Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela is headed for an MRI today after sustaining what looked to have been a potentially serious knee injury in yesterday’s loss to the Cardinals. Chasing down a Brendan Donovan grounder to the right side of the infield, Senzatela pivoted from trying to field the ball to cover first base and came up hobbling before collapsing in foul territory behind the first base bag (video link). He had to be helped off the field. Manager Bud Black told reporters yesterday that Senzatela has a left knee sprain (Twitter link via Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post).
The 27-year-old Senzatela is in the first season of what was a surprising five-year, $50.5MM contract extension that bought out his final two arbitration years and three would-be free agent seasons. It’s been a rough season for the right-hander, who currently has a 5.07 ERA through his first 92 1/3 innings since inking that deal. Fielding-independent metrics are a bit more forgiving (4.06 FIP, 4.48 SIERA), as Senzatela has undeniably been dinged by a .383 average on balls in play. That’s particularly problematic for Senzatela, who allows more balls in play than just about any starting pitcher in the game; his 13.1% strikeout rate this season is the lowest among all MLB pitchers with at least 90 innings.
If Senzatela is indeed headed to the injured list, he’ll join fellow starter Chad Kuhl (strained hip flexor) on the shelf. The Rockies have a thin group of replacement options for that pair, particularly in light of the immense struggles of lefty Austin Gomber (5.86 ERA in 106 innings). Gomber, who started 23 games and posted a 4.53 ERA with the Rox a year ago, was moved to the bullpen earlier this summer and came on in relief of Senzatela yesterday — only to surrender five runs in 2 1/3 innings.
German Marquez and Kyle Freeland have been mainstays in the Colorado rotation and are both under long-term contract — Freeland, like Senzatela, after signing an extension this offseason. Both have struggled in 2022, however, pitching to an ERA near 5.00 this year. Journeyman Jose Urena has a 4.80 ERA in a dozen appearances (eight starts), and rookie right-hander Ryan Feltner has been tattooed for a 6.39 ERA in 11 appearances (10 starts). Colorado’s innings leaders in Triple-A — Zach Neal, Brandon Gold and Riley Smith — all have ERAs north of 6.00.
Given that context, it’s perhaps likeliest that Gomber will simply step back into the starting mix should Senzatela require an absence. The rash of poor performance and struggles/injuries among the team’s depth options and top-ranked pitching prospects alike, however, underscore the Rockies’ need for pitching help this offseason. The Rockies have steadfastly refused to enter into a rebuild phase under owner Dick Monfort, so it’ll be incumbent on general manager Bill Schmidt to bolster a rotation and bullpen that both rank 29th in the Majors in ERA (5.26 and 4.85, respectively).
the rockies are really their own thing. i know they favor ground ball pitchers that don’t give up HRs. but he was extended on a season in which he gave up a fairly alarming number of hits, and struck out very few. this year he gave up a metric ton of hits and struck out no one., don’t be surprised. hopes for a speedy recovery none the less. it looked super awkward, im not sure what happened.
50.5 millionmillion dollar contract extension? Why did they do that?
Because the Rockies have to get pitching from somewhere. Developing and early extensions seems like a better plan than spending a lot of money on Bill Swft, Darryl Kile, Mike Hampton, and Denny Neagle only to find out they can’t pitch at altitude.
Even a guy like Clayton Kershaw with a 4.82 career ERA has looked rather mediocre at Coors. And that was with him pitching to Rockies hitters. Imagine what it would be pitching to the billionaire Dodgers lineups
I watched that game and thought it was his ankle, but then he was holding his knee. The replay definitely showed it. Poor guy had a chance to get the out too
Rockies just added Dinelson Lamet, might be time get him a start. I mean Urena hasn’t been terrible there
Well if it stops Lamet from walking the bases loaded and then hitting a guy in a tied game in the 9th inning, then yeah I would be thrilled to see him as a starter.
You left one guy out of the mix for starters. The Rockies still have Peter Lambert who just got back from TJ surgery. He hasn’t been great at AAA either, but he has a better prospect pedigree than those other guys.. He’d be my bet if Senza gets a season ender.
Not sure why the term “surprising” is used in regards to an extension. It’s clear by the lack of prospective starters in the Minors right now that the options are limited.
They simply haven’t been able to keep the pitching pipeline full enough of MLB ready guys. Free agent signings will be similar to Chad Kuhl.
Until they see some help on the near horizon, guys like Senzatela will need to hold the fort down.
Mr. Schmidt, there’s a man named Bartolo on line 1.
You know what…I wouldn’t mind that as long as it was written into his contract that he had to be Shohei and DH when he pitched.
Couldn’t be much worse than when they put Jamie Moyer out there several years ago.