Rockies release Gomber, set to call up prospect Brown

PITTSBURGH -- The on-to-the-future Rockies released left-handed pitcher Austin Gomber -- the last link to the 2021 trade of star third baseman Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals. On Sunday, they will officially call up righty McCade Brown from Double-A Hartford.

Gomber, 31, began this season on the injured list with left shoulder soreness and never found his form after returning -- he was 0-7 with 7.49 ERA in 12 starts. Gomber had strong periods, overcame troublesome back problems and became a resource for younger pitchers. He finished his Rockies career 28-44 with a 5.31 ERA in 125 games (109 starts).

Gomber is the last Major League link to the trade of Arenado, who won the first eight of his 10 Gold Gloves with the Rockies. Infielder Elehuris Montero played with the Rockies from 2022-24 and is with Hiroshima in the Japanese Central League. Infielder Mateo Gil plays in Mexico with Charros de Jalisco; pitcher Jake Sommers last played with Hartford last season, and pitcher Tony Locey last played with the Rays’ organization in 2023.

Gomber is a free agent at the end of this season. Brown, 25, a third-round pick in 2021 from the University of Indiana, has gone 4-2 with a 2.47 ERA in 20 combined starts at High-A Spokane and Hartford. He has found success this year after a lengthy comeback from Tommy John right elbow surgery in 2023.

“It’s time to move on, since Austin was not somebody that we were going to move forward with. ... So let’s take a look at some younger guys who potentially are going to be in our future,” Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt said.

Listed at 6-foot-6, Brown has a classic power pitcher’s mix. This year, he posted a 1.60 ERA in nine starts at Spokane and a 3.14 ERA in 11 starts at Hartford. The Rockies planned to place him on the 40-man Major League roster after the season.

“These five to seven starts down the stretch, and we’ll take [it] one at a time,” Schmidt said before Friday night’s 9-0 loss to the Pirates. “That helps us going forward for our 26-man roster for next year: Is he going to be part of it, or is he going to need a little bit more time?

“He has power everything and a feel to pitch. We are excited. He had a little bump in the road where he got hurt and the recovery was a bit longer -- everybody’s different. We’re excited to see him.”

In Friday’s game, the Rockies managed three combined hits against Pirates starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft for five innings and MLB Pipeline’s No. 7 prospect Bubba Chandler in his debut for the final four.

Also, Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela -- coming off five scoreless innings against Arizona in his previous outing -- went four innings and gave up five runs on eight hits, including six doubles.

Gilbreath's comeback

Lefty Lucas Gilbreath cherished being selected from Triple-A Albuquerque to return to the Majors on Friday. Gilbreath established himself as a key lefty in the Rockies’ bullpen before undergoing Tommy John surgery late in 2022, missed 2023 and had three difficult appearances last season.

This past offseason, Gilbreath underwent neurogenic thoracic surgery in the neck area to relieve the pressure that was slowing his comeback. He was removed from the 40-man Major League roster to start the season. He posted a 6.21 ERA in 37 games at Albuquerque, but lately has been used in higher-leverage situations.

“I had some rough ones where the velocity wasn’t there, the command wasn’t there, and I was really frustrated,” Gilbreath said. “But it was actually one of the bad outings in Las Vegas. They had three big league guys rehabbing at that point. I finally started getting swings and misses on my fastball against guys I knew were Major League level.

“I gave up a home run, but I was ecstatic. I hung a slider -- it happens. But I was like, 'Wow, I can go up and in on a fastball and get a swing and miss.'”

Gilbreath pitched the eighth on Friday night, striking out two and yielding the Pirates’ final run on an Alexander Canario homer.

“He’s been through a lot,” interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. “So to see ‘Gilly’ back out there was a big, big plus for us.”