Feltner experiments in-game as he battles for rotation spot

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – For Rockies right-handed pitcher Ryan Feltner, some pitches are thrown in a Spring Training vacuum. Those deliveries have a purpose that has little to do with the immediate result, which on Tuesday was a three-run homer by the Reds’ P.J. Higgins in the Rockies’ 8-1 loss.

It was a pitch thrown by a pitcher with some Major League experience who isn’t tying the result of a March 10 game to his fate in the regular season – even though he is in a competition for the fifth rotation or possibly a bullpen spot, and he has a Minor League option remaining.

Feltner threw six types of pitches last year and is looking to expand his pitch grips. His assignment for now is to hone all of his existing pitches to the strike zone. Higgins’ homer came on a first-pitch slider. In a game that counts, the fastball would have been the correct pitch.

“He hadn’t seen my fastball yet,” Feltner said. “He took a swing at it like it was a fastball. Typically, I would show a 9-hole hitter my fastball before any off-speed, so that was a pitch that gave him a chance in that scenario. But I was throwing it for strikes. We went with it there because I was feeling good.”

Feltner pitched three innings, during which he yielded the three runs on six hits, struck out four, and didn’t walk a batter.

If comparing him to his competition for a rotation spot, Feltner is going against Chase Dollander, a stuff-heavy second-year man; veteran Antonio Senzatela (who is, for now, with Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic), who is being given a chance to prove that his expanded pitch mix can land him in the rotation instead of the bullpen; and 2025 rookie Tanner Gordon, who displayed new pitch grips on Tuesday and held the Reds to one run and struck out four in two innings.

Mid-spring is a good time to start forecasting the roster. But the caution in that exercise is this: If a guy proves his health and is trending upward in throwing strikes, how much does a 10.80 ERA with the season not starting until March 27 really matter?

“It was a very good step forward for Felt today, attacking the strike zone as soon as he stepped foot on that rubber,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “It was attack, attack, attack. There was some two-strike damage for sure, but one thing at a time. We loved the way he attacked today.”

What does all this mean to Feltner, 29, who last year battled right shoulder and back problems, and finished the season at Triple-A Albuquerque? Before reading into his answer, it’s worth reporting that he was matter of fact, not defiant. He’s just a guy sticking to what he believes he needs to in order to be ready to pitch this season.

“It’s not a thought for me at all,” Feltner said. “I just do what I do. If they want me on the team, they do. If they don’t, they don’t. All I can control is pitching, and that’s what I’m doing.”

So, why does Feltner believe he will be ready for a Major League season?

Injuries limited him to six starts in the Majors last season, none after April 28. He didn’t pitch for Albuquerque after July 24. Then he went into a strengthening program at Cressey Sports Performance in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and feels good about the current maintenance. The No. 1 goal for Feltner in 2026 is health.

The walk-free appearance was the other forward step. After walking four batters two appearances ago and two his last time out, he not only didn’t walk any hitters, but also threw strikes on 39 of his 49 pitches while mixing up his pitch types.

“One of the goals that we had in my player meeting was to throw more of my off-speed pitches for strikes early in the count – like the changeup and curveball,” he said. “Today and the last outing were the first times that I did that consistently. That’s usually the final step in the process for me.”

Emerging from the backfields
Gordon, whose seven quality starts were tied with the Cardinals’ Michael McGreevy for most among National League rookies last season, was placed in a “B” game his last turn to face Braxton Fulford, Adael Amador and some Minor League hitters.

“I was a little confused as to why I was on the backfield at first,” Gordon said. “But now, since they explained it to me, it makes sense, and I’m all for what happened. I was more comfortable throwing anything and everything back there, and it was easier to work on things.”

A new “one-seam” pitch that travels around 90 mph and sinks complements his four-seam fastball.

“He’s up to 95 mph, attacking the strike zone with all his pitches – that’s Tanner Gordon for you,” Schaeffer said.