Newcomer Moustakas goes 1-for-3 in his Rockies’ debut
Right-hander Pint optioned to Triple-a camp
Veteran infielder Mike Moustakas, signed to a minor-league contract last week to shore up Colorado’s infield after Brendan Rodgers went down with a shoulder injury, made his Rockies debut Saturday against Seattle. He started at third base and went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Manager Bud Black was eager to see Moustakas in action.
“The thing that I’m excited about is that Mike is excited,” Black told MLB. com. “He came in full of energy and committed to showing that he still has something left in the tank, which I think is awesome. The last couple of years he’s been banged up, but he’s in a good spot physically and he wants to contribute.”
Roster shuffle
Right-handed reliever Riley Pint was optioned to Triple-a camp on Saturday but there is still a chance that the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft could finally make his big-league debut this season. Pint sustained a setback during camp when he was sidelined by a left oblique injury before Cactus League games began. The good news for Pint was that he was healthy enough to throw a bullpen session on Saturday.
In addition to Pint, the Rockies made four other roster moves. They optioned right-hander Blair Calvo to Triple-a camp, optioned infielder/outfielder Warming Bernabel and infielder Julio Carreras to Double-a, and reassigned right-handed pitcher Stephen Jones to minor-league camp.
The Rockies now have 55 players left in major league camp.
Mariners 4, Rockies 2
Saturday at Salt River Fields
On the mound
Right-hander Jose Urena, a key to the rotation, continues to pitch well. Over four innings Saturday, he allowed two runs on five hits, with no walks and one strikeout. In his two spring starts, he has allowed two runs across seven innings (2.57 ERA) with six hits allowed, one walk and two strikeouts.
LHP Brad Hand, signed to a one-year major league deal last week, made his Rockies debut and allowed one run on one hit with one strikeout in one inning pitched.
At the plate
Outfield prospect Zac Veen, likely to begin the regular season at Double-a, drove in both of Colorado’s runs with a two-out, tworun single in the fourth inning. However, Veen, who started in right field, also struck out three times. He is hitting .286.
Corner infielder Elehuris Montero, on the bubble to make the 26-man roster, was 2-for-3 with a double.
Up Next
Rockies (6-8) at Diamondbacks (5-10), 1:10 p.m Sunday (2:10 p.m. MDT)
Rockies probable pitchers
RHP Karl Kauffmann, RHP T.J. Zeuch, RHP Phillips Valdez, LHP Brent Suter, LHP Fernando Abad, RHP Stephen Jones.