MEDIA CLIPS –March 28, 2018

Gray's Opening Day plan? 'Show dominance' By Thomas Harding MLB.com @harding_at_mlb Mar. 27th, 2018

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Opening Day is special. But so is every regular-season game. And every postseason game. It's a lesson Rockies right-hander learned the hard way back in October, and one he hopes will lead to success on

Thursday night.

In an open secret that manager confirmed Tuesday, Gray will make his second season-opening start Thursday

(his first coming last year in Milwaukee) against the D-backs at Chase Field -- the spot where the Rockies' season ended last year, as Gray was hit hard in 1 1/3 innings when he gave up four runs and seven hits in the 11-8 loss to the D-backs in the National League Wild Card Game.

Gray had dominated at Chase Field during the regular season -- 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA and 20 strikeouts against one walk in 13 innings -- en route to a 10-4 overall record and a 3.67 ERA in 20 starts. Much of his best work came after he missed

2 1/2 months with a navicular stress fracture of the left foot. But the best way to illustrate the stark contrast in the postseason game is first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who was 0-for-11 with five strikeouts in his career against Gray, before he parked a three-run homer in the first inning.

"There's definitely a chip-on-my-shoulder-type thing," Gray said. "But I can't let that get in the way, either. It's something I really want to do, that I'm really focused on -- that I have to say, 'Hey, treat it just like another game.'

"[The Wild Card Game] didn't feel like an in-season start, either. It's something I want to reclaim. Get back out there. Show dominance."

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As much as last year's final start hurt -- afterward, a disconsolate Gray talked of knowing the game was getting away from him but not knowing how to fix it -- he and Black are drawing on it as a lesson. Black said "it was great that Jon self- admitted" that he didn't handle the start like just another game.

"For players, there are steps of growth to be taken all the time," Black said. "That was one of them last year for Jon. He pitched in a big game. He'll be better off for it moving forward in hopefully his long career."

The final two Spring Training starts suggest that Gray could be ready for a forward leap.

Late in his time on the disabled list last season, Gray began to throw while wearing a stabilizing boot on his left foot, which readied his arm for a quick return to the mound shortly after the boot was removed. However, the understandable urge not to put too much pressure on the foot remained. Even when he was going 7-2 with a 2.44 ERA, 66 strikeouts and 15 walks in 66 1/3 innings over his final 11 starts, Gray never felt the front-side power of his delivery.

After devoting his first four spring starts to experimenting with a different delivery and concentrating on issues such as holding runners, Gray finished his spring with 9 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out 11 and walking one in that span.

Being able to land on his left foot with full force (reminding himself to do so by keeping his left arm in a strong position and feeling the power of the step) has allowed him to find consistency with his two sliders -- one designed to entice hitters to chase the ball in the dirt, the other geared toward weak ground balls.

"It's one of those pitches that really isn't there all the time," Gray said. "But I feel if I do the things I'm supposed to, things I tell myself to -- run through my checklist -- it's going to be a pitch for me in the game. It may not be a 12-13 punch-out pitch, but I know I can use it to get people off my fastball."

Add to that an increasingly effective curveball and occasional changeup, and Gray feels strong. And some of the ideas

Gray fooled with may make their way into the regular season. He pulled off a successful pickoff move against the

Cubs' Kris Bryant in his last Cactus League start, and after setting up with his left shoulder facing the plate, he has toyed with a version of the windup he used in college at Oklahoma.. 24th, 2018

"It's kind of weird, the more things I tried, the more comfortable I felt," he said. "Even when I went back to my old stuff, I felt super comfortable. And I felt I can take a few miles an hour off this curveball and still throw it for a strike. Or I can throw this one really hard and make it slider-ish. That's given me a lot of freedom to be more creative." 2

McMahon makes Rockies' Opening Day roster No. 2 prospect excelled at the plate during spring By Thomas Harding MLB.com @harding_at_mlb Mar. 27th, 2018

Before Tuesday's Spring Training finale against the Mariners, Rockies manager Bud Black informed McMahon -- the Rockies' No. 2 prospect and No. 41 overall according to MLB Pipeline -- that he has made his first Opening Day roster.

Last year combined at Double-A Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque, the left-handed-hitting McMahon hit a combined .355 with 39 doubles, four triples, 20 home runs and 88 RBIs before going 3-for-19 in a 17-game taste of the Majors.

It wasn't clear there would be a place for McMahon, 23, on a roster crowded with veterans. But the Rockies couldn't deny him after seeing him compile a .328 batting average and a .912 OPS, with two home runs and nine RBIs in 67 Cactus

League at-bats.

"I wanted to show how I've matured in my game, my new approach, how I execute that," said McMahon, who had gone 1- fo-29 over the previous three Spring Trainings. "I think I did well. The guys believe in me. The coaches believe in me. So

I'm excited for the season."

Playing time will likely come at first base, with -- who will be on the field regularly during the second year of a five-year, $70 million contract -- moving to left field and Gerardo Parra becoming a bench player on days McMahon starts.

McMahon, who was drafted in the second round in 2013 as a third baseman and has filled in at second during his pro career, also will likely be called upon for pinch-hit duty.

