his contract last November, the club will open a spot on the 40-man roster with the move.
Brebbia’s path has been a long one. The 36-year-old bounced through the Yankees’ and Diamondbacks’ minor league systems, plus two independent American Association clubs, before finally reaching the majors with the Cardinals in 2017.
He later put in extended stretches with St. Louis and San Francisco, but the last three seasons have sent him back into journeyman territory.
During that span, he has pitched for the White Sox, Braves, Tigers, and Rockies, while also signing minor league deals with the Red Sox and Twins.
His overall résumé is still solid on paper. Brebbia owns a 4.12 ERA and 3.68 SIERA across 379 career games.
But the last three seasons have been rougher, with more trouble preventing runs and a noticeable drop in his stuff. If he gets through waivers, he should find another minor league opportunity, though he’ll need to work his way back to the big leagues again.
Hughes, meanwhile, is getting his first crack at the majors. The 24-year-old was a first-round pick in 2022, but Tommy John surgery in 2023 slowed everything down in a hurry.
Since then, he hasn’t quite recaptured the level of promise he showed when Colorado took him 10th overall. Entering 2026, most outlets had him pegged as a 40-grade prospect, landing near the back end of the Rockies’ top 30.
Still, there are signs of life. In 40 2/3 innings for Triple-A Albuquerque this season, Hughes has looked far sharper than he did a year ago.
His velocity has ticked up, his strikeout numbers have climbed, and his walk rate has come down. He’s also allowed only two home runs in the notoriously friendly Pacific Coast League.
That kind of progress suggests he’s making the kind of adjustments needed to stay in a starting role. Harding noted that Hughes is more likely to work out of Colorado’s bullpen right now, but the call-up remains a meaningful indication that the Rockies like what they’re seeing from him as a starter in Triple-A.
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