A last-place team will soon get help from a first-round pick.
Greg Reynolds is expected to make his major-league debut Sunday in San Diego after struggling Mark Redman was banished to the bullpen Wednesday. Reynolds was pulled after allowing no runs and two hits on 20 pitches in a Triple-A start Wednesday.
Officially, the Rockies said they were acting cautiously with the prized prospect’s tender right ankle. Unofficially, they have been unable to complete a trade for Cincinnati’s Josh Fogg or Boston’s Julian Tavarez, leaving Reynolds as the most viable alternative for a disappointing rotation.
General manager Dan O’Dowd’s preference was to promote Reynolds next month, allowing him more time to increase strength in his surgically repaired right shoulder. A Triple-A teammate said Wednesday that Reynolds, just 21, has shown huge improvement in his last few outings after eschewing off-speed pitches early in counts and regaining command of his sinkerball.
The right-hander was the second overall pick in the 2006 draft, the highest selection in franchise history. He is 1-2 with a 4.86 ERA in seven starts for the Sky Sox this season. Josh Towers has also been under consideration, but owns a 6.16 ERA in Triple-A.
While the Rockies are currently unable to meet the Reds’ asking price for Fogg, it doesn’t mean it’s a dead issue. Fogg remains a candidate to be designated for assignment and Colorado would be his first choice as a free agent.
Throwing around praise.
Cardinals center fielder Rick Ankiel called his 330-foot dart Tuesday to nail Omar Quintanilla a “once-in-a-lifetime throw. There are only so many times I am going to throw it as hard as I can and exactly where I want.”
Tony La Russa estimated that the ball came into third baseman Troy Glaus at around 95 mph.
“It’s the best I have ever seen,” La Russa said.
Footnotes.
Redman’s future remains uncertain. There remains a possibility the Rockies will cut him by Tuesday rather than guarantee his full contract. . . . The Rockies have told teams they are willing to part with a center fielder in trade talks. Cory Sullivan is making $1 million in Triple-A, leaving him a trade candidate. . . . O’Dowd said he does not have interest in Brewers reliever Derrick Turnbow, who has fallen out of favor in Milwaukee.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
