As the Rockies gear up for Opening Day this Friday, fans will notice a fresh look to their roster, boasting ten new faces ready to make their mark. With a major shake-up led by the new president of baseball operations, Paul DePodesta, the Rockies are setting the stage for a new era.
The revamped lineup features three-fifths of the starting rotation as imports, showcasing DePodesta's immediate impact on the team. Just ten players from last year's Opening Day roster are making a return, with Tyler Freeman sidelined on the 10-day injured list due to lower-back inflammation.
Rockies’ Bullpen: A New Look Without Last Year’s Saves Leader
Seth Halvorsen, who led the team with 11 saves last season, will begin the year in AAA Albuquerque. While he topped the saves chart, his overall performance, reflected in a WAR of 0.2, lagged behind bullpen standout Victor Vodnik, who posted a 1.8 WAR.
The bullpen will feature right-handers Zach Agnos, Chase Dollander, Jimmy Herget, Jaden Hill, Juan Mejia, Antonio Senzatela, and Victor Vodnik, alongside lefty Brennan Bernardino. Bernardino, a new acquisition from the Boston Red Sox, adds a fresh arm to the mix after being traded for minor-league outfielder Braiden Ward.
Here’s the Full Roster Breakdown:
Rotation (5):
- LHP Kyle Freeland
- RHP Michael Lorenzen
- LHP José Quintana
- RHP Tomoyuki Sugano
- RHP Ryan Feltner
Bullpen (8):
- RHP Zach Agnos
- LHP Brennan Bernardino
- RHP Chase Dollander
- RHP Jimmy Herget
- RHP Jaden Hill
- RHP Juan Mejia
- RHP Antonio Senzatela
- RHP Victor Vodnik
Catchers (2):
- Hunter Goodman
- Brett Sullivan
Infielders (4):
- Edouard Julien
- Kyle Karros
- TJ Rumfield
- Ezequiel Tovar
Outfielders (4):
- Jordan Beck
- Brenton Doyle
- Jake McCarthy
- Mickey Moniak
Infield/Outfield (3):
- Willi Castro
- Troy Johnston
- Ryan Ritter
Injured List (8):
- INF Blaine Crim (10-day)
- INF/OF Tyler Freeman (10-day)
- OF Zac Veen (10-day)
- RHP McCade Brown (15-day)
- RHP RJ Petit (15-day)
- OF Kris Bryant (60-day)
- RHP Jeff Criswell (60-day)
- RHP Pierson Ohl (60-day)
With the Rockies' roster set, anticipation is building for what promises to be an intriguing season. Keep an eye on how these new additions gel with the returning core, as they aim to make a splash in the league.