That\u2019s\u00a0234 innings of work\u00a0walking out the door.<\/p>\n
Turnover\u00a0like that\u00a0creates\u00a0opportunity. A bullpen in transition is uncomfortable, but it also gives the organization a chance to reshape its identity.<\/p>\n
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Currently on the roster<\/p>\n
Jimmy Herget<\/a>\u00a0was the clear standout last season. His funky delivery creates deception, but more importantly, he throws strikes and limits self-inflicted traffic.\u00a0That profile actually fits Coors Field surprisingly well.\u00a0He might not light up the radar gun, but he consistently drives results.\u00a0In 2025, Herget logged 83.1 innings with a sterling 2.48 ERA, striking out 81 batters while maintaining a solid, if unspectacular, 2.81 BB\/9.<\/p>\n For a Rockies reliever working that many innings, a combination of durability, strike-throwing, and run prevention was quietly one of the most valuable performances in the bullpen last season. Given the turnover and uncertainty elsewhere in the relief corps, the Rockies will likely look to Herget to shoulder a similar workload again in 2026, serving as both a stabilizing presence and a reliable bridge in the middle and late innings.<\/p>\n Victor Vodnik<\/a>,\u00a0Juan Mejia<\/a>, and\u00a0Seth Halvorsen<\/a>\u00a0represent the power side of the bullpen. The velocity is\u00a0there\u00a0\u2014\u00a0upper-90s fastballs and the kind of raw stuff that can miss bats in high-leverage situations.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Vodnik in particular showed flashes of becoming a late-inning option in 2025.\u00a0He finished the season with\u00a010 saves, a 3.02 ERA, and 50 innings pitched, though his fastball was occasionally hit\u00a0hard\u00a0and his walk rate\u00a0remains\u00a0something to watch. His changeup, however, has proven effective at generating ground balls and limiting damage.<\/p>\n Halvorsen might\u00a0possess\u00a0the loudest raw stuff in the bullpen. His fastball velocity ranks near the top of the league, touching triple digits, but like\u00a0Vodnik,\u00a0the command has been inconsistent. Despite that, he still finished an uneven season with\u00a011 saves, showing the kind of\u00a0late-inning\u00a0upside that power arms can provide.<\/p>\n And that\u2019s part of the current evaluation process: The Rockies still appear to be sorting out who ultimately handles the highest-leverage innings.\u00a0Vodnik and Halvorsen both saw time closing games last year, and neither has definitively locked down the role yet.<\/p>\n Mejia has primarily leaned on a two-pitch combination \u2014 a fastball and slider \u2014 which allows him to attack hitters aggressively without overcomplicating pitch sequences. That approach helped him carve out a role last season, but he\u2019s working to expand his arsenal heading into 2026. Mejia has been developing a changeup<\/a>, a pitch he admitted he didn\u2019t have much confidence throwing last year but is now beginning to trust more as he continues refining it this spring. If that third pitch becomes a reliable option alongside his power fastball and slider, Mejia could take another step forward and emerge as one of the bullpen\u2019s more dependable high-leverage arms.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Brennan Bernardino<\/a>\u00a0was brought in via trade to anchor the left-handed\u00a0side of the bullpen. Bernardino\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0a strikeout-heavy reliever, but he features a diverse pitch mix and excelled last year at generating weak contact on the ground. Behind him, the left-handed depth is thin, making that side of the roster one of the more interesting battles to watch this spring.<\/p>\n R.J. Petit (No. 23 PuRP<\/a>), a Rule 5\u00a0selection, will need to remain on the roster,\u00a0works\u00a0with a mid-90s fastball and a gyro-spin slider\u00a0\u2014\u00a0a pitch type that tends to play well at Coors Field due to its movement profile.\u00a0However, some recent forearm tightness calls his near-term future into question.<\/p>\n Keegan Thompson<\/a>\u00a0was claimed off waivers to provide depth and potential bulk innings, and\u00a0Antonio\u00a0Senzatela<\/a>\u00a0could also see time in multiple roles as he continues expanding his pitch mix.<\/p>\n Zach\u00a0Agnos<\/a>,\u00a0Jaden Hill<\/a>, and\u00a0Luis Peralta<\/a>\u00a0are all vying for innings. The stuff flashes with all three, but consistency\u00a0remains\u00a0the question.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Non-Roster Invitees<\/p>\n The Rockies also have several non-roster<\/a> arms competing for bullpen opportunities worth monitoring.<\/p>\n John\u00a0Brebbia\u00a0brings the\u00a0most big-league\u00a0experience of the group. He has had an up-and-down major league career, but he has looked sharp this spring and could provide veteran stability if the Rockies want an experienced\u00a0option\u00a0in the middle innings.<\/p>\n Parker Mushinski\u00a0is an intriguing left-handed candidate. He features a deeper pitch arsenal than many relievers and tends to generate weaker contact rather than relying purely on strikeouts. His spring has been uneven\u00a0\u2014\u00a0including a rough outing against Texas\u00a0\u2014\u00a0but he has also flashed swing-and-miss ability.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Evan Justice, a left-hander drafted by Colorado in the\u00a0fifth round in 2021,\u00a0offers a fastball-slider combination and familiarity with the organization. His 2025 performance was\u00a0largely uninspiring, but as a left-handed arm he could still factor into the depth picture.<\/p>\n The prospect angle<\/p>\n Welinton\u00a0Herrera (No. 17 PuRP<\/a>)\u00a0is one of the\u00a0more\u00a0fascinating arms in the system. The left-hander\u00a0dominated in\u00a0the Arizona Fall League and has\u00a0real bat-missing\u00a0ability. In\u00a046.1 innings at Double-A, he posted a\u00a013.6 K\/9 with a 3.50 ERA.<\/p>\n The strikeout ability is real. The walks and fly-ball tendencies will be something to\u00a0monitor\u00a0in a Coors Field context, but if a left-handed prospect forces his way into the picture quickly, Herrera has the type of stuff that could do it.<\/p>\n Carson Palmquist (No. 19 PuRP<\/a>)\u00a0is another intriguing variable. He has developed primarily as a starter, but his path to impact in Denver could\u00a0ultimately run\u00a0through relief. In shorter outings, a modest velocity bump and a simplified arsenal could change the profile of his fastball and breaking pitches. A left-handed arm capable of throwing strikes and navigating multiple innings could be extremely valuable in this environment.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/cd4e64fb09a886f72379765cf149ebe9.jpeg\"\/)
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