Márquez takes next step toward long-awaited debut

This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

DENVER -- After arriving in a trade with the Rays, right-handed pitcher Germán Márquez introduced himself to the Rockies’ organization by making 21 starts for the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats. But he wasn’t introduced to Hartford until Thursday night.

Dressed in a special Yard Goats Fourth of July uniform, Márquez threw 70 pitches over 3 2/3 innings in his next-to-last planned injury rehab start in his comeback from Tommy John surgery last year. He yielded two runs (one earned) on five hits, one walk and two strikeouts in Hartford’s 7-3 loss to Binghamton.

While the important result was Márquez getting through the game healthy -- considering he is on track to join the Rockies when they meet the Mets at Citi Field next week -- he could appreciate the chance to complete a circle he never did in 2016.

Because of construction delays, the 2016 Yard Goats played their entire schedule on the road. It all turned out fine when Dunkin’ Park opened in ‘17. And now Márquez has seen it for himself -- and has been seen by a sellout crowd of 7,361.

“I couldn’t pitch here in 2016, but it feels good to pitch here in this stadium,” said Márquez, who, if the Rockies keep him on the normal four days’ rest, will get to know Hartford folks better on Tuesday night at home against Portland.

Pitching more toward building for the Majors than a game plan for Binghamton, Márquez leaned heavily on the fastball in the first two innings, and registered 98 mph a few times. He mixed after that.

With one walk coming after he had left the mound with a 3-2 count (having reached his limit) and a run scoring on a passed ball, it’s clear he pitched better than his line. But his line wasn’t of utmost importance.

“I wanted to set my fastball first, I wanted to hit my spots,” Márquez said. “Then I wanted to work on my breaking balls. They were good. Those [Binghamton] kids were ready and they fouled them off. It felt good to go out there and battle.

“It’s kind of hard to be away from the [Rockies] team. This is the first time I’ve been through that process. I’ve got to work hard to be good in the big leagues.”

Márquez’s return will put the Rockies a little closer to the rotation they envisioned when they signed him (a two-year, $20 million extension through ‘25), Kyle Freeland (five years, $64.5 million through ‘26) and Antonio Senzatela (five years, $50.5 million through ‘26). Márquez and Senzatela each underwent right elbow surgery last year, and Freeland missed 10 weeks this season with a left elbow strain.

The returns to health and form of the trio could shorten the Rockies’ rebuild.