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DENVER -- A young Rockies bullpen went younger on Friday, when the club designated veteran left-hander Scott Alexander, 35, for assignment. The move had the strategic goal of making the bullpen younger.
Needing a lefty and wanting experience, the Rockies signed Alexander during Spring Training for one year and $2 million. But with the team’s poor start, there were few instances where Alexander’s experience was needed -- and he struggled to a 6.06 ERA in 19 appearances.
Now four relievers are 25 or younger and all but two of the eight hurlers have Minor League options.
Jake Bird, 29, has a 1.72 ERA and a role of entering with traffic and/or pitching more than one inning. Leads have been few, but save opportunities are going to rookies. Zach Agnos (Rockies No. 24 prospect), 24, is 3-for-3 on save chances, and Seth Halvorsen, 25, is 2-for-4.
Righty Victor Vodnik, 25, on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation, is on a rehab assignment at Double-A Hartford and is close to a return to the late bullpen.
The Rockies are willing to work through the early-career ups and downs of righty Angel Chivilli, 24, who has a pitch mix that can allow him to face left- and right-handed parts of lineups; 2018 first-round pick Ryan Rolison, 27, the only lefty in the current bullpen; and Juan Mejia, 24, who was called up the day before the club parted ways with Alexander.
Righties Jimmy Herget, 31, and Tyler Kinley, 34, provide experience, but overall the Rockies have cast their lot with youth.
“You’d have to say that in the first 50 games, that’s probably the strength that we’ve had, the young guys in the bullpen,” general manager Bill Schmidt said. “We think we have more coming, and they’re eventually going to get here.
“Scotty is a professional and I have a lot of respect for him. But at the end of the day, we had a tough decision to make.”
Schmidt said 2021 second-round pick righty Jaden Hill (Rockies No. 17 prospect) is out with a right hamstring injury at Triple-A Albuquerque but should be in the Majors when fully healthy, likely in the second half of the season.