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Rockies Bullpen Key Part of Recent Resurgence

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It has been a long season for the 36-90 Colorado Rockies. But for much of the season, one of the bright spots has been the Rockies’ bullpen. Considering the starting rotation has posted an ERA well over 6.00 this season, the bullpen’s solid performance could not be more crucial. One of the best stretches for the unit recently has coincided with the Rockies winning six of seven games.

Rockies Bullpen Has Been Lights Out

In series against the St. Louis Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Los Angeles Dodgers, the bullpen has come to play. In their last seven games, a Rockies starter has not made it past the sixth inning. But shockingly, the Rockies have gone 5-2 in that stretch, thanks in large part to the bullpen. The bullpen has done an excellent job at putting out fires and holding serve until the Rockies’ offense gets going.

During this stretch, the starting rotation has allowed 28 out of the 42 total earned runs allowed. Six of these games have also come at Coors Field against division rivals firmly in the postseason picture. But the Rockies’ bullpen has picked up a lot of innings and been very effective. Helping the Rockies be Major League Baseball’s top spoiler of late, winning three of four against the Diamondbacks before a 4-3 win against the Dodgers Monday that snapped a 10-game losing streak to LA.

The winning margin in all six wins has been three runs or less. It has featured the Rockies consistently taking a late lead in the 7th or 8th innings, which has meant the bullpen coming in to slam the door on any late rallies by the opponent. An issue that plagued the Rockies last season. Per Thomas Harding of MLB.com, the Rockies’ 7.10 ninth-inning ERA was a full 1.22 runs higher than the next club. Additionally, the Rockies also set a modern-era record, with six blown saves in which they had a lead of five or more runs entering the ninth inning or later. Without a consistent back-end of the bullpen, the Rockies were consistently suffering heartbreaking losses. But it has been a different story lately. Thanks to the likes of Jimmy Herget and Victor Vodnik.

The Rockies Shutdown Duo

Jimmy Herget

Over the past week, you would be hard-pressed to find a better pitching duo than Herget and Vodnik. For the first time in what feels like a couple of seasons, the Rockies can feel confident with a late-inning lead. Thanks in large part to a 31-year-old righty in Herget. Herget was a quiet signing by the Rockies in the offseason. Herget played in only eight games in 2024 with the Atlanta Braves, posting a 4.38 ERA. But he has bounced back in a big way. Becoming a consistent shutdown option for the Rockies in the back end of the bullpen.

It has been far and away one of the best seasons of his career. Following a rough 2023-24 in which he posted a 4.52 ERA in 37 games with the Los Angeles Angels and Braves. This season has been remarkably similar to his 2022 season with the Angels, in which he posted a 2.48 ERA and 2.3 WAR in 69 innings pitched. This season, he has a 2.69 ERA and 2.3 WAR in 67 IP. But Herget found his success in different ways in both seasons.

In 2022, Herget relied on his slider 34% of the time to great effect. Per Statcast, his 14 breaking run value was in the 97th percentile league-wide. This season, he still relies on the slider 29% of the time, but also utilizes a curveball 30% of the time. His 0 breaking run value is league-average this season. But he utilizes a side-arm angle to great effect to create deception on his breaking pitches. He also has effectively limited hard contact and walks. Posting a stellar K: BB ratio of 13:2.

In their recent stretch, he has pitched four shutout innings across three games against the Cardinals and Diamondbacks. In all three games, he was lights-out for the Rockies in wins of 6-5, 4-3, and 6-5. He earned his first win of the season against St. Louis and his fourth and fifth holds of the season against Arizona. But a lot of Herget’s work would have been for nothing if it weren’t for Vodnik’s stellar play.

