Rockies select the contract of RHP John Axford

The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has selected the contract of right-handed pitcher John Axford. In addition, the club has placed right-handed pitcher Tyler Chatwood on the 60-day disabled list.

Axford, 31, joined the Rockies on a Minor League contract on Feb. 2 after splitting time between Cleveland and Pittsburgh in 2014. He made 62 appearances last season and went 2-4 with 10 saves and a 3.95 ERA (24 ER/54.2 IP). From April 24, 2011 to May 4, 2012, he converted 49 consecutive save opportunities, the fourth-longest streak in Major League Baseball. Over the course of six seasons, Axford has appeared in 343 games and has gone 24-23 with 116 saves and a 3.40 ERA (124 ER/328.1 IP).

Chatwood, 25, has spent the past three seasons in the Rockies organization and made his first Opening Day roster in 2014. After opening the season on the disabled list and making four starts for Colorado, he was then placed on the disabled list on April 30 before having UCL replacement surgery (Tommy John) on his right elbow in July. In his four starts, he went 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA (12 ER/24.0 IP) with 8 walks and 20 strikeouts. The Redlands, Calif. native is 20-22 with one save and a 4.34 ERA (165 ER/342.0 IP) in 70 career Major League games, over 61 starts.

The Rockies currently have a full 40-man roster.