At this point, the Rockies’ bullpen doesn’t need a gate, but a revolving door and walking escalator. When the team opens its interleague series Friday against the Kansas City Royals, Double-A reliever Darren Clarke is expected to join the relief corps.
Clarke, slowed in spring by a strained groin, pitched well for the Drillers. He didn’t allow a run in 6 1/3 innings, while striking out 10. The radio announcers for Tulsa announced that Clarke would be promoted, while a Double-A player confirmed the news to The Denver Post on Thursday night.
Clarke is already on the 40-man roster, so there will be only one corresponding move to add him to the Rockies. Zach McClellan has slumped a bit and hasn’t pitched since Sunday against the San Francisco Giants, making him a possible candidate. It’s unclear whether his absence from recent games was injury-related.
Clarke is 6-foot-8 and weighs 235 pounds. Left-handers don’t have a hit against him this season. Injuries have struck the Rockies’ hard this year. Clarke would represent the 21st different pitcher the team has carried this season. The Rockies used 24 all of last season.
The bullpen makeover will continue Monday when LaTroy Hawkins, barring a setback, joins the team in Phoenix.
