TUCSON — Their names were above their lockers. But “X Factor” would suffice.
Manuel Corpas and Taylor Buchholz represent questions and possible huge additions to a formidable bullpen. Corpas arrived Thursday with a smile on his face and braids in his hair. He is healthy after rehabilitation from elbow surgery last summer, which required the removal of bone chips and recovery from a subsequent staph infection.
“It’s going to be a bueño year,” Corpas said. “I feel much, much better. I have a good (sinker) again. The slider is good.”
Corpas tested his arm in winter ball and earlier this month at the Dominican Republic academy, where he was joined by Jeff Francis and Greg Reynolds.
“Nobody has given up on him,” manager Jim Tracy said.
Buchholz said Thursday that he’s slightly ahead of schedule in progress following elbow ligament transplant surgery. He threw 12 pitches last spring before shutting it down. He is eyeing a late May, early June return to the major leagues, after missing all of last season.
“Everything feels really good. It’s on schedule,” said Buchholz, who last pitched on Sept. 8, 2008.
He threw off the mound a few times this winter, and even lightly spun a few curveballs, his best pitch.
Day at the Beach.
Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who will arrive Monday, four days before the required reporting date for position players, has made it a point to be more involved off the field this winter. Tulowitzki confirmed Thursday that he will throw out the ceremonial first pitch Friday at Long Beach State in his alma mater’s season opener against Pepperdine. He was a keynote speaker at the Dirtbags’ Leadoff Dinner last spring.
“If you want somebody to talk about teaching math, I am not your guy. But if it’s baseball and life, I think people can see and hear my passion,” Tulowitzki said.
Footnotes.
All but a few of the pitchers arrived Thursday, with the notable exception of Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales. They were scheduled to come in late Thursday night or Friday, when the first workout of pitchers and catchers will be held. . . . Reliever Eric Gagne, whom the Rockies were considering for a minor-league deal, signed with the Dodgers on Thursday, according to the Los Angeles Times. Gagne, who threw for Tracy on Tuesday, pitched as a starter in the Can-Am league last summer, building up arm strength.
