The Rockies have added a familiar kind of arm to the mix, claiming left-hander Hayden Harris off waivers from the Braves and sending him to Triple-A Albuquerque. Atlanta designated Harris for assignment earlier this week, and because Colorado already had an open spot on the 40-man roster, no other move was required.
Harris, 27, comes with a brief big league résumé and a longer track record of missing bats in the minors while also handing out walks. He reached the majors with Atlanta last year and appeared in three games, allowing one earned run in 2 2/3 innings. That remains his only major league experience, since he has spent all of 2026 back in the minors.
Colorado is betting on the upside in his minor league numbers. Since the start of 2022, Harris has logged 207 1/3 innings on the farm with a 3.65 ERA. Over that stretch, he has punched out 35.1% of opposing hitters, but he has also walked 12.6% of them.
Last season looked like a step forward. Harris trimmed his walk rate to 9.7%, still not ideal but a clear improvement, and he kept dominating hitters with a 40.3% strikeout rate.
That performance earned him his brief look in the majors. This year, though, the control has gone the wrong way.
His strikeout rate is down to 28.7%, which is still solid, but his 16.6% walk rate is a major problem.
That rough 2026 led to him getting bumped off the Atlanta roster, but the Rockies had a reason to take the chance. They had room available, they need pitching depth, and their staff has struggled badly this year with a 5.42 ERA, worse than every team except the Athletics. Harris can still be optioned for two more seasons after this one, giving Colorado the flexibility to keep him in the minors and see whether the command can come back.
In Other News...
Cardinals Bring Rockies A New Rotation Problem This Series
The Cardinals are set to get a key arm back for their upcoming series against the Rockies, with Andre Pallante expected to return to pitching after spending time on the Injured List with right elbow inflammation. It comes at a time when St. Louis has been sorting through its starting options, and the series gives Colorado a fresh look at a rotation that has already been reshaped by injuries and shifting roles.
Hunter Dobbins is out after undergoing elbow surgery and will miss the rest of the 2026 season and part of 2027, a reminder of how quickly pitching plans can change. For the Rockies, the bigger concern is less about who is unavailable and more about how the Cardinals line up the rest of their starters in this matchup, especially with recent work from pitchers like Liberatore and Leahy helping define the shape of the rotation heading into the series. [Read more 🡒]
Rockies Found An Unlikely Clubhouse Spark In A Lost Season
Brett Sullivans path to the Rockies has been the kind of winding professional baseball journey that usually tests a players patience as much as his skill. Drafted in 2015, the 32-year-old backup catcher has worked through years of setbacks and organizational changes, yet he has kept showing up with the same steady approach, which has mattered in a Colorado clubhouse that leans young.
In a season that has not gone the Rockies way, Sullivan has nonetheless carved out a real role beyond the box score. His positive attitude and veteran presence have made him a morale booster inside the room, the sort of dependable voice and easygoing teammate that can help a lost season feel a little more manageable for everyone around him. [Read more 🡒]
Rockies Put Ezequiel Tovar Decision Under A Brighter Spotlight
The Rockies have an everyday-looking lineup tweak on their hands as they try to keep a little momentum rolling after an extra-inning win over the Orioles. Cole Carrigg is set to start at shortstop and hit fifth against the Cardinals, a notable assignment for a player who has been getting a longer look while Colorado searches for steadier production in the middle of the order and across the infield.
Ezequiel Tovars offensive struggles have made the decision harder to ignore, with his .209/.256/.333 line leaving the club to weigh present performance against what it expected from him going into the year. His absence against another right-handed starter adds another layer to the discussion around how the Rockies want to handle shortstop moving forward, especially with a series in St. Louis still offering a chance to build on the buzz from that last win. [Read more 🡒]