"I came to show what I was about, show that I'm here to work, play hard and play some good ball along the way,"

McMahon said.

When Carlos Gonzalez re-signed earlier this month, Black played Desmond consistently at first base, while McMahon squeezed in starts at third and came off the bench. McMahon showed enough to convince the Rockies that he could handle such duty, and he could earn more playing time if the power he displayed last year translates to the Majors.. 8th,

2018

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"I think I'll be able to do whatever they ask me to do," McMahon said. "And I've got to stay ready, because I don't make the decisions. Bud Black does. Just stay ready and keep doing what I'm doing."

The move became clear when the Rockies optioned outfielder , who contributed off the bench last season while bouncing between Triple-A and the Majors, back to Albuquerque. While Tapia receives regular at-bats in

Albuquerque -- along with David Dahl, another highly touted outfielder -- McMahon will get his big league chance.

With the roster not set in stone until Thursday, Black did not announce McMahon as a member of the 25-man roster officially, but said he has useful tools and "is becoming a confident, mature player."

With that decision, the roster is beginning to fall into place:

• Left-handed-hitting outfielder Mike Tauchman, the Rockies' Abby Greer Award winner as Spring Training Most Valuable

Player, will join McMahon and catcher Tony Wolters as left-handed hitters on a four-man bench. The Rockies also optioned catcher Tom Murphy to Albuquerque on Tuesday.

Infielder Pat Valaika, who batted .328 (19-for-58) with 12 runs, eight doubles, four homers and 16 RBIs as a pinch-hitter last season, is the righty bat off the bench.

• As Black has hinted at over the last several days, right-handed , a starter by trade, will be carried in the bullpen to begin the season. Senzatela has 1.62 ERA in five Cactus League games.

• Reliever Zac Rosscup has been trying to make the team as a lefty specialist, but hasn't appeared in a Cactus League game since March 14. Black said after Tuesday's game that he has an issue with his left middle finger. Rosscup, who is out of Minor League options, can begin the year on the disabled list, which would open a spot for Senzatela.

• Righty reliever Carlos Estevez (left oblique strain) and righty starter Jeff Hoffman (right shoulder inflammation) will begin the season on the 10-day disabled list. Righty reliever Rayan Gonzalez (recovery from Tommy John right elbow surgery) is on the 60-day DL.

Bettis set

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In a three-inning tuneup on Tuesday, Rockies righty Chad Bettis struck out two and forced three ground-ball outs, while giving up one run on two hits and a walk.

"Really, it was a mix of everything; it was not just one pitch, which benefits me," said Bettis, who is in line to pitch Monday, the first of four games in San Diego. "I accomplished what I wanted today, redefining command, getting a little sharper."

Opening three

Although the rotation has been set for some time, Black officially announced his starters for the season-opening series at

Chase Field vs. the D-backs -- righty Jon Gray on Thursday night, lefty Tyler Anderson on Friday night and righty German Marquez on Saturday night.

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Lineup set, Rox raring to make October run Colorado hoping for more All-Star seasons from Blackmon, LeMahieu, Arenado By Thomas Harding MLB.com @harding_at_mlb Mar. 26th, 2018

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Rockies will start 2018 with a lineup quite similar to the one they went with in '17. That's not bad, considering the Rockies made their first postseason appearance since '09.

If , DJ LeMahieu and Nolan Arenado turn in more All-Star years, Carlos Gonzalez and Trevor

Story rebound from slumps and Ian Desmond (hand, right calf) and Gerardo Parra (right quadriceps) avoid injuries, the

Rockies could be even more potent.

Projected Opening Day lineup

1. Charlie Blackmon, CF

2. DJ LeMahieu, 2B

3. Nolan Arenado, 3B

4. Carlos Gonzalez, RF

5. , SS

6. Ian Desmond, 1B

7. Gerardo Parra, LF

8. Chris Iannetta, C

9. Jon Gray, RHP23rd, 2018

Key roles

• Gonzalez's return means the Rockies can continue having Blackmon in the leadoff spot, where he hit 37 homers and led the National League with a .331 batting average last year. However, keep an eye on Gonzalez and Parra. Gonzalez signed late and was around for just half of Spring Training, and Parra missed the early part of spring because of right hand surgery. Both feel caught up, but they're going into the regular season with fewer at-bats than in normal years.

• A former batting champ at No. 2 in LeMahieu and a threat for the and RBI titles at No. 3 in Arenado is not bad.

• Don't sleep on Iannetta, who had 17 home runs for the D-backs last season. That total was one fewer than his career high, which came in 2008 during his first run with the Rockies. Coming home to Coors Field shouldn't hurt.11th, 2018 6

Injury updates

• Right-handed starter Jeff Hoffman suffered right shoulder soreness early in camp, and the Rockies were careful with him. He threw a bullpen session on Saturday, and he is expected to play in Minor League games sometime in April.

• Righty reliever Carlos Estevez suffered a left oblique injury early in camp, and he had a relapse later.

