Tucson – Three-hundred and sixty-four days since having hip replacement surgery, Dave Veres went from a feel-good story to legitimate candidate for the Rockies’ bullpen today.
Pitching in a spring game for the first time since 2004, Veres recorded three consecutive groundouts and fielded two bunts well before the innings started in drill work, no small accomplishment for a 40-year-old with an artificial left hip and a sore right hamstring. “I was so nervous before I went out there I (went to the bathroom) three times,” said Veres, scheduled to pitch in a B game on Monday.
Of note, his split-finger fastball showed good movement, diving in the zone. Veres is not a hard thrower, but the key is being able to create some variation between his fastball and split. If nothing else, his debut signals that his bid for a bullpen spot must be taken seriously.
“You can talk all you want about it and throw bullpen sessions, but until you throw against live hitters you don’t know,” Veres said. “I know I can still pitch. It doesn’t matter if I throw 85 or 95, the hitters will tell the story based on the swings they take.”
While noting it’s too early for analysis, manager Clint Hurdle was encouraged by Veres’ appearance. Veres was the Rockies’ closer in 1999 when Hurdle was the hitting instructor.
“It was a big step forward for him,” Hurdle said. “He showed some of the deception and he’s always had the herky-jerky delivery (that makes it difficult for hitters to pick up the ball).”
Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
