Rockies Choose Austin Kitchen

The Rockies introduced this afternoon that they’ve chosen the contract of left-hander Austin Kitchen. Proper-hander Geoff Hartlieb was designated for task so as to make room for Kitchen on each the 40-man and lively rosters in Colorado.

Kitchen, 27, will make his huge league debut the primary time he will get right into a recreation with the Rockies. The southpaw went undrafted out of Coastal Carolina College again in 2019 and spent the 2020 season pitching for the unbiased Washington League as a member of the Metal Metropolis Slammin’ Sammies. After impressing with a 1.50 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 12 innings of labor as a reliever in indy ball that 12 months, the Rockies determined to carry Kitchen into the fold and assigned him to Single-A Fresno throughout the 2021 season.

Kitchen’s first season in affiliated ball left one thing to be desired, as he struggled to a 4.97 ERA whereas hanging out simply 16.6% of batters confronted throughout 50 2/3 innings of labor cut up between the rotation and bullpen. From 2022 onward, Kitchen moved into one thing nearer to a full-time reduction position and noticed his outcomes enhance noticeably. That first season after transferring out of the rotation noticed Kitchen strike out a much more respectable 21.2% of batters confronted whereas surrendering an ERA of simply 3.32 between the Excessive-A and Double-A ranges, and the next season noticed him return to Double-A with comparable numbers throughout 59 2/3 reduction frames. Kitchen received a style of Triple-A motion on the finish of final 12 months however was blown up for six runs in a single inning of labor throughout two appearances.

This 12 months, the southpaw has made 18 reduction appearances on the Triple-A stage which have gone a lot better. Kitchen sports activities a 3.00 ERA that’s all of the extra spectacular given the truth that he performs within the inflated offensive setting of the Pacific Coast League, though his strikeout price has dipped to a considerably worrying 17.6% determine in 33 innings of labor this 12 months. Nonetheless, Kitchen’s efficiency has been sufficient to get him a chance within the majors with the Rockies, who may definitely use all the assistance they’ll get given their disastrous 5.75 ERA out of the bullpen this 12 months, good for useless final amongst all huge league golf equipment.

Making room for Kitchen on the lively and 40-man rosters is Hartlieb, a 30-year-old righty who has pitched in components of 5 huge league seasons since making his debut with the Pirates again in 2019. Hartlieb’s huge league alternatives have been comparatively few and much between because the finish of the 2020 season, as he’s appeared in simply 14 huge league video games over the previous 4 years. He’s not precisely impressed in these 22 innings of labor, nevertheless, surrendering an ERA of 8.59 and hanging out simply 17.2% of batters confronted. That features a tough stint with Colorado this 12 months, the place he’s allowed ten runs (9 earned) on 13 hits and 5 walks whereas hanging out seven in 9 innings of labor.

The Rockies will now have one week to both work out a commerce involving Hartlieb or try to move him via waivers. If Hartlieb clears waivers, the Rockies can try to outright him to the minor leagues, though the right-hander would have the proper to reject that task in favor of free company after being outrighted beforehand in his profession.