Colorado Rockies option Marquez, activate Rusin

DENVER – The Colorado Rockies have made their first roster move of the 2017 regular season. Right-handed pitcher German Marquez has been optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque and left-hander Chris Rusin has been activated from the 10-day disabled list.

Rusin started the season on the DL with an oblique injury that he suffered in spring training. Once thought to be a contributor to the Rockies rotation, his injury set him back. He made a rehab appearance in Triple-A in the Isotopes season opener on Friday. He pitched two-and-two-thirds, striking out three and allowing two hits.

Marquez has yet to make an appearance in 2017. He was in the Rockies bullpen but he’s traditionally a starter. It was mentioned on Friday that the Rockies were having a ‘tough’ time keeping the young pitcher ready to go,

“Marquez is going to jump back into their rotation,” Bud Black said. “I told him you never know how these games are going to play out and in these first six games there wasn’t a spot for a long man.”

Marquez is the Rockies fourth rated prospect by MLB.com and was acquired in the Corey Dickerson trade that also brought in Jake McGee.

The Rockies now are carrying three lefties in their bullpen with Rusin, Mike Dunn and McGee.

“It’s a luxury if they’re good, and our guys have been good. It gives you options,” Black said of the lefties in his pen.

Rusin has pitched in the big leagues across five seasons, the last two of which have been with Colorado. In 324.2 innings of work he has a 4.80 ERA.

“You got to remember this was not an arm issue this was an oblique,” Black said. “Once he proved he was past the oblique we felt good about his arm. The last week to 10 days in Arizona he threw great and he did in Triple-A too. We wanted to get an experienced big league pitcher up here, he’s able to compliment our bullpen and do a couple of different things.”