The Rockies introduced a collection of roster strikes this afternoon, highlighted by the membership’s choices to pick outfielder Nick Martini’s contract and choice outfielder Zac Veen to Triple-A. The Rockies’s 40-man roster stands at 40 after the addition of Martini.
Martini, 35 in June, figures to switch the recently-traded Nolan Jones in left area for the Rockies coming into the 12 months. A seventh-round decide by the Cardinals all the best way again in 2011, Martini toiled within the minor leagues for a number of years earlier than lastly making his massive league debut with Oakland again in 2018. He acquired into solely 55 video games for the A’s that 12 months, however hit fairly effectively with a .296/.397/.414 slash line in 179 journeys to the plate. Issues took a flip for the more serious from there, nevertheless, as Martini hit simply .238/.338/.315 in 57 video games from 2019 to 2021 whereas leaping between the A’s, Padres, and Cubs.
These lackluster numbers led Martini to attempt his luck abroad, and he hit a robust .296/.365/.461 in 139 video games as an everyday for the KBO’s NC Dinos. That served as a springboard that allowed him to return to the majors with the Reds for the 2023 season, and Martini made the a lot of the alternative as he hit a superb .264/.329/.583 in a quick 29-game stint with the membership. Cincinnati was impressed sufficient to maintain Martini within the fold final 12 months, although his numbers took a nosedive as he hit simply .212/.272/.370 in 52 video games for the Reds final 12 months. Martini departed the Reds following that down 12 months and caught on with the Rockies on a minor league deal this winter.
He entered the spring as a protracted shot for a giant league job, however has crushed the ball to the tune of a .389/.511/.556 displaying in 16 spring video games this 12 months. That efficiency, mixed with the membership’s latest transfer to commerce Jones again to Cleveland, cleared the best way for Martini to make the Opening Day roster, the place he appears poised to platoon with Sean Bouchard in left area.
Veen, in the meantime, was in competitors with Jordan Beck and Bouchard for the on a regular basis proper area job however will now head to the minor leagues to start the 12 months. The 23-year-old was Colorado’s first-round decide again in 2020, Veen was a consensus top-50 prospect early in his professional profession however has been restricted to simply 111 video games by accidents over the previous two years. 2023 noticed him battle to a lackluster .209/.304/.308 in 46 video games, however final 12 months Veen bounced again in 65 appearances, with a robust .258/.346/.459 line cut up principally between the Double- and Triple-A ranges. Like Martini, Veen has loved an unbelievable spring as he’s hit .298/.375/.509 in 25 video games for the Rockies throughout camp.
Sadly for Veen, it seems that sturdy efficiency wasn’t sufficient to drive his method onto the roster even after the Jones commerce cleared an outfield spot. With Veen now ticketed for Triple-A, he’ll look to construct on the 21 video games of expertise he acquired on the degree final 12 months and keep wholesome as he waits for his first massive league alternative. Ought to an harm to the large league outfield combine happen, Veen’s standing on the 40-man roster may give him a leg up over some potential different choices, although Greg Jones and Yanquiel Fernandez are each on the 40 as effectively.