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Jon Gray was named the Rockies’ opening day starter at Arizona for a reason. He set their pitching bar. Black wants Gray to make 33 or 34 starts this season, and he wants the Rockies to win most of those games. By NICK GROKE | [email protected] | The Denver Post PUBLISHED: March 27, 2018 at 6:13 pm | UPDATED: March 27, 2018 at 6:21 pm

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — His golden retriever hair and Viking beard are longer now, held in check only by a wide headband, but Jon Gray will step back into Chase Field on Thursday night as if he never left. It’s like only an ellipsis separates opening day from a dispiriting wild-card playoff defeat six months ago.

“It’s been something I’ve looked forward to since the last game we played here,” Gray said. “I know that for them to put me out there, they have all the belief in me to win a game.”

Colorado manager Bud Black on Tuesday told Gray that he will be the Rockies’ leading man, the pitcher tasked with setting a bar for a five-man rotation that skews excessively young. The 26-year-old right-hander from Oklahoma will make his second consecutive opening-day start, just the eighth pitcher in club history to start Day 1 more than once.

His coronation as staff ace last season took a dip when he broke his foot in the first month, but he returned to become one of the best pitchers in the National League over the final two months, leading the Rockies to their first postseason berth since 2009.

That’s when he ran into trouble. In a one-game playoff against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field, Gray gave up three runs on three hits to the first three batters he faced, then was bounced without an out in the second inning with a 4-0 deficit. Arizona went on to win a wild one, 11-8.

“Emotionally, he treated it differently,” Black said. “For players, there are steps to be taken all the time for growth. And that was one of them last year for Jon. He pitched in a big game, and he will be better off for it.”

His 2.44 ERA over 11 games in the final two months of 2017 made Gray one of the best pitchers in the NL late in the season, and his 7-2 record in that stretch helped push Colorado to the postseason. He was an obvious choice to start its postseason game.

Gray’s status as ace, though, was made to wait. Black has stressed that a true ace is developed over time, a pitcher who can be counted on in the long run. The manager wants Gray to make 33 or 34 starts this season, and he wants the

Rockies to win most of those games.

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Gray will do it with an improved arsenal, including a sharpened curveball, an ability to quick-pitch with a clipped windup and a more confident pickoff move to first base.

“His curveball has become a legit weapon, a great neutralizer for him,” Black said.

Gray’s lurch toward the regular season started early. In a Cactus League outing against Texas on March 19, he turned a ho-hum exhibition game into a standing ovation, throwing nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 scoreless innings. It immediately perked up the rest of Colorado’s staff.

Kyle Freeland, a rookie last year who will pitch at the back of the Rockies’ rotation, watched Gray’s start on TV, marking his intensity even in a spring game.

‘It was amazing. He was consistent with all his pitches. He was throwing up in the zone,” Freeland said. “That trickles down to everybody else. We feel like the bar has been set. We need to reach it and get above it.”

Gray’s first game since his last loss will be against largely the same lineup, including Arizona all-star Paul Goldschmidt, who nailed a three-run homer off Gray in the first inning in that October loss.

“I’m not really caught up on it,” Gray said. “It’s over. It happened. But it doesn’t affect anything that we’re about to do.

We’re going to start new, a new us, and let our good team play.”

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Kiszla: You’ll know Rockies are legit contenders if Ryan McMahon takes job at 1B from Ian Desmond At a salary of $22 million, Desmond is the highest-paid athlete on the Colorado roster. By MARK KISZLA | [email protected] | The Denver Post March 27, 2018 at 6:20 pm

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Rockies aren’t messing around in 2018. They are playing to win, and Ian Desmond’s hefty

$22 million salary isn’t going to get in the way of their chase for a playoff berth.

Or so we can hope. Here’s an encouraging sign:

Shortly after 8 o’clock on a crisp spring morning in the desert, as members of the Colorado brain trust put their heads together and reached consensus on the 25-man roster that will open the most greatly awaited Rockies season in nearly a decade, rookie Ryan McMahon received a congratulatory hug in the clubhouse at Salt River Fields.

And the secret was out. It was as obvious as the look of humble gratitude on McMahon’s face. The 23-year-old first baseman had made the club.

“He’s got a very prolific swing,” Rockies manager Bud Black said Tuesday.

But it has been McMahon’s rapid defensive improvement that has given him a legitimate chance to be a breakout star for

Colorado in 2018.

The Colorado offense should be more dangerous this season than it was in 2017. Why? Trevor Story, Carlos

Gonzalez and Desmond all hit well beneath each man’s natural talent level a year ago. The laws of baseball probability suggest at least one of them will rediscover his swing and bounce back with a vengeance.

For the Rockies to have any realistic shot at winning 90 games, however, they probably will need something more than a bounce-back season from Story, Gonzalez or Desmond.

What’s more likely to allow a baseball team to exceed expectations is a breakout performance from a young star who rises faster than anyone could have imagined. While staff ace Clayton Kershaw is the No. 1 reason the Dodgers are always a major factor in the National League West’s race for the playoffs, what made Los Angeles untouchable in the division a year ago was the breakout season of first baseman Cody Bellinger, whose 39 home runs made him the runaway choice for rookie of the year.

