Rockies option Volstad, call up Kensing
DENVER -- Chris Volstad's stay with the Rockies lasted all of five days as they optioned him to Triple-A Colorado Springs on Sunday.
Volstad struggled in two appearances with the Rockies, allowing one run in the eighth Wednesday and giving up three more Saturday in a 10-5 win over the Phillies.
"Talked to Chris this morning, and he understands," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "He's struggled with getting the ball down in the couple outings with us this time around. Velocity is good and he knows he's got to pound the zone with that two-seamer. He's going to go down there and work on that and look to get back in the mix with us again."
Logan Kensing, another right-handed reliever, settled into a new clubhouse locker this morning and will take Volstad's roster spot. It is Kensing's first time in the big leagues since 2009, but he proved himself Major League-ready with a 2.57 ERA in 21 innings with the Triple-A Sky Sox. He has not allowed more than one run in his last seven appearances.
Kensing said he expects to fill in as a middle reliever, but he's ready to come out of the bullpen whenever the coaching staff calls his number. Kensing can reach the mid 90s, and he has recently developed a changeup to complement his slider, an addition that may have finally pushed him over the thin line between the high-Minors and the Majors.
"They really just keyed on throwing a lot of changeups, keeping the ball down and getting ground balls," Kensing said. "That's something I think is organization-wide. They harp on [pitching for ground balls] and it's paid off."
The Rockies made the move in lieu of the upcoming Interleague Play as the club begins a nine-game, 10-day road trip to Toronto, Washington and Boston.
"Going into the American League parks, don't necessarily need the 13 position players and you don't typically use your bench too much in those American League games," Weiss said. "So sticking with the 13 pitchers, I think, is the way to go I think in the next couple weeks here looking at it."