Rule 5 pick Molina learning about MLB life from Rox starters

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The leap to the Majors is not easy, but Rockies right-handed pitcher Anthony Molina is keeping it simple. He throws a fastball and a changeup, both for strikes.

As for all the rest, he has a chance because he listens well.

The Rockies selected Molina, 22, from the Rays in the Rule 5 Draft in December. Essentially, he has to stay in the Majors with the Rockies throughout the 2024 season or else be offered back to Tampa Bay. The way Molina -- the Rockies’ No. 27 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- is throwing in Spring Training, he’s a keeper.

Molina struck out two and walked one while pitching the ninth -- the last of the Rockies’ five no-hit relief innings in Monday’s 7-2 victory over the White Sox at Camelback Ranch. It was Molina’s third scoreless outing in five Cactus League appearances, which have produced a 3.68 ERA and nine strikeouts against two walks.

Last season, Molina went a combined 5-7 with a 4.50 ERA at Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham. His 102 strikeouts against 38 walks in 122 innings, and a career 3.43 strikeout-to-walk ratio, led the Rockies to select him when the Rays did not protect him on their 40-man roster.

“I take pride in being in the zone,” Molina said, with Rockies bullpen catcher Aaron Muñoz interpreting. “It’s very important just to dominate a hitter. I like to concentrate on a little target.”

It’s likely the Rockies will carry Molina as a long reliever through this season, possibly even give him some spot-starts. But the ultimate goal is to develop him as a candidate for future rotations, even if he still needs Minor League time after this season. The Rockies would like for him to develop a breaking pitch, and in bullpen sessions, he has emphasized a cutter more than a slider, but there is time for that to develop.

“We don’t want to overcoach him,” manager Bud Black said. “We want him to make the team on his merits, where he has pitched how he needs to pitch. He is young and we think he has starter capabilities.”

Molina’s philosophy is to resist trying to do too much on the field, but learn as much as possible away from the park.

Just after the Rockies selected Molina, veteran righty and fellow Venezuelan Germán Márquez -- who also came to the Rockies from the Rays -- called Molina. At camp, Molina is often seen with Márquez and Rockies Venezuelan righty Antonio Senzatela, both of whom are rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and have plenty of time to mentor Molina.

“My favorite thing during the game is to look in the dugout and see him sitting between Márquez and ‘Senza’ -- what better role models he could have?” pitching coach Darryl Scott said.

The vets give advice if asked, but leave most of the technical stuff to the coaches. Most of what the veterans offer Molina is about life in a Major League clubhouse.

“He was new here, didn’t know anybody, but he had the confidence to talk to me during the game or in the clubhouse,” Márquez said. “I was at one point like him. So it makes me feel good to be that guy for him.”

Molina is similar to Senzatela in that he pitches down in the zone, although Molina's Minor League numbers suggest more strikeouts.

For all the mentoring he has received, Molina has been loose in the clubhouse and his strike-throwing self in games.

“He reminds me of myself in my first big league camp,” Senzatela said. “He has a good fastball, good command and a good change. He has to keep going.”