Rockies Sign Zac Rosscup

TODAY: The Rockies have announced the signing.  Rosscup has inked a minor league deal and been added to the team’s 60-man player pool.

AUGUST 25: The Rockies are close to a deal with left-hander Zac Rosscup, FOX 26’s Mark Berman reports (Twitter link).  The deal, presumably a minor league contract, will be official once Rosscup passes a physical and a COVID-19 screening.

Rosscup previously pitched for Colorado in 2017-18 and was also a member of the organization just this season, as he signed a minor league deal last winter but was released in June.  He’ll now get a second chance at that second stint with the Rox, who are likely looking to add some bullpen depth in the wake of some injuries.  James Pazos and Phillip Diehl are the only left-handed relievers on the Rockies’ current active roster, and none of the other southpaws at their alternate training site have any big league experience.

Rosscup has tossed 83 2/3 career innings over parts of six MLB seasons, pitching for the Rockies and four other clubs.  In 2019, Rosscup threw 18 innings split over separate stints with the Mariners, Blue Jays, and Dodgers, plus he also spent time in the Cardinals’ farm system.  Since being released by Colorado this summer, Rosscup has been pitching in independent baseball in Sugar Land, Texas.

The 32-year-old has a 5.16 ERA and a very impressive 12.2 K/9 over his 83 2/3 frames, though home runs (1.6 HR/9) and walks (5.9 BB/9) have been consistent issues over Rosscup’s time in the majors.  Over 329 1/3 career minor league innings, Rosscup has a 2.71 ERA, 11.0 K/9 and only an 0.4 HR/9 and 3.6 BB/9, though he had some major control issues over 16 2/3 innings of Triple-A ball in 2019.