The Rockies placed veteran left-hander Jose Quintana on the 15-day injured list on Thursday (retroactive to March 30) with a right hamstring strain. They also optioned infielder/outfielder Ryan Ritter to Triple-A Albuquerque and recalled right-handed pitcher Valente Bellozo from Albuquerque.
Quintana, 37, made his debut with Colorado last Sunday against the Marlins in Miami, giving up two runs on four hits while walking four and striking out two over 4 1/3 innings in a 4-3 loss. The Rockies signed him to a one-year, $6 million contract in February, hoping to fortify what was a young and inexperienced starting rotation in 2025 with a seasoned veteran.
This season is Quintana’s 15th in the Majors. He made his big league debut with the White Sox in 2012, and spent his first five-plus seasons with Chicago. He then pitched for the Cubs, Angels, Giants, Pirates, Cardinals, Mets and Brewers. Last year with Milwaukee, he posted a 3.96 ERA over 24 starts, missing some time due to shoulder and calf injuries. He owns a career ERA of 3.76 (109 ERA+).
In their effort to add experience to the rotation following a 2025 campaign in which their starters finished with a 6.65 ERA -- the highest team mark since ERA became an official stat in 1913 -- the Rockies also signed right-handers Michael Lorenzen and Tomoyuki Sugano this past offseason. They join the longest-tenured Rockies starter, Kyle Freeland, in a group that currently also includes righty Ryan Feltner.
The Rockies optioned Ritter with outfielder Mickey Moniak, who has been sidelined with a sprained right ring finger, expected to be activated off the 10-day IL on Friday ahead of Colorado’s home opener against the Phillies at Coors Field.
Ritter was the organization’s No. 13 prospect when he was called up to make his MLB debut last June. In seven plate appearances so far this season, he went 1-for-7 with a single and three strikeouts. In 207 plate appearances as a rookie last year, he produced a .241/.296/.337 slash line.
Bellozo, 26, pitched to a 4.65 ERA over 32 appearances (six starts) for the Marlins last season, which was his second in the Majors. Colorado signed him in February, and he made one start in Triple-A, giving up three runs in three innings.