Rookie starter Hoffman off to Triple-A
The ongoing evolution of the Rockies’ pitching rotation spun young Jeff Hoffman back to the minor leagues on Friday after a ceaseless season started to drag him down.
The 24-year-old rookie righthander, after struggling Thursday in a blowout loss to the Braves, was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque, where he will rest for at least one turn through the Isotopes rotation. He gave up six hits and four solo home runs in just 4L innings. But Hoffman’s first extended season in the majors seemed to start wearing on him.
His fastball Thursday slowed, off by more than two miles per hour over his season average. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy noticed without seeing the radar readings.
The Rockies called up righthanded reliever Scott Oberg to replace Hoffman, whose spot in the rotation will likely fall to fellow rookie Antonio Senzatela. Veteran Tyler Chatwood also could move back to the rotation.
“It’s a good break for Jeff, physically,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “We’re going to give him a little break. He’s been going at it pretty hard.”
Hoffman (6-5, 5.30 ERA) will follow the path already worn by Senzatela and rookie Kyle Freepects, land. Both also were removed from the rotation for short periods this season to rest their arms. Now Freeland leads the club in innings, at 127 2/3. But including his Triple-A work to start the season, Hoffman’s 135 2/3 total innings are more than Freeland and Senzatela.
“What we saw from our critical eye, I think it was time for him to take a step back and get somebody else in the rotation,” Black said. “This is part of being a young pitcher. Every pitcher, every player has a different path to hopefully becoming a longtime majorleague player. And at times, it necessitates taking a step back to the minor leagues. That’s happening to Jeff.”
The open spot in Colorado’s rotation likely will fall Wednesday, when the Rockies play at Kansas City in the second of a three-game series.
More moves. The Rockies also sent down infielder Ryan McMahon and called up outfielder Mike Tauchman from Triple-A. McMahon, one of the club’s top prosthe was promoted for his debut last week at Miami. But he found little playing time behind first baseman Mark Reynolds, starting just two games.
“We wanted to keep Mac playing,” Black said. “It looked as though in this series, we were going to play Reynolds. Mac was able to spell Mark some over the last week, but Mac needs to play every day.”
Tauchman’s promotion, his second this season, came because he fits better as a pinch hitter.
“The pinch-hitting component, we felt Tauchmann, where he is with his at-bats and his approach off the bench, might be a nice atbat,” Black said.
Footnotes. Nolan Arenado, who left Thursday’s game after a sharp groundball hit on the outside of his hand, re-injuring a bone bruise suffered Sunday, was in Colorado’s starting lineup. Arenado described it as a “bruise on top of a bruise” but said the pain is tolerable. … Outfielder Ian Desmond (right calf strain) continues to rehab by running outfield sprints and swinging in batting practice. But pain remains an issue. “He’s making marked improvement where he is physically,” Black said. “I wish I could give you a timetable, but I can’t. He still feels it a little bit. These calves are tricky, they’re dicey.”