Parsons makes bid for starting rotation

Manager Bud Black announced another backend rotation option Tuesday with the news that the Rockies are trying right-hander Wes Parsons as a starter.

Parsons was claimed off waivers from Atlanta last August and has seen all of his major-league action (5.67 ERA in 33 appearances) as a reliever. Colorado used him as such last year, but now the club’s hoping he can add rotational depth in 2020.

“He has a history as a starter in the minor leagues with the Braves, came to the big leagues and they put him in the ‘pen,” Black said. “We put him in the ‘pen too. But after talking organizationally, within ourselves (as coaches) and with Wes, this is the way to go now, to try to stretch him out as a starter.”

The 27-year-old made his first Cactus League start Tuesday, tossing a couple of scoreless innings in Colorado’s win over the Cubs at Sloan Park. Parsons made 87 starts in the minors, mostly in the lower levels.

“Physically and mentally, he’s built to start,” Black said.

Parsons’ arsenal features a mid-90s fastball plus a sinker, splitter, slider and recentlyadded curveball. His main goals this spring are building up stamina as well as working on that curve. The non-roster invitee is eager for the chance to become a full-time starter once again.

“It was a discussion we had in September, and then they gave me a call this offseason saying they were going to start me,” Parsons said. “I missed starting, so I’m happy to get back into it.”

Other contenders for the back-end rotation spots are Antonio Senzatela, Peter Lambert, Jeff Hoffman, Chi Chi Gonzalez, Tim Melville and Ubaldo Jimenez. Jon Gray, German Marquez and Kyle Freeland will likely occupy the first three slots.