Austin Gomber makes his return for his first start of the season while a struggling rookie heads back to Triple-A.
Update 10:37 am MT
The Colorado Rockies announced additional moves Sunday morning, placing left-handed pitcher Kyle Freeland on the 15-day IL (retroactive to June 12) with lower back stiffness and have recalled left-hander Carson Palmquist from Triple-A Albuquerque.
Palmquist will start tomorrow’s game against the Washington Nationals.
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The Colorado Rockies announced on Sunday morning that they have reinstated left-handed pitcher Austin Gomber from the 60-day injured list to make his first start of the season against the Atlanta Braves.
Gomber, 31, made just two appearances in spring training before being shut down with soreness in his pitching shoulder. In those appearances he showed a noticeable drop in velocity. He attempted a rehab stint at the beginning of the season with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, but was again sidelined and eventually transferred to the 60-day injured list.
After two strong rehab appearances with the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats and the Isotopes earlier this month, Gomber is back with the Rockies. Due to be a free agent at the end of the season, Gomber will look to contribute to a team mired in a historically bad season—either by helping them win ballgames or by providing a strong return at this year’s trade deadline.
“I haven’t really thought about it — I haven’t been playing,” Gomber said. “The No. 1 thing for me is to get back feeling healthy. I understand where I’m at contractually, obviously having a couple more months here. I’ve been here a long time. I’ve enjoyed my time here. I’m just trying to get back healthy, contributing again.”
To clear space on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Ryan Feltner has been transferred to the 60-day injured list.
Feltner, 28, was placed on the injured list on May 2nd with back spasms and was prepared to start a rehab assignment in Albuquerque before a flare-up caused him to stop throwing. He’s since been throwing bullpen sessions at the Rockies’ complex in Arizona as he attempts to gear back up for another shot at rehab.
The most surprising—or perhaps unsurprising—part of the day’s transactions was the optioning of rookie right-handed reliever Zach Agnos to Triple-A to bring Gomber onto the 26-man active roster.
Agnos, 24, made his debut earlier this season and was off to an incredibly strong start in his rookie season. Through his first 16 games he pitched 18 innings with an ERA of 1.50 and only two walks, though he never quite found his strikeout stuff. He tallied just eight strikeouts.
Unfortunately, following time on the Bereavement List after the death of his grandfather, Agnos just hasn’t been the same pitcher.
In 3 1⁄3 innings over four outings, he has walked seven batters and given up ten earned runs on six hits—two of which were home runs. His ERA has ballooned to 5.48 on the season.
The Rockies’ 40-man roster is currently full.
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This is a developing story and Purple Row will provide updates as they become available.