SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Left-hander Kyle Freeland has this way of putting runners on base, then taking them away.
On Monday, in his first Spring Training start, Freeland forced double-play grounders in the first and final of his three innings in the Rockies' 6-4 loss to the Reds. Not a surprise. In the shortened 2020 season, Freeland led the Majors in double plays induced, with 14. In 2018, when he finished fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting, he led the NL with 24.
So Monday's outing was a fitting start to ’21.
“It’s executing your pitches down in the zone and using that difference in velocity between pitches to keep them off balance and get weak contact on the ground,” Freeland said. “I’m looking to get weak contact on the ground to allow my defense to work and get two-for-one outs.”
Freeland said he used only fastballs and changeups, and that he plans to incorporate breaking pitches as spring progresses.
Hannah flashes power
No. 16-ranked prospect Jameson Hannah, obtained as part of the deal that sent reliever Jeff Hoffman to the Reds, socked a two-run homer in the seventh off Hector Perez as he continues to make an impression. Manager Bud Black has said that Hannah will need Minor League seasoning, but he spiced up Spring Training with three sliding catches in his first two games. Hannah had one of the Rockies' two hits in their 1-0 victory over the White Sox at Glendale, Ariz.
Castellani struggles; Bard's been there
Ryan Castellani had a forgettable outing on Monday in his quest for a roster spot. He threw 17 total pitches; the first 15 were balls. He recorded just one strike, walked three and hit a batter.
Daniel Bard, who threw a scoreless frame, dealt with years of control issues before rebounding to win the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award last season. Bard said all that everyone witnessed from Castellani was “one of those weird outings.”
“It kind of started out funky, had some really close misses, and then you start getting in a little bit of search mode,” Bard said. “And before you know it, you're getting yanked. I hate to see it. He’s one of the hardest workers we have on the team. We’ll talk to him later. I think it’s going to be fine.”
Worth noting
• No. 8 prospect Colton Welker, receiving a long look in camp and swinging with confidence, doubled off the left-field wall off Perez.
“Just a year older -- maturity,” Black said of Welker, 23. “His body is firing. The bat speed is there. He’s moving well in the field. In morning practice, he’s doing the things you’d like to see for a guy that’s getting closer to potentially being a big leaguer.”
• Black also cited the hard work of No. 4 prospect Ryan Vilade who, like the 6-foot-1 Welker, is a large player at 6-foot-2. Although his speed grades out as average, Vilade beat out an infield single and has shown a penchant for hustling.
• Utility man Eric Stamets, a non-roster player in camp the last two years who saw brief Major League time with Cleveland in 2019, has made notable plays to his right in the last two games while playing shortstop.
Up next
Non-roster righty Chi Chi González, coming off two solid innings against the Mariners in his previous outing, will start on Tuesday against the D-backs at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in a quest to make either the rotation or the bullpen. Jon Gray also will face the D-backs in a "B" game. Righty José Mujica, called up to the Majors last year as the Rockies dealt with injuries, also is scheduled for the main game.