The Rockies announced this afternoon that they have selected the right-hander's contract Matt Koch. The right hand Jake Bird He was placed on the 15-day IL with elbow inflammation to clear a spot on the club's active roster, while the quarterback ran Julio Carreras assigned to open a spot on the 40-man roster.
Koch, 33, was selected by the Mets in the third round of the 2012 draft but made his Diamondback debut in 2016. In parts of four seasons with Arizona, Koch bounced between the rotation and the bullpen but struggled throughout his playing career. majors with a 4.88 ERA and 6.00 FIP in 125 1/3 innings. Koch left the Dbacks organization after the 2019 season and didn't pitch in the majors for the next two seasons before rejoining the Mariners in four appearances in 2022, though he struggled with an 8.31 ERA and 8.42 FIP in 4 1 /3 frames.
That eventually led to Koch signing with the Rockies to a minor league deal before the 2023 season. He was a serviceable member of the team's bullpen last year, posting a 5.12 ERA (good for a league-average 97 ERA+ due to the poor conditions at Coors Field) with a nearly identical 5.07 FIP in 39 appearances for Colorado last year. While striking out just 16.6% of the batters he faced, he averaged walks at a 5.5% clip while producing ground balls and a 49% strikeout clip. Looking ahead, the Rockies hope Koch will provide the club with ample relief in left-center once again this year, as he will slot into the club's bullpen as the only relief option remaining outside of the closer. Jalen Beeks.
Koch's place on the active roster was replaced by Bird, who is headed to the injured list with elbow inflammation. The 28-year-old righty was a fifth-round pick of the Rockies in the 2018 draft and has played for the club the past three seasons, including a strong 2023 campaign in which he posted a 4.33 ERA and 3.55 FIP in 89 1/3 innings. of work. While Bird seems poised to handle key innings for Colorado out of the bullpen this year, things haven't gone according to plan as he's struggled to the tune of a 6.10 ERA and nearly identical 6.34 FIP in 20 2/3 innings. at work before being placed on the injured list today. The timing of the bird's return is not yet clear, although the Rockies hope that he will look exactly like himself in 2023 when he returns.
As for Carreras, the 24-year-old made his pro ball debut with the Rockies back in 2018 and entered the season as a well-regarded prospect in the club's farm system due to his solid defense, power and reach. large groups. That was enough for the club to decide to add Carreras to the 40-man roster this winter, and a solid .304/.388/.461 performance in the Dominican Winter League this past season looks to further establish Carreras as a potential outfield depth. . option to the big league club this year.
Unfortunately. Carreras' prospects have worsened since the start of the season. In 38 games at the Triple-A level this season, Carreras slashed just .181/.247/.269. That's a tough slash line to swallow at any level of pro ball, though it's especially weak given the offensively elevated Pacific Coast League, where the Rockies' Triple-A affiliate plays its games. Colorado will have one week to trade Carreras or try to get him off waivers. If he successfully clears waivers, the Rockies will have the opportunity to offer Carreras directly to the minor leagues and keep him as undrafted depth.
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