Rox make flurry of moves before camp breaks
Gray gets OD nod; Musgrave, Patterson, Bemboom sent to Minors; rotation to be announced Friday
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Rockies officially named Jon Gray as their Opening Day starter in Milwaukee on Monday as expected, and are likely to announce the rest of their starting rotation for the regular season Friday.
The Rockies also announced left-handed pitcher Harrison Musgrave, outfielder Jordan Patterson and catcher Anthony Bemboom were sent to the Minors.
"I told [Gray] it's a feather in the cap," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "It's a special day for all of us in baseball. To be named your team's starter to kick off the season, again, a nice feather in the cap."
As for the rest of the rotation, Tyler Anderson is on track to start the second game of the four-game series against the Brewers on Tuesday and Tyler Chatwood will likely start the third game of the season. The final two spots in the rotation will be filled by Kyle Freeland, 23, Antonio Senzatela, 22, or German Marquez, 22, with one of those three likely landing in the bullpen.
Freeland and Senzatela would be making their Major League debuts. Marquez made his big league debut at the end of last season.
Black also said left-handed pitcher Chris Rusin, who was slowed by an oblique injury this spring, will throw two innings and 30 pitches in a Minor League game Friday. Black also expects catcher Ryan Hanigan, who signed a Minor League deal with the club earlier this week, to report to Triple-A Albuquerque Friday.
"We all have talked about the importance of catching depth," Black said. "He's a veteran guy that works well with pitchers. He's a receiver, blocker, thrower and I really liked his work in Cincinnati."