The Rockies are adding a new arm to the mix, agreeing to a minor league deal with right-hander Valente Bellozo. The 26-year-old is expected to join the team as a non-roster invitee in spring training, giving him a shot to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Bellozo comes over after two seasons in the Marlins organization, where he showed flashes of potential but also battled inconsistency. Originally acquired by Miami in a 2024 trade with the Astros for infielder Jacob Amaya, Bellozo broke into the big leagues later that season.
He made 13 starts as a rookie and posted a 3.67 ERA - a solid number on the surface - but the underlying metrics told a more complicated story. His strikeout rate sat at just 15%, and he struggled to keep the ball in the yard, a red flag for any pitcher, let alone one now headed to Coors Field.
Last season, Bellozo opened the year in the Marlins’ rotation but was shifted to the bullpen after five starts. He settled into a long-relief role, often working multiple innings in low-leverage situations.
Up through the All-Star break, he held his own, but the second half was rough. Over his final 30 2/3 innings, he was tagged for a 6.46 ERA and gave up 10 home runs.
By season’s end, his ERA had climbed to 4.65 across 81 1/3 innings, with a 15.5% strikeout rate and a 6.6% walk rate.
What Bellozo does bring to the table is plus control. He doesn’t walk many hitters, which gives him a chance to survive even without overpowering stuff.
His fastball sits around 90 mph, and he leans heavily on a mid-80s cutter. He also mixes in a sweeper and a changeup, giving him a four-pitch mix that can keep hitters off balance - when he’s locating.
Still, there’s no getting around the fact that he’s a fly-ball pitcher with below-average velocity, and that’s a tough profile to carry into Coors Field. The altitude in Denver is famously unforgiving to pitchers who live up in the zone or struggle with home runs, and Bellozo has had his share of both.
That said, the Rockies are in a position where opportunity is wide open. If Bellozo can show some early command and limit the long ball in camp, he could pitch his way into a rotation that’s very much in flux. At the very least, he’s a depth option with major league experience and a chance to prove he belongs - and in a place like Colorado, where pitching depth is always at a premium, that’s not nothing.