Rox prospect works out of jam in debut, with some help from a friend

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Rockies lefty pitching prospect Griffin Herring welcomed a friendly face.

Obtained from the Yankees for former All-Star third baseman Ryan McMahon at last year’s Trade Deadline, Herring, 22, made his first appearance in a Major League Spring Training game Friday, when he yielded an unearned run in a rollercoaster of an eighth inning in the Rockies’ 3-2 victory over the Padres.

Herring ended last season as Colorado's No. 9 prospect after striking out 149 in 119 1/3 innings and posting a 1.89 ERA in 23 starts for three Single-A and High-A teams between the Yankees and Rockies. It was his first professional season since the Yanks drafted him in the sixth round in 2024 out of LSU.

The eighth inning started with a Cactus League error, when shortstop Nicky Lopez was eaten up by a grounder that hopped hard on an infield baked by a desert sun that’s becoming more cruel by the day. Herring followed with a four-pitch walk that started with two wild pitches, getting nowhere close with his slider – his best pitch in the low Minors.

Catcher Bryant Betancourt came for a visit. First baseman T.J. Rumfield, who joined the Rockies in a separate trade with the Yankees (and is bidding to make the Rockies as a non-roster invitee), also came to the mound to convene.

“He’s a vet [well, relatively speaking] -- a really great player, someone that I look up to,” Herring said. “Having him out there was definitely a calming presence.

“I actually trained with TJ Rumfield in the offseason, and with Roc Riggio and Ben Shields [acquired from the Yankees for reliever Jake Bird]; they’re all great guys and I’ve been spending a lot of time with them.”

Herring began rescuing his outing by rushing in to field a bunt and make a glove flip to the plate for his first Spring Training out. Rumfield, having rushed to the grass at the time, celebrated with him.

“He was super fired up,” said Rumfield, who was acquired for reliever Angel Chivilli. “He was just dealing with nerves, but he did a great job and handled himself perfectly.”

A single drove in the run, but Herring coaxed a fly ball and ended the frame with a strikeout of former Twins second-round pick Jose Miranda.

Herring was in Denver for Rockies Fest in January, then immediately headed to Scottsdale for a club-run leadership camp and has been there since. Possessing a unique motion in which he stabs the ball toward second base before whipping forward, Herring is trying to expand his pitch mix to make himself more appealing as a starter.

“I brought in a curveball late last year; I wasn’t throwing it with the Yankees but it was something the Rockies wanted me to continue to develop,” Herring said. “That’s going to be a new pitch. And I want to do better against lefty hitters, so I’m looking to add a two-seam -- and that will set up the gyro [slider] to the other side.

“It’s definitely going to be big for my development.”

COMPETING IN THE BULLPEN
Two non-roster invitees -- righty John Brebbia and lefty Parker Mushinski -- took steps in their challenges for jobs in a bullpen that entered Spring Training as a Rockies strength, thanks to youthful arms.

Brebbia, who has played for five teams in an eight-year career, threw first-pitch strikes to three of the six batters he faced, with all of them coming on secondary pitches that the club’s pitching coaches want to become greater parts of pitch mixes.

Mushinski, who in his only previous Spring Training outing yielded five runs on three hits and three walks, struck out all three batters in the ninth while hurling a mix of sliders, cutters and curves. Mushinski’s ability to spin pitches earned him 31 Major League appearances with the Astros over three seasons, and he’s seeing pitchers being trained similarly with Colorado,

“When I was first drafted, the Astros were significantly ahead of a lot of teams, but I don’t think what they do is any different from what we’re doing,” he said. “We have these great new guys, and Alon [Leichman] is brilliant. Guys are buying in.”

WALK-OFF SPECIALIST
For the second time this spring, outfielder Zac Veen ended the game with a home run to center field -- this one a 447-footer off Sean Boyle.

“I think the whole dugout felt like he was going to do it again,” Schaeffer said.

The big moments are coming as Veen, 24, continues development in a couple of respects – knowledge of strike zone and overall development as a corner outfield. Veen is receiving solid playing time (3-for-11 in six games) to build the skills in game conditions. But off-field work to build muscle is his biggest forward stride.

“I’m a hitter first, just trying to hit line drives, but I feel like the work I’m putting in the gym is showing,” Veen said.