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This is not to suggest McMahon is the next Bellinger. That would not only be unrealistic but unfair. It is possible, however, that McMahon could ultimately prove to be a better option at first base than Desmond, whose five-year, $70 million contract has not paid off, unless you count his general grumpiness as more valuable than game-winning hits.

OK, Desmond had reason to be grumpy in his first campaign with the Rockies. He broke his hand in spring training and was shelved not once, but twice, during the summer of his discontent by calf injuries. It was always something. Desmond hit .274 with very little pop. It was not the stuff needed from a corner infielder who plays half his games in Coors Field, where any well-struck ball gets to the outfield fence in a hurry.

As this season begins, it’s hard to imagine McMahon getting more than two starts a week at first base. But why keep him on the roster unless the Rockies plan to give him enough at-bats to hone his swing against big-league pitchers?

If McMahon can wield the same hot bat (.319 average and two home runs in the Cactus League) that earned him a roster spot, might Desmond become more valuable to the Rockies in the super utility role that multipositional players such as

Ben Zobrist and Josh Harrison have made all the rage in recent years?

At a salary of $22 million, Desmond is the highest-paid athlete on the Colorado roster. But how will we know the Rockies have grown into legitimate contenders? Black will fill out the lineup card without hesitation, based on what gives his team the best chance to win, rather than to justify payroll expenses of a midmarket franchise that feels compelled to count every nickel and dime.

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Ryan McMahon makes the Rockies opening day roster in a step toward the future By NICK GROKE | [email protected] | The Denver Post PUBLISHED: March 27, 2018 at 12:06 pm | UPDATED: March 27, 2018 at 5:42 pm

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Rockies rookie first baseman Ryan McMahon, among the club’s top prospects, hit himself onto the opening day roster, sources said Tuesday, as Colorado kick-started its future.

McMahon, 23, will be on Thursday’s lineup card when the Rockies open the season against the Diamondbacks in

Phoenix.

“Just another year of growing up as a person and a ballplayer,” McMahon said. “It gave me a different outlook on this whole thing. I came in more confident.”

He likely will start on the bench behind veteran Ian Desmond, but McMahon’s move onto the roster is a direct challenge to

Desmond’s position. McMahon, after debuting briefly as a September call-up last season, excelled this spring, hitting .328 with eight doubles and two home runs in 67 at-bats.

Desmond hit .213 in 47 at-bats, with a double and two home runs as he worked through a new batting stance that lowered his hands.

The Rockies were left with a difficult decision: move McMahon to the minors to allow him more at-bats and continued development, or put him on the big-league roster where he might have to wait behind Desmond? They chose now over later.

“Physically, he is in great shape,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “And it showed. The bat speed is there, he’s squaring up pitches. He looks comfortable at first base. And just the way he moved around the clubhouse and the diamond, he did it with much more confidence.”

Final cuts. McMahon outlasted another prospect, outfielder Raimel Tapia, who will be optioned to Triple-A, manager Bud

Black said. Tapia would have been the Rockies’ fifth outfielder, behind Charlie Blackmon, Carlos Gonzalez, Gerardo

Parra and Mike Tauchman.

Colorado instead chose to use another infielder in McMahon. And Desmond last season split his time between first base and the outfield.

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The Rockies also sent down catcher Tom Murphy, making Tony Wolters the backup catcher behind Chris Iannetta.

Footnotes. Lefty reliever Zac Rosscup is suffering a middle finger injury on his pitch hand, Black said, and will not be available to start the season. … His pending move to the disabled list opened a spot for right-hander Antonio Senzatela in the bullpen. … Black and the Rockies will set their final opening-day roster Wednesday afternoon at a workout at Chase

Field.

A projected look at the 25-man list:

LINEUP:

CF Charlie Blackmon

2B DJ LeMahieu

3B Nolan Arenado

SS Trevor Story

RF Carlos Gonzalez

1B Ian Desmond

LF Gerardo Parra

C Chris Iannetta

RHP Jon Gray

BENCH:

INF Pat Valaika

1B Ryan McMahon

OF Mike Tauchman

C Tony Wolters

STARTING PITCHERS:

LHP Tyler Anderson (who will pitch Friday)

RHP German Marquez (Saturday)

RHP Chad Bettis

LHP

BULLPEN:

RHP Wade Davis

RHP Byran Shaw 13

LHP Jake McGee

LHP Chris Rusin

RHP Adam Ottavino

LHP Mike Dunn

RHP

RHP Antonio Senzatela

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Chad Bettis hones “groundball pitches” in Cactus League finale Rockies regular season begins Thursday with Jon Gray pitching By PATRICK SAUNDERS | [email protected] | The Denver Post PUBLISHED: March 27, 2018 at 4:48 pm | UPDATED: March 27, 2018 at 5:04 pm

Mariners 5, Rockies 3

At Salt River Fields

When Chad Bettis needed a groundball in Tuesday afternoon’s Cactus League finale, he was able to coax one out of

Mariners batters. Case in point, in the second inning, with one run in and two men on, he got Andrew Romine to ground out to Nolan Arenado at third, who started off the inning-ending . That ability to induce grounders will play a big part in Bettis’ success this season.

