Notes: Trejo in second-base mix; Bard exits

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Rockies infielder Alan Trejo will tell you his heart is at shortstop, but his blood was pumping after a nifty play he made at second base to close the first inning of Wednesday afternoon’s 8-6 loss to the Royals at Salt River Fields.

First baseman Harold Castro dove and tipped a hard grounder off the bat of Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. But Trejo barehanded and fired in time to pitcher Ryan Feltner covering first. Mouth open, tongue out and flaps down, Trejo pranced to the dugout as if second base is fine with him.

The Rockies entered the spring expecting short to go to prospect Ezequiel Tovar, ranked as the No. 25 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline. Tuesday’s home run against the Rangers and Wednesday’s smooth pickup and throw of a Dairon Blanco grounder in the second screamed why. But Trejo, who came to Spring Training to try to change some minds, had a change in latitude because Gold Glove second baseman Brendan Rodgers sustained a dislocated left shoulder in the previous game. Manger Bud Black revealed Thursday that Rodgers is likely headed for a surgery that could threaten his season.

Depending how long Rodgers is out of the lineup – and whether the Rockies want to let him continue his preparation into the early days of the regular season -- someone has to play second. Trejo, 27, is fine with pushing for all the starts he can at second if that’s his opportunity to be in the lineup.

“I’m a shortstop first, but you can stick me at second, third, in the outfield, first, it doesn’t really matter,” Trejo said. “I can play second base at a high level, but B-Rod has a Gold Glove. That’s something I want to achieve at some point at whatever position.”

Trejo, is about to get some high-visibility time at his preferred position.

Trejo, who also stole a base Wednesday, will join Team Mexico on Monday and play shortstop in the World Baseball Classic.

“I’ve got most of my family in Mexico, still,” Trejo said. “My parents came over at a young age. Both of them are educators in the Los Angeles area. There’s a lot of Mexican culture in my family.”

It’s early and the thumb is valuable

Righty closer Daniel Bard left the game against the Royals after one-third of an inning with a small cut on his right thumb after walking two, striking out one and managing just 11 strikes on his 23 pitches.

“He cut his thumb with the fingernail,” manager Bud Black said. “It’s March 1. He’s still getting in shape, and he’s got to get in shape a little sooner, with the WBC [Team USA]. He’ll be fine.”

Coming out hot

The Rockies’ recorded three 97 mph pitches from righty Ryan Feltner, who threw two scoreless innings against the Royals. Feltner, 26, debuted in 2021 -- living at the top of the strike zone, but at times hitters took advantage. He has learned to work lower (slider, sinker, changeup), but a hot four-seamer makes him more difficult for hitters.

“It’s not abnormal for me to have higher velo in shorter stints,” Feltner said. “I’m going to give credit to some of the mechanical work I did in the offseason and some of the ideas that I ran past Bud and [pitching coach] Darryl [Scott] and they ran past me. I’m feeling good and a little bit more effortless.

“I do feel free to attack and I’ll get some more first-pitch strikes in there.”

Black said he liked the fastball, but the balls-to-strikes (13/15) were not ideal, with control lacking in the first inning.

Will it work at altitude?

The line was rough from lefty starter Austin Gomber on Tuesday against the Rangers – four runs on five hits, including a Clint Frazier home run, while recording two outs. Gomber is working on a two-seam, sinking fastball that he hopes will work at altitude.

Gomber posted a 2.09 ERA at Coors Field in 2022, but it ballooned to 5.25 last year. Hitters took advantage of a four-seam fastball that didn’t have enough hop. He must use both fastballs and his changeup to offset his curve, his best pitch.

Bats worth watching

Elehuris Montero (.233 average, six home runs as a rookie last year) hit a solid single against the Royals and is 3-for-10 with two walks. “He’s getting more comfortable for sure, more confident,” Black said.

Zac Veen, ranked as baseball’s No. 27 prospect, delivered a left-on-left single against an experienced reliever in the Royals’ Josh Taylor.

“He’s looking good at the plate, he’s looking good in the field -- it’s early, but he’s having a good spring and showcasing what he can do,” Black said.