SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The get-to-know-you discussions between newly-acquired Rockies pitcher Cal Quantrill and his coaches and teammates often center on how he can pitch deep into games. It would be cool if his regular-season starts resemble his ‘24 Cactus League debut against the Reds.

• Rockies have confidence in lineup with Rodgers batting cleanup

“Two innings, 16 pitches -- I’ll never complain about that,” said Quantrill, obtained in a Nov. 14 trade with the Guardians for Minor League catcher Kody Huff. “One pitch [Elly De La Cruz’s solo home run], I could’ve gone a little more up, a little more in. But it’s Spring Training and I’m happy with the first one.”

Quantrill gave up just one other hit and had no walks or strikeouts in his two innings of the 10-4 Rockies victory. Then again, he was attacking in the zone with his sinker and split-finger pitch, and the Reds were swinging early, so there wasn’t time for non-contact outcomes.

“A bunch of strikes,” manager Bud Black said. “I was happy with Cal -- minimal pitch count. He actually threw a few more in the bullpen to get some stamina. It’s a good outing overall.”

Even at this early stage, the Rockies and Quantrill have been a comfortable fit.

From his years at Stanford University, the Rockies have been scouting him. He has pitched in the Cactus League every spring of his career with the Padres, for whom he pitched from his 2019 Major League debut to his 2020 trade to Cleveland, where he had been through last season. Teammates find him open when it comes to ideas.

“It’s a two-way street,” Quantrill said. “There’s a lot to learn from the guys here, and I also think that with my experience I can bring ideas to the table, too. It’s an exchange of ideas. I’ve always talked about adding one percent from each guy you meet, and we certainly have guys who have had success here -- Kyle Freeland and Austin Gomber -- and some young, extremely talented kids.

“You can learn something from everybody. [Kris Bryant] has 10-15 at-bats against me, so I like hearing what he has to say -- what he doesn't like facing when my stuff is working. It’s collecting information and trying to get a little better.”

Quantrill showed flashes in 2019 and 2020, then went 23-8 with a 3.16 ERA in 72 games (54 starts) over the next two seasons. Right shoulder inflammation limited him to 4-7 with a 5.24 ERA last year. The Guardians designated him for assignment, and the Rockies swung the trade.

Pitchers at the top of their value tend to shun the Rockies in free agency because of Coors Field’s legendary offensive leanings, so Colorado drafts and trades for pitchers. As much as or more than velocity or pitch types, they try to gauge mental toughness.

“I was at a game last year where it looked like he wasn’t going to get through the first inning, and then you look up and he pitched through to the sixth,” Rockies special assistant-player personnel Ty Coslow said. “He kept his club in the game, didn’t cash it in, gave some length.

“There’s some guys that want the challenge to ‘prove I can do this.’”

• The story of the first month of shortstop Ezequiel Tovar’s rookie season was his struggles with laying off Major League pitches low and outside. He finished with 166 strikeouts, but improved to the point that he knocked 15 home runs and 37 doubles. Early this spring, he has hit pitches over the plate with authority. His grand slam off the Reds’ Lucas Sims was his second spring homer.

“That was another good swing,” Black said. “He had the swinging bunt to lead off the game, but an impressive couple of home runs. We think he’s going to be a good hitter.”

• Closer candidate Justin Lawrence rode mostly his sweeper but also topped out at 97.2 mph on his sinker during a clean inning.

“He’s working his way through a number of things, but I like the way the ball is coming out,” Black said.

• Catcher Jacob Stallings, signed to share the position with Elias Díaz (currently resting a sore right thigh), tripled off the top of the center-field wall. Poor starts the last two years with the Marlins left his OPS at .576 in 202 games. He arrived confident that adjustments, which he has worked on further with Rockies hitting coaches, can return him to his more-solid .704 OPS in 112 games with the Pirates in 2021 – when he also won a Gold Glove.