“It was a mix of everything, and not necessarily just one pitch, which fits me,” explained Bettis, who pitched three innings, allowing one run on two hits, with one walk and two strikeouts and three groundball outs. He finished his spring with a

4.50 ERA. “I accomplished what I wanted today, just redefining my command and getting a little sharper.”

Bettis, who missed most of last season while battling testicular cancer, is scheduled to start Monday in the series opener at San Diego.

“The way that Chad has thrown this spring tells me he’s back,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “He made every start and made every bullpen session and his stuff has ticked up. I think mentally and physically, he’s in a really good place.”

On the mound: A number of Rockies relievers got a final tune-up, including left-hander Chris Rusin, who finished up his brilliant spring throwing a scoreless two-thirds of an inning. Rusin’s ERA: 1.04.

At the plate: Charlie Blackmon continued to showcase his power, leading off the first with a triple off the wall in left-center field. … DJ LeMahieu went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a double. He finished the spring batting .370 … Shortstop Trevor Story also hit .370.

Worth noting: The Rockies finished their Cactus League schedule 12-17-2, breaking a 13-year Cactus League winning streak.

Up next: The Rockies open the regular season vs. the Diamondbacks at 8:10 p.m. Thursday at Chase Field. Rockies

RHP Jon Gray (10-4, 3.67 ERA in 2017) vs. D-backs LHP Patrick Corbin (14-13, 4.03)

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Rockies set to begin season celebrating 25th anniversary The Rockies had fans vote on the all-time 25-man roster By HUNTER ROBINSON | Cronkite News March 27, 2018 at 5:15 pm

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — With spring training ending Tuesday, the are set to begin a season celebrating their 25th anniversary.

Twenty-five years is significant but still suggests a team in its early stages. The Atlanta Braves, for example, were formed in 1871.

Rockies pitcher Jeff Hoffman grew up watching the Boston Red Sox, a franchise that has been around since 1901, and appreciates the difference.

“I think it is really cool being a part of one of the newer franchises,” Hoffman said. “To be a part of the steps that we need to take to make it go on and to create a legacy … it’s really cool to kind of be that first wave of guys.

“When you look at the grand scheme of things, 25 years is not really a long time, and it’s really cool to be a part of a new franchise and one that is really flourishing right now.”

The Rockies are indeed flourishing, many in the organization believe. Players in the locker room are regularly heard discussing how excited they are for the upcoming season.

Bud Black knows better. Although this group is special, he believes, pride has been around for a while.

“We are proud of this organization,” Black said. “I think the guys who’ve preceded us laid a very good foundation of

Rockies baseball. An exciting brand of baseball. That continued tradition that we are building is a good one, and I think, outside of this organization, how we are looked at is very positive.”

A group that has maintained a positive outlook throughout the organization’s existence is the fans. Despite making the postseason only four times in 25 years, fans still respond.

The Rockies ranked eighth in MLB average attendance in 2017 and only three times have ranked in the bottom half of attendance.

Carlos González is entering his 10th season with the Rockies, and he knows all about the dedication Rockies fans show to the team. 16

“The fans love the team,” González said. “The city always gets crazy when we are in town. It’s fun to play for this organization.”

For González, playing for the Rockies has a special meaning. As a kid in Venezuela he watched Andrés Galarraga play for the Rockies.

“I was in Venezuela watching the games because he was doing something special, which was winning the batting title (in

1993),” González said. “He was the first Venezuelan ever to do it and I was watching pretty much every game.”

González went on to duplicate Galarraga’s feat, winning a batting title in 2010. The two are part of the Rockies’ impressive history when it comes to hitting crowns. In their 25 seasons, the batting title has belonged to a Rockies player 11 times, including four consecutive seasons from 1998-2001.

So what will the 25th anniversary have in store for those loyal fans? Although nothing has been confirmed, promotional items centered around the 25th anniversary will be in heavy rotation. A thought within the organization is the possibility of a “25th” T-shirt day. On the 25th of each month there will be a special promotional T-shirt centered around the 25th anniversary.

Appearances from Rockies greats also will highlight the campaign. The Rockies had fans vote on the all-time 25-man roster. While some of those players are currently on the roster, past players will make scheduled appearances throughout the season.

Although all the festivities for fans have upcoming dates, Rockies players have a certain date in mind: Oct. 23. That’s the date of Game 1 of the 2018 World Series.

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Rockies prospect Rayan González still haunted by Hurricane Maria For González, overcoming adversity has been about more than just the hurricane. By HUNTER ROBINSON | Cronkite News March 27, 2018 at 5:15 pm

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Six months have passed since Hurricane Maria powered through Puerto Rico. The devastation still haunts players such as Rayan González, and not being there during the hurricane was the worst part.

“I was driving from Arizona to Florida with my wife, and we had no communications with (my family),” said González, a

Rockies relief pitching prospect. “We just kept praying, left it to the Lord.”

González is from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, an area that saw much devastation from Hurricane Maria. His neighborhood, however, suffered only minimal damage.

“Luckily my mom’s house and my grandma’s house, nothing really major happened, just minor stuff,” González said.

This has been a challenging year for González. He was placed on the 60-day disabled list recently as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery.

