The Colorado Rockies are activating right-handed pitcher German Marquez off the 60-Day IL on Sunday, July 14th. The Rockies current roster has 39 players. This means the team will only be required to make an equivalent roster move to bring back Marquez. However, the team also has the option to include another player on the 40-man roster before activating the 29-year-old righty.
Starting on Sunday for the #Rockies…
GERMAN MÁRQUEZ.
He’s BACK. 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/QkpJqVRzbm
— Blake Street Banter ⚾🌮 (@blakestbanter) July 13, 2024
Rockies To Activate Right-Hander From 60-Day IL
German Marquez’s Career
Marquez is not the only player on the Rockies who will return on Sunday. Teammates Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela will also return from the IL. Marquez’s season in 2023 was cut short in May when he had to undergo Tommy John surgery. Marquez was previously an All-Star in his career and a free agent. But the Rockies signed him to a two-year, $20 million extension in September last season. This permitted the Venezuelan pitcher to finish his rehab and boost his value. He will now become a free agent following the 2025 season.
To Marquez, Coors Field is far from just a ballpark; it is a sanctuary and home to him. In his career, Marquez has a 65-56 with a 4.41 ERA. He is also a pitcher that the Rockies want to hold onto, as he is versatile because he’s pitched successfully at home. Through 106 starts with The Rocks, he has sported a solid FIP of 370. The Rockies hope they will get the same Marquez back to the starting rotation this Sunday. In his 2022 season, he showcased some struggles with his elevated 6.70 ERA across 16 starts. But on the bright side, he did sport an impressive ERA of 3.35 through 15 starts on the road.
How Marquez’s Performance Affects the Rockies
He will face the New York Mets and is projected to throw as many as 90 pitches following his return to the mound. No matter how well Marquez pitches, it won’t factor in too much positivity for the struggling 33-62 Rockies. But if Marquez performs well, it would allow the team to rethink who they want to move around before the MLB Trade Deadline. Marquez’s sustaining his health and pitching well will impact the team significantly. Solid outings from Marquez equal a revamped starter in the rotation that would permit the clubhouse to let go of other starters.
For example, right-handed pitcher Cal Quantrill, left-handed pitcher Austin Gomber, and right-handed pitcher Ryan Feltner. Out of all these three starters Quantrill been the strongest and most-impressive pitcher with a solid groundball rate of 46.4% and a decent ERA of 4.13 on the season. The groundball rate is also a career best for the 29-year-old Canadian. The Rockies already got the ball rolling by letting go of right-handed pitcher Dakota Hudson.
