The Colorado Rockies are facing a tough break as newly acquired right-hander Pierson Ohl is set to undergo Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for the entire 2026 season. Ohl, who joined the Rockies from the Twins just last month, has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
At 26, Ohl made his MLB debut with Minnesota last year, pitching 30 innings with a 5.10 ERA, primarily from the bullpen. While his major league numbers were modest, his minor league performance was eye-catching.
He posted a stellar 2.40 ERA over 71 1/3 innings, boasting a 30.3% strikeout rate and a mere 3.9% walk rate. Ohl may not light up the radar gun, averaging 91.9 mph on his fastball, but his plus changeup and potential plus-plus command make him a promising asset.
Ohl was on the cusp of securing a spot in Colorado's bullpen. With other relievers like Victor Vodnik, Seth Halvorsen, Juan Mejia, and a few others likely to make the roster, Ohl's injury opens up competition for the remaining spots. Rule 5 pick RJ Petit’s place on the team is still uncertain, and several relievers have minor league options available.
Despite the setback, there’s a silver lining for Ohl. Being moved to the 60-day injured list ensures he remains on the major league roster, earning a year of service time and the corresponding salary. This means he’ll take home the major league minimum salary of $780K, a significant increase from his initial $100K signing bonus as a 14th-round pick from Grand Canyon University in 2021.
Looking ahead, Ohl remains a potential long-term option for the Rockies. With just 62 days of MLB service under his belt before the injury, he’ll end the season with 1.062 years of service time, keeping him under team control for at least another five years. Ohl, along with former top infield prospect Edouard Julien, was traded from the Twins to the Rockies for pitching prospect Jace Kaminska, as Minnesota needed to clear some 40-man roster space.