He feels fortunate his family was safe after Hurricane Maria. But fellow Rockies player Noel Cuevas knew people that weren’t so lucky.

“There are still people that don’t have clean water, don’t have the food that they need at the supermarket; a lot of people that don’t have jobs because wherever they worked at couldn’t open,” Cuevas said recently. “There’s still places that don’t have power, still a lot of places that have power for a couple days and then it is gone for a week.”

The devastation that took over Puerto Rico is still heavy on everyone’s minds. González and Cuevas both did their part to try and relieve the situation.

González and his wife offered whatever help his family needed, but there was little to be done because of the minimal damage. Cuevas, however, dropped everything and went down to Puerto Rico to help his family.

“The hurricane hit and I forgot about baseball for the next three and a half weeks,” Cuevas said. “All I was doing was going to (my family’s gas station) and helping out my family.”

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With rain that accumulated to 37.9 inches in some places, and winds that reached gusts of 155 mph, Hurricane Maria was the worst natural disaster to ever hit Puerto Rico.

For González, overcoming adversity has been about more than just the hurricane.

During spring training last season, González suffered an elbow injury during a game that resulted in surgery.

“As a baseball player, you don’t want to lose a year, you want to play,” González said. “It’s more of a mental challenge.”

Before Tommy John surgery, González was coming off a minor-league season where he posted a 3.12 ERA out of the bullpen. He made 46 appearances and had 49 strikeouts, allowing only two home runs.

When he gets off the DL, he will be looking to rekindle that form, something that isn’t easy.

Nor is it easy for an island to make its way back after being ravaged by a hurricane, yet its residents are making their way back, and just like González, a newfound mental toughness is a necessity.

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Spring Scouting Notes: Kevin Maitan, a Rockies Breakout Reliever, and More by Eric Longenhagen - March 28, 2018

Recently, I posted notes on Cleveland ace Corey Kluber to give readers some idea of what a pitcher of such obvious talent looks like on a scouting report. Well, I recently ran into Rockies righty German Marquez — a 55 FV on his final

FanGraphs prospect list and a 2.5 WAR pitcher as a rookie (which is a 55) — so here’s a similar rundown.

Marquez’s body looks like it’s backed up a bit, but he was still generating premium velocity with ease, sitting 94-96 with his fastball throughout my viewing. It, along with his low-80s curveball, is comfortably plus, and he threw several 70-grade curveballs. Marquez is clearly working on developing two other pitches — an upper-80s slider and mid-80s changeup — that are both below average right now. The change has promising movement, Marquez just lacks feel for it.

Marquez barely threw anything other than his heater and curve last year and was able to succeed anyway because they’re both excellent. If a tertiary offering is his focus this year, it’s reasonable to expect some growing pains and regression, though this is probably best for his long-term development. His fastball velocity has fluctuated a bit this spring

(as low as 92 in other outings), but that’s to be expected.

He’s not technically a prospect, but Rockies righty Jairo Diaz looks poised to make an impact in the bullpen this year.

Diaz missed all of 2016 and most of 2017 due to Tommy John, but his stuff has been vicious this spring. In two looks at him, Diaz has been 96-99 with a plus slider in the 87-90 mph range.

Most 90 mph sliders are glorified cutters, but Diaz’s actually has the kind of vertical movement that misses bats. He has late-inning stuff and is locating his two-pitch combo better than he has in the past. Diaz is expected to begin the season in the Albuquerque bullpen, but he’s clearly one of the top seven relief arms in this org right now and should be up at some point as long as he’s throwing strikes. He has difference-making stuff.

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Players’ View: Learning and Developing a Pitch, Part 1 by David Laurila - March 28, 2018

Pitchers learn and develop different pitches at varying stages of their lives. It might be a curveball in high school, a cutter in college, a slider or split-finger fastball in A-ball. Sometimes the addition or refinement is a natural progression — graduating from Pitching 101 to advanced course work — and often it’s a matter of necessity. As the quality of competition improves, a pitcher frequently needs to optimize his repertoire.

In the first installment of this series, we’ll hear from Jeff Hoffman, T.J. McFarland, and Drew Smyly on how they learned and/or developed a specific pitch.

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Jeff Hoffman (Rockies) on His Slider

“The one pitch in my repertoire that I haven’t thrown my whole life is my slider. I picked that up in college. It actually started as a cutter, but I couldn’t really keep it small, like a cutter, so it turned into a slider. I’ve kind of just hung with it through the years, embracing it as a slider.

“Again, the original plan was a cutter. My curveball tends to be bigger, and we wanted something smaller that was just enough to miss a barrel. When I was in college, I tended to cut fastballs once in awhile, so it was one of those things where, if I do it by accident, I could probably do it on purpose. Dan Roszel was my pitching coach at East Carolina and he said, ‘Let’s try it.’

“When I got to pro ball, the Blue Jays weren’t a fan of cutters. When I told them that I was working on one, they kind of said, ‘Either it’s going to be a slider or it isn’t going to be anything at all.’ So I started throwing a slider.

“I didn’t actually change anything. Like I said, my cutter came out big, so I simply stopped calling it a cutter and started calling it a slider. It’s the same pitch.”

