The Colorado Rockies announced tonight that the club has recalled left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich from Triple-A Colorado Springs. To make room on the 25-man roster, the Rockies have also optioned right-handed pitcher Adam Ottavino to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Friedrich (#53) will make his Major League debut in his start tomorrow.
Friedrich, 24, began the season at Triple-A Colorado Springs where he went 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA (30.0 ip, 10 er), four walks, 27 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .213 in five starts for the Sky Sox. Friedrich, who was rated the Rockies 13th-best prospect entering 2012 by Baseball America, has a career professional record of 19-24 with a 4.04 ERA (418.1 ip, 188 er), 140 walks, 418 hits, 40 home runs and 432 strikeouts in 81 appearances, all starts. Friedrich was originally selected in the first round, 25th overall, of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft by Colorado out of Eastern Kentucky University.
Ottavino, 26, made two appearances for the Rockies after being recalled May 5, going 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA (2.2 ip), no hits, no walks and four strikeouts. Ottavino was claimed off waivers by Colorado from St. Louis on April 3rd and immediately optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs. The right-hander has appeared in 10 games, all in relief, for the Sky Sox this season. He has no record with a 3.60 ERA (15.0 ip, 6 er), 7 walks and 20 strikeouts in his 10 games. Ottavino made his Major League debut with St. Louis last season, where he went 0-2 with an 8.46 ERA (22.1 ip, 21 er), 9 walks and 12 strikeouts in five appearances, three starts. The New York native was strictly a starter in the Cardinals organization, but was moved to the bullpen once he joined the Rockies organization in April.
The Rockies currently have a full 40-man roster.