Tucson -Three catchers competing for two roster spots equals one intense position battle for the Rockies as they open spring training today.
One candidate is baby-faced Chris Iannetta, 24. He faces expectations to eventually become the best homegrown catcher in Rockies history.
Candidate No. 2 is career backup Yorvit Torrealba. The starting job belonged to him last year until shoulder woes ruined his season. Now Torrealba must prove himself again.
The third man in the triangle is Javy Lopez, a 36-year-old former all-star who’s intent on making the most of a fresh start.
“The catcher position is absolutely wide open,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said Thursday. “It’s going to be very interesting to see how it shakes out, but I think it’s going to be good for the team.”
Iannetta was asked to grow up in a hurry last summer, moving from Double-A Tulsa to Triple-A Colorado Springs to the majors in a span of three months. He started 20 of the Rockies’ final 33 games, showing flashes of what he could offer.
“He’s a hard worker, a blue-collar guy and that’s what you want out of your catcher,” first baseman Todd Helton said. “He’s going to be fine. More than anything he’s got to get comfortable and start trusting himself.”
Leery of Torrealba’s shoulder, and fully aware of Iannetta’s inexperience, the Rockies signed Lopez to a one-year, nonguaranteed contract last month. If Lopez makes the 25-man roster, he’ll make $1 million and up to $600,000 in performance bonuses.
“There is no risk for us,” O’Dowd said. “But we think Javy is excited to be catching again and for him this is a big opportunity.”
Lopez is coming off a miserable season. He began the year in Baltimore as a catcher, moved to designated hitter and even dabbled at playing first base. He was traded to Boston on Aug. 4 but was released a month later. He owns a .287 career average with 260 home runs in 1,503 games. However, he hit just .265 for Baltimore last season and just .190 with the Red Sox before he was released Sept. 8.
“We still think he can add a dynamic to our offense, so we’re eager to have him here,” O’Dowd said.
The Rockies are going to have to wait another day to check out Torrealba. As of Thursday afternoon he was still in his native Venezuela. He is expected in camp today. Trainer Keith Dugger said the catcher will have no throwing restrictions once he arrives at camp.
“We think Yorvit’s going to be fine, but we’ll have to wait for the games to begin to know for sure,” O’Dowd said.
If the veterans show the right stuff, Iannetta could end up back in Triple-A. But after a rough start last year – 2-for-22 (.091) in his first six Rockies games – he showed that he could hit major-league pitching. He went 18-for-55 (.327) in his final 15 games, finishing with a .260 average that included four doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs.
“In those first 15 games I really struggled, then I think I got a lot better,” he said. “I think what I discovered during the struggle is that I can make adjustments, and I can get better.”
Footnotes
As of 5 p.m. Thursday, a number of pitchers and catchers had yet to report to camp. Weather delays in the eastern United States delayed a number of players, including pitcher Taylor Bucholz, who was stranded in Philadelphia. Other pitchers missing Thursday included Manuel Corpas, Tom Martin, Brian Lawrence and Ramon Ramirez. In addition to Torrealba, catcher Alvin Colina was absent Thursday. The team’s first official workout is scheduled for this afternoon. … The Rockies signed right-handed pitcher Jorge De Paula, 28 to a minor-league contract.
Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