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Bowden: Is this the year the rest of the NL West catches up to the Dodgers? By Jim Bowden 4h ago | The Athletic

Predictions:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

2. (wild card)

3. Colorado Rockies

4. San Diego Padres

5. San Francisco Giants

Rockies

Free agents: Chris Iannetta: two years, $8.5 million; Brian Shaw: three years, $27 million; Jake McGee: three years, $27 million; Wade Davis: three years, $52 million; Carlos González: one year, $8.5 million.

Offseason grade: B+

Starting rotation: The Rockies have done an excellent job of staying the course and developing a young starting rotation, which allowed them to spend over $100 million on their bullpen in the offseason. The group is led by Jon Gray, who has all the stuff to develop into a true No. 1 starter. The Rockies had three starters who posted a WAR of 2.9 or higher in

Gray, German Márquez and Kyle Freeland. The rest of the rotation includes Chad Bettis, who’s coming back from testicular cancer, and Tyler Anderson. All five of their starters are between 23 and 28 years old.

Bullpen: The Rockies spent the offseason upgrading their bullpen, and they did a tremendous job. First, they landed

Wade Davis, who saved 32 games for the Chicago Cubs last year with an ERA of 2.30 and a WHIP of 1.142. Then they worked on their set-up relievers, scoring big when they were able to sign Bryan Shaw to a three-year pact. Shaw led the

American League in appearances in three of the last four years and has a career 3.13 ERA and 3.52 FIP. They also brought back southpaw Jake McGee after he had a standout season including a 3.61 ERA and 58 strikeouts along with only 16 walks in 57.1 innings of work. The rest of the bullpen is loaded with power arms and a strong mix of righties and lefties, headlined by right-hander Adam Ottavino and left-hander Mike Dunn.

Catching: The Diamondbacks improved their offense behind the plate with the signing of Chris Iannetta, who also is really good at framing and calling a game. Tony Wolters will back him up and get plenty of playing time as he continues to improve behind the dish. 22

Infield: Ian Desmond will get significant time both at first base and in left field. Ryan McMahon had a strong spring and made the team because of it. Second baseman D.J. LeMahieu is in his free agent year and will provide his usual Gold

Glove defense and ability to get on base at a high clip. Trevor Story will try to cut down his strikeouts while providing power from foul pole to foul pole, while the best defensive third baseman and year in, year out MVP candidate Nolan

Arenado will play third base. Pat Valaika will provide infield and outfield depth. Brendan Rodgers is one of the best offensive infield prospects in baseball and should be ready for a September call-up en route to becoming a starter in 2019 if all goes well.

Outfield: The Rockies patience paid off when they waited until free agent outfielder Carlos González's market hit rock bottom and then inked him to a club-friendly one-year deal. He’ll play right field, while Charlie Blackmon will lead off and play center field. Blackmon led the Rockies last year in most offensive categories including a .331 batting average, 37 home runs, 213 hits and an on-base percentage of .399. Gerardo Parra will share left field with Ian Desmond to start the year, while top outfield prospect David Dahl will be parked in Triple A, waiting for the promotion phone call. Dahl profiles out to be a 25 home run, 25 stolen base type of player in time. Mike Tauchman provides depth.

BOTTOM LINE: The Rockies are in the toughest division in the NL and have a team good enough to get a wild card berth for the second consecutive year. Their young starting rotation will be the deciding factor in whether or not that happens.

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Rockies Opening Day starter Jon Gray “comfortable getting creative”

Gray’s not just ready for Opening Day, he’s ready for the whole dang season By Samantha Bradfield@SammieB_27 Mar 28, 2018, 8:00am MDT | Purple Row

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz – Jon Gray has been named the Opening Day starter for the second year in a row. Last year on

Opening Day against the Milwaukee Brewers, he pitched 4.0 innings and gave up five runs (all earned) on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. After an up and down season interrupted by a broken foot, Gray ended 2017 in the

National League Wild Card Game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. During that particular game, he lasted 1.1 innings and gave up four runs (all earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts in the eventual 11-8 loss. It wasn’t very pretty. He even admitted that he tried to do too much and didn’t treat it just like any other game. However, he’s not trying to dwell on that game and is instead learning from it.

“I want to remember the good things about it, remember the way it felt,” he said. “That way I can better prepare myself for next time since I know we’re going to be in a lot more of those types of games.”

The work has been more obvious over the last few days. After spending his first few starts of spring training solely focusing on mechanical things such as delivery and holding runners, Gray really went at it in his final few games, allowing five hits and a walk without giving up any runs and striking out eleven strikeouts in his final 9.1 innings of spring.

Gray attributed that success to experience and comfort—something he says that he has in 2018 that he didn’t have as much of in 2017: “I have the comfortability now to be really creative out there and almost make one pitch two different pitches. I think that’s going to help a lot. Guys are seeing two different sliders, two different curveballs, two different fastballs. It’s kinda tough to make adjustments to those. I’m gonna be a fighter and get after them.”

