Rockies face tough roster decisions in rotation, outfield and bullpen — and that’s a good thing ...Middle East

It’s crunch time at the Rockies’ gleaming spring training complex at Salt River Fields.

Manager Bud Black, general manager Bill Schmidt and a cadre of coaches will meet over the next few days to hammer out the 26-man roster ahead of the season opener at Tampa Bay on March 28.

It’s a tougher task than usual. That’s a good thing because the Rockies have solid depth for the first time in a long time, which requires difficult decisions, especially in the starting rotation, outfield and bullpen.

Case in point, Part I: Right-hander Chase Dollander

Colorado’s No. 1 prospect flashed his talents again Tuesday night, striking out seven over 3 2/3 scoreless innings in a 3-1 victory over the Giants. But the ninth overall pick out of Tennessee in 2023 endured growing pains this spring. For example, in a March 8 game against the Athletics, he gave up five runs on two hits and four walks. He needed 50 pitches to get through 1 2/3 innings.

The Rockies see Dollander as a potential future ace, but he’s likely to open the season at Triple-A Albuquerque. That can often be counterproductive because Albuquerque tends to beat pitchers up. But Albuquerque is not so bad in April and May before the heat sets in and the infield gets baked. The Rockies think they have enough quality starters at the big-league level to give Dollander more time to mature.

As it stands now, the Rockies will open the season with a four-man rotation consisting of lefty Kyle Freeland and right-handers Ryan Feltner, German Marquez and Antonio Senzatela. Veteran lefty Austin Gomber will open the season on the injured list as he recovers from a sore shoulder, but he’s expected to rejoin the rotation early in the season.

Expect Dollander to debut this season, perhaps sooner rather than later. Much depends on the health and performance of the veterans already in the rotation.

Case in point, Part II: Outfielder Zac Veen

Veen, the ninth overall pick in the 2020 draft out of Florida’s Spruce Creek High School, is pushing hard for a roster spot. Entering Wednesday’s play, he was hitting .318 with a .991 OPS, two homers, four doubles and 11 RBIs. He leads the Cactus League with seven stolen bases.

Veen, 23, plays with energy and abandon and could be the spark the Rockies need.

The problem is that the Rockies need someone on the roster who can back up Brenton Doyle in center field, allowing Doyle to get off his feet occasionally. Sam Hilliard was given a guaranteed $1 million contract to fill that role, but Hilliard has been awful this spring:  .057 average (2 for 35) with 20 strikeouts in 39 plate appearances (51.3%).

If Colorado cuts Hilliard, can Veen, a corner outfielder, occasionally play center? The Rockies’ brass is debating that. Regardless, Veen needs consistent at-bats. If he can’t get them with the Rockies, he’ll get them at Triple-A and get called up later in the season.

Plus, the Rockies do have some decent outfield depth. Sean Bouchard and Nick Martini have had terrific camps, and Bouchard is getting some looks as a backup first baseman.

Bouchard has minor league options remaining, but he’s earned a spot on the 26-man roster. He’s done what the Rockies hoped he’d do last spring. He entered Wednesday hitting .368 with a 1.122 OPS, three homers, three doubles and a triple.

Case in point, Part III: Zach Agnos

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Agnos, the shortstop-turned-reliever from East Carolina, has had an excellent camp: 3.86 ERA, 0.96 WHIP over 9 1/3 innings. He’s struck out seven, walked one and has a .229 batting average against.

Schmidt and Black love the 24-year-old’s arsenal and maturity. Still, there’s a good chance Agnos begins the season in the minors. Because, unlike the last two seasons, Colorado has some decent depth to work with in pitchers such as Seth Halvorsen, Victor Vodnik, Angel Chivilli, Tyler Kinley and Jimmy Herget.

Plus, many of the relievers have minor league options, meaning the Rockies have the tools to mix and match in their bullpen, depending on performance, health and workload. The Dodgers have utilized that game plan in recent seasons to keep their bullpen effective. The Rockies hope they now have the depth to make in-season changes when necessary.

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