Right-hander Chi Chi Gonzalez will start the Rockies’ game against the Giants on Tuesday, per Kyle Newman of the Denver Post. The Rockies will need to add Gonzalez to their 40-man roster, which does have an opening at the moment.
Gonzalez’s start will represent his first major league action since his 2015-16 run with the Rangers. Once a quality prospect, Gonzalez has pitched to a 4.54 ERA/5.06 FIP with unattractive strikeout and walk rates (4.31 K/9, 4.77 BB/9) in 77 1/3 major league innings. He underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2017, and has worked solely in the minors since returning last year.
A Ranger through last season, Gonzalez joined the Rockies on a minor league contract over the winter. The 27-year-old has since managed a below-average 5.66 ERA/5.79 FIP in 14 starts and 76 1/3 innings with the Rockies’ Triple-A club. Gonzalez has pitched in a tough environment in Albuquerque of the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, though, and has put up 8.14 K/9, 3.89 BB/9 and a 53.1 percent groundball rate.
Gonzalez’s promotion will come with the playoff-contending Rockies in need of answers in their starting rotation. The club boasted one of the majors’ best staffs last year, but 2018 Cy Young contender Kyle Freeland (now in the minors) and Tyler Anderson (possibly out for the season with a knee injury) have dropped off a cliff since then. German Marquez is amid another fine season, while Jon Gray has also fared well, though Antonio Senzatela, Jeff Hoffman and the recently promoted Peter Lambert have had difficulty preventing runs. The Rockies optioned Hoffman on Sunday, creating an opportunity for Gonzalez.
I hope Goku Gonzalez gets called up to play center.
I hope Chi Chi Rodriguez throws out the first pitch.
And does the saber dance!
And Les Nessman introduces him
Hard to believe this guy was a first rounder…..
Go look at the rangers last 15 first round picks and you will understand
He was amazing in college
Why is that hard to believe. His career performance is better than around 50% of all first round picks. This is not the NBA or NFL. First round picks in MLB fail to even make the majors about a third of the time. And a lot of others are only up for a cup of coffee.
It’s baseball most first rounders are busts or bench players at best
Rockies really can’t find anyone better?
props, Hiflew. apt prediction
Thank you. Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn on occasion.
Seriously, I might be talking out of my behind with 29 other teams, but I do follow the Rockies religiously.
I hear Bud is considering returning to the mound.
Marquez and Hoffman’s names are linked together in the article. Both links go to Marquez’s page.
that’s senz and Hoffman
Oral Roberts alum, one of the best players I ever faced in college
Waiting for Les Nessman to pronounce his name