Let’s hope the lessons of the past have paid off and that the hard offseason work will pay dividends on Thursday when he takes the mound once again against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

★ ★ ★

And, if you happen to be in town for that game, the Diamondbacks have a host of Opening Day festivities happening around Chase Field starting at 4:00pm (3 hours before first pitch at 7:10pm). If you want to get there even earlier,

Game 7 Grill across the street will open at 2:00pm. The festivities include, but are not limited to:

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• Opening Day street festival with food trucks, inflatables, and live music

• Presentations of the National League Manager of the Year Award to manager Torey Lovullo, a Silver Slugger

Award to Diamondbacks’ first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, and Gold Glove Awards to Goldschmidt and starting

pitcher Zack Greinke

• The national anthem sung by Roger Clyne, who sings “D-backs Swing” at the end of every Diamondbacks home

victory

• An F-16 flyover from the 309th Fighter Squadron from Luke Air Force Base at the end of the anthem

• A ceremonial first pitch by members of all six Diamondbacks postseason teams:

• 1999 - Erubiel Durazo

• 2001 - Luis Gonzalez

• 2002 - Mark Grace

• 2007 - Brandon Webb

• 2011 - JJ Putz

• 2017 - Archie Bradley

Even if you’re attending as a Rockies fan, I highly recommend getting there early to see all of the fun Opening Day festivities! The pageantry of any Opening Day is second to none and I hope you take advantage of it! Diamondbacks fans are (usually) pretty warm and welcoming so you shouldn’t have any trouble enjoying yourself before the real fun gets started. Most of all though, just have fun!

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And then there was one. . . Senzatela is the last piece to the Rockies Opening Day roster By Casey Light - March 27, 2018 | Mile High Sports

The Colorado Rockies and Bud Black on Tuesday announced several roster moves that all but solidify the 25-man

Opening Day roster.

Black on Tuesday ahead of the team’s final Cactus League game said that outfielder Raimel Tapia and catcher Tom

Murphy were optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. The team later officially announced those moves.

That announcement effectively guarantees Mike Tauchman a spot on the Opening Day roster as Colorado’s fourth outfielder. Tauchman on Sunday was named the winner of the 15th annual Abby Greer Award, presented to the Rockies

Spring Training Most Valuable Player. In 27 games through March 24 before the award was presented, Tauchman batted

.345 (20-for-58) with nine runs, three doubles, four triples, one home run and five RBI.

Black also said on Tuesday that infielder Ryan McMahon would be on the roster March 29 in Arizona when Colorado opens the season against the Diamondbacks.

The club announced Tuesday that McMahon was named the 2017 Doug Million Minor League Player of the

Year. McMahon, 23, batted a combined .355 (167-for-470) with 39 doubles, four triples, 20 home runs, 88 RBI, 41 walks and 11 stolen bases across 119 games between Double-A Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque before making his Major

League debut in August. He was named the MiLB.com Fan’s Choice Best Offensive Player in the Minor Leagues, as well as a MiLB.com Organization All-Star and a Baseball America Triple-A All-Star. During the season, the Yorba Linda, Calif., native participated in the 2017 Futures Game and was named the Double-A Eastern League Player of the Month for April and the Triple-A Pacific Coast League Player of the Month in June.

Black also announced that Jon Gray would start Opening Day in Arizona, with Tyler Anderson starting Game 2 on Friday and German Marquezstarting Game 3 on Saturday. While he didn’t announce the final two spots in the rotation yet, Black pitched Chad Bettis and Kyle Freeland on dates late in Spring Training that would align for them to be the fourth and fifth starters.

Right-hander Antonio Senzatela made a strong case to be included in the starting rotation with a solid spring, and it looks like he will be at least rewarded with a spot in the bullpen.

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The 23-year-old pitched 16.2 innings during Cactus League play in 2018, posting a 1.62 ERA and striking out 12.

Senzatela won 10 games for Colorado as a rookie in 2017, earning National League Rookie of the Month honors in April.

With Carlos Estevez nursing an oblique injury, it appeared that the final spot would come down to either lefty Zac

Rosscup or Senzatela.

Black said following Tuesday’s game that Rosscup is dealing with a throwing hand injury and will likely begin the season on the disabled list, clearing the way for Senzatela.

With all those decisions made, here is how the Rockies 2018 Opening Day Roster will look:

Projected Starting Position Players

C – Chris Iannetta

1B – Ian Desmond

2B – DJ LeMahieu

3B – Nolan Arenado

SS – Trevor Story

LF – Gerardo Parra (L)

CF – Charlie Blackmon (L)

RF – Carlos Gonzalez (L)

Projected Starting Rotation

RHP – Jon Gray

LHP – Tyler Anderson

RHP – German Marquez

RHP – Chad Bettis

LHP – Kyle Freeland

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Projected Bench

C – Tony Wolters (L)

IF – Pat Valaika

IF – Ryan McMahon (L)

OF – Mike Tauchman (L)

Projected Bullpen

RHP – Wade Davis (CL)

LHP – Mike Dunn

RHP – Bryan Shaw

RHP – Adam Ottavino

LHP – Jake McGee

LHP – Chris Rusin

RHP – Scott Oberg

RHP – Antonio Senzatela

(L) indicates left-handed hitter

(CL) indicates closing pitcher

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