 

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Victor Vodnik

RHP Vodnik was acquired in the Pierce Johnson trade in 2023 with the Atlanta Braves. In 2024, Vodnik saw time at closer, earning nine saves. The potential was there. But there was work to be done as Vodnik also had six blown saves. Fellow flamethrower, RHP Seth Halvorsen, won the battle for the closer position this season after a solid Spring Training. Both Vodnik and Halvorsen are in the top three percent league-wide in fastball velocity. But Vodnik was lights out as a set-up man, posting a 1.35 ERA in April. But his season hit a speed bump when he was placed on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation retroactive to April 17 on April 20. The injury kept Vodnik out until May 28 against the Chicago Cubs.

Vodnik bounced back with a strong June, posting a 1.98 ERA with three wins and two holds in 13 2/3 IP. A rough July followed, in which he had a 6.48 ERA in 8 1/3 IP. But Vodnik again bounced back in August at just the right time for the Rockies’ bullpen. Halvorsen hit the 15-day IL on August 3 with a right elbow strain. Leaving the door open at closer. Vodnik has filled in admirably.

He has been instrumental in the Rockies’ recent hot stretch, providing stress-free ninth innings. In five Rockies’ wins, Vodnik posted 5 2/3 shutout IP with seven Ks, zero BBs, and only one hit. He earned four saves and a win during this stretch. The Rockies could have imploded without their usual ninth-inning option. But Vodnik has stepped up and shown he can be an effective closer when given the opportunity.

 

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Moves at Trade Deadline Aging Very Well

The Rockies’ bullpen is not only surviving but thriving after the trades of veteran righties Tyler Kinley and Jake Bird at the deadline. Both trades netted the Rockies more pitching, while the Rockies dealt two veterans who do not line up with their timeline.

Bird was an all-star pitcher at the beginning of the season. But struggled mightily in July before being traded at the deadline. In 6 1/3 IP, Bird had a 19.89 ERA. But the Rockies still managed to get two top-30 pitching prospects for Bird at the deadline. In his first appearance with the New York Yankees, Bird allowed four earned runs in a third of an inning in a 13-12 loss to the Miami Marlins. After allowing two earned runs in less than a full inning against the Texas Rangers, Bird was sent down to the minors after just three outings with his new club and has been there since.

Rockies Bullpen in Exciting Position Going Forward

Bullpens are very volatile from year to year. Pitching at Coors adds another wrinkle entirely. But the Rockies have the pieces in place. Vodnik and Halvorsen are a pair of effective flamethrowers at the back end of the Rockies’ bullpen. Herget is having one of the best seasons of his career. Considering the Rockies didn’t move him at the deadline, they will likely try to re-sign him this offseason as the sole veteran leader in a young but promising Rockies’ bullpen. But the promising outlook for the Rockies’ bullpen does not stop there. Righties Zach Agnos, 25, and Angel Chivilli, 23, have both shown flashes and will have plenty of opportunity to make their mark in the Rockies’ bullpen moving forward.

Juan Mejia is a 25-year-old RHP who relies on a two-pitch mix. Utilizing a 95-mph four-seam fastball 65% of the time, and an 83-mph slider 35% of the time. He has posted an impressive 4.11 ERA in 46 IP this season and has a stellar 50:15 K: BB ratio. His Statcast page is littered in red, as he is in the top 20% of numerous pitching categories league-wide. He is one of the best in baseball at limiting hard contact, a great sign for a pitcher at Coors Field. His 85.4 mph avg. exit velo is in the 98th percentile league-wide. Mejia also flashed some serious athleticism in his first career save on Sunday against the Diamondbacks.

 

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It is hard to remember a time when the Rockies had this much exciting young talent in their bullpen. Talent that has been acquired through trades or is homegrown, development routes that are crucial to the Rockies’ success. The Rockies also suddenly have a back-end of the bullpen littered with pitchers who are among the hardest-throwing in the MLB. A welcome change for a club that has been actively trying to find pitchers that fit that mold in recent seasons. The bullpen has so often been the Rockies’ Achilles heel in their history. But in one of their worst seasons ever, it has been one of their few bright spots with a promising outlook moving forward.

Main Photo Credits:  Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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