SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Zach Jemiola walked one step ahead of himself and nearly fell flat. The Rockies’ 23-year-old right-hander with the major-league fastball landed on Colorado’s 40-man roster last season and pitched well enough in spring to turn heads.
But when he landed in Triple-A to start the season, Jemiola could not understand what he missed.
“I’m one step away, I’m on the roster — and then I (struggled),” he said.
Jemiola ran into a log jam. A staff that was once desperate for a warm body is now stacked with starters trying to break through. The Rockies have seven starters returning from last season and they will likely be the pool from which manager Bud Black chooses five for the rotation. But four more are waiting just outside those ranks.
So Jemiola again finds himself fighting for a call-up.
“I didn’t know what the heck I was doing last year,” he said. “I had a really good spring and I was thinking, ‘Am I going to make the team?’ And I didn’t and it was like, ‘Now where do I go?’ I know who we have. I want them to do well. All I know is, I can focus on myself and do my job correctly and I’ll get an opportunity.”
Jemiola throws a “major-league quality” fastball, according to Black, with a deception that comes from a high front-side delivery, hiding himself behind his glove. Scouting reports peg his changeup as a plus-pitch. He has the tools. But he is unrefined.
“There’s a mix of pitches that can lead me to believe there might be a big-league pitcher in there,” Black said.
But Jemiola is learning patience. After bouncing down to Triple-A last year, he struggled, going 6-5 with a 6.48 ERA over 18 starts before an oblique injury set him back. The Rockies sent him to the Arizona Fall League for more seasoning. And he rebounded, with a 2.74 ERA over 23 innings.
“I like the bounce-back effect,” Black said. “That happens to most players. They get ahead of themselves a little bit. They get close and they think they’re there. But most players get close and realize how far away they are. So it was a good learning experience. There were some things he had to clean up.”
Jemiola will likely compete with LHP Sam Howard, RHP Yency Almonte and LHP Harrison Musgrave for the No. 8 spot on the Rockies pitching hierarchy. He will get an early chance to impress. The Rockies have him scheduled to throw two innings in their Cactus League opener Friday against Arizona.
“Do your job, get your work in, and things will take care of themselves,” Jemiola said. “I had to deal with a lot of failure last year to learn that.”
Footnotes. Jesus Tinoco, a 22-year-old right-hander who was part of the trade with Toronto, will throw two innings Friday. Black said he is “a ways away” from the big leagues still… Relievers Adam Ottavino, and Shane Broyles are scheduled for an inning apiece… The Rockies will start Almonte in a Cactus League game Saturday vs. Cincinnati in Goodyear, Ariz. Howard will follow him with two more innings… Veteran Chad Bettis will start Sunday, backed by Antonio Senzatela… Kyle Freeland and Musgrave will pitch Monday.
