Gray flashes increased velo in 1st spring start

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The rising numbers on the scoreboard -- 96-97 mph -- lifted the spirit of Rockies right-hander Jon Gray.

After struggling for velocity in eight starts last season before being shut down with right biceps tendinitis, Gray felt achieving a velocity he was more accustomed to means his first start of Spring Training was positive.

While Gray's outing in a 3-1 loss to the Rangers at Surprise Stadium wasn’t the most efficient -- he was scheduled for four innings but reached his pitch limit after 2 2/3 frames -- he took exactly what he wanted from the appearance.

“There are some things I’ve got to clean up in my delivery, but the good news is all the stuff we’ve been working on is paying off,” Gray said. “I’m getting to the plate a lot faster. My fastball has got more jump on it now. Even the spin is spinning. It’s just a little wild, got to control it.”

Last year, Gray struggled when as fastball sat at 93 mph, and he couldn’t get the desired action on his slider. After a solid 2019 (11-8, 3.84 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 150 innings), Gray never felt himself in '20 (2-4, 6.69 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 39 innings). Being shut down in early September gave him more time for strengthening and rehab through acupuncture.

“Baseball wasn’t any fun when you couldn’t do things with your God-given abilities,” Gray said. “Makes you feel a little worthless, like, ‘What are you doing here?’"

On Sunday, Gray wasn’t wild in a way that would be a concern. He struck out three, walked two and gave up three singles. The Rangers drove up his pitch count with foul balls, with Gray not at full sharpness on his slider and his curve needing “a little bit of work.” But the fastball felt good -- he felt he cut loose on a fastball he blew by Khris Davis to end the first inning -- and should get better.

“Yeah, they fouled some off, but I don’t think I was really pitching to my strengths,” Gray said. “I threw some pitches I probably wouldn’t normally throw just to see how it would work. But there were a few times I really went for the strikeout and got it.”

Manager Bud Black said although Gray wasn’t efficient, he reached his scheduled 60 pitches and will be slated for 75 in his next outing.

“Velocity isn’t everything -- you’ve got to make pitches -- but it’s a good sign that Jon’s velocity right now in March is what we saw today,” Black said. “Really happy about that. The velocity is a little harder, too, on his slider. He threw a couple good curveballs. The ball-strike ratio wasn’t great, but where Jon is physically and how he feels mentally about everything, he’s in a good spot.”

Good early news
The news on second baseman Brendan Rodgers’ right hamstring, which was strained on Saturday, is about as good as possible on such a potentially troublesome injury.

"Some of the things they look for, if he feels it walking, if he feels it in certain movements ... he doesn't," Black said. “That’s great. So [head athletic trainer] Keith [Dugger] and the guys are encouraged about where he is 24 hours later.”

Bowden’s test
Gray’s early exit set up a two-out, two-on challenge for left-hander Ben Bowden, the Rockies' No. 15 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, who has a chance to making the Opening Day bullpen. Facing the middle of the Rangers' lineup, Bowden fell behind Rougned Odor, 3-0, and brought the count full before issuing a walk. Bowden was then down, 2-0, to Nick Solak before notching a strikeout to end the threat.

“His intent is to pitch aggressive,” Black said. “The walk to Odor -- it was a good test for him, to get a lefty. He didn’t get him. Solak is a pretty good little hitter, too, and he made some pitches to get him.”

Worth noting
• Right-handed-hitting C.J. Cron has found his production stroke over the past week. He knocked a solo homer in the seventh inning, his second home run of the spring.

• Left-hander Yoan Aybar, 23, made his Rockies debut and gave up one run on one hit in one inning. An outfielder in the Red Sox’s organization from 2014-17, Aybar converted in '18 and was traded to Colorado this past offseason.

• Camp sensation Jameson Hannah ended the eighth inning with a leaping catch against the center-field wall. Hannah went 0-for-1 with a strikeout, but he is 4-for-7 in Cactus League games.

“There’s some strength to his arm -- he needs repetition and development,” Black said.

• Right-hander Ryan Castellani, who has been absent from Cactus League play since walking three of the four batters he faced and hitting the other one in a game against the Reds on March 8, has been working on his mechanics. Black said Castellani will pitch a simulated game Tuesday.