Kris Bryant’s first season in Colorado didn’t go as envisioned, with accidents combining to restrict the previous MVP to 42 video games. Bryant hit effectively in that restricted look, posting a .306/.376/.475 line with a career-low 14.9% strikeout charge, however he spent just about your entire second half on the injured listing because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot.
Now wholesome for Spring Coaching, Bryant will get a second crack at serving as Colorado’s main left fielder. Danielle Allentuck of the Denver Gazette writes that the four-time All-Star additionally stays open to logging a while on the infield if wanted. Bryant performed solely left subject or designated hitter throughout his first season in Denver, although he clearly has loads of nook infield expertise from his time with the Cubs and Giants.
The Rox have already got an honest quantity of nook infield depth. C.J. Cron and Ryan McMahon are once more lined up for work at first and third base, respectively. Michael Toglia and Sean Bouchard are available as first base choices behind Cron. Offseason acquisition Nolan Jones and second-year participant Elehuris Montero are bat-first gamers however can cowl both nook infield slot. Alan Trejo and non-roster invitee Harold Castro are additionally within the combine as infield defenders with some flexibility to maneuver across the diamond.
In different information out of Colorado:
Proper-hander Jake Hen not too long ago strained his left indirect, supervisor Bud Black knowledgeable reporters (together with Thomas Harding of MLB.com). He’s anticipated to overlook the following 4 to 6 weeks. That takes the 27-year-old out of play for the World Baseball Basic — the place he’d been slated to characterize Israel — and, of extra import to Colorado followers, places his availability for the beginning of the season in jeopardy. Hen made his main league debut final June and was a reasonably frequent bullpen possibility down the stretch. He bought into 38 contests, posting a 4.91 ERA throughout 47 2/3 innings. Hen’s strikeout and stroll profile wasn’t particularly spectacular however he induced grounders on a wonderful 55.7% of batted balls.
A pair of veteran bullpen pickups marked a number of the largest strikes in a quiet Colorado offseason. Righty Pierce Johnson signed a one-year free agent deal, whereas the Rox claimed veteran southpaw Brent Suter off waivers from Milwaukee. Black instructed reporters he’d been amongst these pushing normal supervisor Invoice Schmidt to place in a declare as soon as Milwaukee put Suter on waivers again in November (hyperlink by way of Patrick Saunders of the Denver Put up). With the Harvard product eligible for arbitration for a last time, the Brewers waived Suter after figuring out they weren’t going to tender him a contract. Colorado was glad to maintain Suter round for his final arbitration season, with the perimeters agreeing to a $3MM wage inside two weeks of the waiver declare. The 33-year-old posted a 3.78 ERA over 66 2/3 innings of lengthy reduction final season. He doesn’t throw arduous or decide up many whiffs, however he constantly retains the ball on the bottom and fills the strike zone. The latter trait appears particularly interesting to Colorado brass, as Black instructed reporters the membership is emphasizing higher strike-throwing on the again finish of video games. Rockies relievers walked 9.9% of opponents final season, the fifth-highest charge within the league.
