I had an immediate flashback. Ryan Feltner did not, which helps explain why he has a chance to be the best starter in the Rockies\u2019 rotation this season.<\/p>\n
Short-term memory and mental toughness are prerequisites for a major league pitcher, particularly for one who must ply his trade at Coors Field.<\/p>\n
Last Tuesday night in Toronto<\/a>, the Blue Jays\u2019 Andres Gimenez scorched a 106 mph line drive back to the mound and off Feltner\u2019s right hip.\n<\/p>\n I immediately recalled that chilling moment on May 13, 2023, at Coors Field when the Phillies\u2019 Nick Castellanos hit a 92.7 mph comebacker. Feltner had just enough reaction time to dodge getting hit in the face, but the baseball struck Feltner in the back of his head, just above the right ear. He suffered a skull fracture and a major concussion.<\/a>\n<\/p>\n I asked Feltner if that traumatic moment came roaring back when he got hit in Toronto.<\/p>\n \u201cThere wasn\u2019t any thought of what happened before, none at all,\u201d he said. \u2018Once I got hit, I just wanted to make sure I had enough feeling in my leg to keep going. There was no association with what happened in 2023.\u201d<\/p>\n Feltner finished the third inning in Toronto, but his right glute tightened up, and he was unable to continue. But the 29-year-old right-hander is fine and will make his scheduled start on Monday night against the Astros at Coors Field.\n<\/p>\n In those three innings vs. the Blue Jays, Feltner showed what he\u2019s capable of. He allowed no runs, one walk, and struck out four. He mixed all six of his pitches: four-seam fastball, changeup, slider, sinker, sweeper and curveball. His strikeouts came via his fastball, slider, sinker and sweeper.<\/p>\n \u201cHe pitched awesome,\u201d catcher Hunter Goodman said. \u201cHe had command of all of his pitches. That was the best I have seen him throw this year, including spring training. I\u2019m excited for his next few outings. I think he can build momentum off those.\u201d<\/p>\n Feltner did not have a great spring training \u2014 9.65 ERA, 11 walks, 17 strikeouts over 16 innings \u2014 and his command was erratic. He barely beat out Chase Dollander for the fifth spot in the rotation.\n<\/p>\n \u201cI think pitching in a regular major league game sharpens me up a little bit,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to be in the flow of a real game. I don\u2019t look at spring training results, hardly at all. It\u2019s about working on things. It\u2019s about the process.\u201d<\/p>\n Against the Blue Jays, Feltner looked very much like the pitcher who dominated hitters during the second half of the 2024 season. Over his last 15 starts, he posted a 2.98 ERA, the first Rockies starter with a sub-3.00 ERA through a 15-start span since German Marquez during his All-Star campaign in 2021.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n The Rockies are waiting for Feltner to pitch like that again.<\/p>\n