SURPRISE, Ariz. -- First-year Rockies manager Bud Black heard the enthusiastic scouting reports about right-hander Antonio Senzatela. Black saw for himself Tuesday.
Senzatela, the Rockies' No. 9 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, struck out four Rangers in three innings of a 3-2 Colorado win. Establishing a fastball early and working his breaking ball and changeup the final two innings, Senzatela held the Rangers to just one hit.
"The upper body works well," Black said of the 22-year-old. "He's got that high front side, sort of high three-quarter [motion], throws the ball downhill with some angle. He's got velocity, a nice, tight little slider, good changeup. Our Minor League people like this guy a lot. There's a reason for that."
• Rockies Spring Training: Schedule | Information | Tickets
Senzatela was limited to seven starts at Double-A Hartford last year, partly because the Rockies were being very cautious by putting him on the disabled list twice with right shoulder soreness. The club also didn't announce that he returned to Venezuela during the season to be with his mother, who died of cancer.
But he went 4-1 with a 1.82 ERA last season, and in 2015, he earned the Class A Advanced California League Pitcher of the Year Award when he posted a 2.51 ERA over 26 starts, striking out 143 in 154 innings.
Despite the limited action last season, the Rockies consider Senzatela a competitor for a Major League roster spot and a slot in the rotation.
"I just tried to make good pitches, have good timing, compete a lot, and it was a really good day," Senzatela said. "I had my fastball command. It was a good day."