DENVER -- The Rockies’ weekend pitching shuffle continued on Sunday with righty TJ Shook being recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque and lefty starter Sean Sullivan being sent back down to continue his development.
Speaking of development, Sunday’s moves opened the door for righty No. 16 prospect Gabriel Hughes – who made his Major League debut in relief with a scoreless, three-inning save on Friday – to make his first start during the team’s upcoming road trip.
The Rockies have announced starters only through the series at Dodger Stadium Monday through Wednesday – Kyle Freeland, followed by Michael Lorenzen and Ryan Feltner. With no days off before the All-Star break and with righty Tomoyuki Sugano on the 15-day injured list with back spasms, it lines up for Hughes to start on Thursday at Oracle Park against the Giants.
Hughes figures to have some familiarity with the opponent. In his debut, he held the Giants to two hits, walked one and struck out one while finishing out a 15-3 victory at Coors Field. The addition of Shook and subtraction of Sullivan give the Rockies nine relief pitchers, counting Hughes, but it likely would take some painful events for him to be used between now and Thursday.
Here is a look at the machinations over the last three days:
• Veteran Jordan Romano, an erstwhile Blue Jays closer who was named an All-Star in 2022 and 2023, threw strikes on all 10 pitches and struck out two in a spotless ninth inning during Saturday night’s 6-4 loss. He was called up when righty Seth Halvorsen went to the IL with right shoulder inflammation.
Manager Warren Schaeffer has not named a closer at any point this season. Nine pitchers have saves. Romano’s four saves with the Angels before being released on April 27 are the same number that the Rockies’ leader, Victor Vodnik, has in 24 appearances.
There are no pronouncements about the role of Romano, 33. But he has familiarity with Rockies bullpen coach Matt Buschmann, with whom he worked in Toronto. And he made a good first impression on the Rockies.
“Good slider, he attacked the strike zone – good presence to him,” Schaeffer said. “Romano was fantastic. I’m glad to have him, especially with his pedigree. He’s thrown in the ninth inning of big-league games for a while.”
• Halvorsen was showing closer abilities last year until a right elbow injury ended his season in August. He began the year at Albuquerque and has been up and down, but quietly has been affected by the shoulder issue. With the Rockies wanting to see Romano, it was a good time for Halvorsen to address his shoulder.
“It’s not a long-term thing at all,” he said. “I finally said something because it was affecting my feel – and my velocity, too, which is down. I think we should nip it in the bud.”
• For Sullivan, the Rockies' No. 11 prospect, Saturday was much like some of his work during his first four starts. There was a rough patch – in this case, a 29-pitch, four-run first inning (prolonged when first baseman Troy Johnston came off the bag on a potential double play). Many balls were hit hard, but Sullivan made it through 5 2/3 innings and gave up just two runs after the first inning.
Sullivan, a second-round Draft pick in 2023, rolled up high strikeout totals in college and the Minor Leagues with his deception. But against the Giants, execution with two strikes – and in general – were areas to improve. Sullivan had been sent down but had not pitched at Albuquerque before the Rockies recalled him to replace Sugano.
“There are some minor adjustments – execution is big here, and that’s where I’ve been getting hurt recently,” Sullivan said.