SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- As Rockies Nation gets to know left-hander Austin Gomber -- and three appearances into Spring Training, he has performed like a guy worth knowing -- there’s this tidbit:

“I skipped second grade,” Gomber said. “That’s pretty cool.

“I transferred [schools] and had to take an entry test. They didn't have any room in the second grade. And I guess I scored high enough to get to third grade. So that was cool at the time.

“And then, once I got to high school and everybody, all my friends had a driver's license, and I didn't. That was when it caught up with me. But then when I was the youngest guy in the Draft for college guys, I was like, ‘This isn't too bad.'”

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That’s even cooler than knowing Gomber was the only player with Major League experience among the five the Rockies received from the Cardinals (who selected him out of Florida Atlantic University in the fourth round in 2014) for third baseman Nolan Arenado. But if he pitches the way he has this spring, we’ll be learning more.

After his three scoreless innings with five strikeouts in a 7-5 Rockies victory over the Padres on Wednesday, Gomber has spring totals of seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts.

The fact Wednesday wasn’t perfect worked in the 27-year-old Gomber’s favor. He gave up two hits and issued two walks to load the bases in the third inning, with a caught-stealing mixed in to prevent a run being forced in. Gomber fanned Tommy Pham to end the threat.

“I’m pretty happy I got a strikeout on everything I have -- fastball, curveball, slider, changeup,” Gomber said. “That’s a good sign. We’ll just continue to try to get better from here.”

Dereck Rodríguez (who will start Thursday against the Cubs at Mesa, Ariz.) and Chi Chi González are both pitching solidly to hang in the competition, but that might just be for a long relief role. There still is a shot at the rotation, but righty Antonio Senzatela appears on the mend from a slight right hamstring injury.

Senzatela threw “a really good bullpen today,” manager Bud Black said, and soon will throw in a simulated game, with the goal of putting him in Cactus League action after that.

However, Gomber, who had a 1.86 ERA in 14 games (four starts) for the Cardinals last year, has impressed Black.

“The guy really competes, and we’re learning that he’s not afraid to throw any pitch any time, which I like,” Black said. “He has confidence in all four. I like the conviction.”

Making his mark
Corner infielder Colton Welker is in his third Major League camp. He confirmed his status as a big league option with a three-run homer off Mason Thompson in the sixth inning. Welker has been hitting fastballs hard. On Wednesday, he crushed a slider.

“He’s swinging the bat great,” Black said. “He’s got good bat speed, and his pitch recognition is great. That was a breaking ball. He’s been on fastballs, too, so he’s had a really good camp.”

Rough day for Estévez
Righty Carlos Estévez was hit on the right heel by a line drive by the first batter he faced, but that wasn’t the only misfortune during his inning. Joshua Mears, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Padres’ No. 10 prospect, lashed a first-pitch, 95.2 mph fastball over the left-field wall for a home run. The exit speed was 117 mph.

Black said Estévez was not affected by being hit. He just ran into a big, hard swinger with a plan.

“The kid was probably swinging, ambushed him and squared it up,” Black said.

Lefty Phillip Diehl, trying to force his way into the bullpen, also gave up a homer, to Patrick Kivlehan.

Oberg debut set
Right-handed reliever Scott Oberg, one of the Majors’ best relievers before blood clots in his right arm interrupted his career in 2019, is scheduled to make his ’21 Cactus League debut on Friday against the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium.