Diamond Details: The return of an all-time Colorado Rockies great

Welcome to a new series here at DNVR that we are calling Diamond Details.

About once a week, more often if it is called for, we will be assembling some fun facts and stats about your Colorado Rockies to make sure that not even the finest of details escape your attention.

Feel free to comment below with any bits of information you think should have been included or should be in a future edition.

For this one, we focus on the first handful of Spring Training games.

Ubaldo Back

• Ubaldo Jiménez made his first Spring start, his first appearance in
  a Rockies uniform since July 30, 2011 … allowed one run on two
  hits over two innings of work.
• Jimenez ranks second in franchise history in strikeouts (773) and fifth in wins, games started (137) and innings pitched.
• On April 17, 2010, Jimenez became the only pitcher in Rockies history to throw a no-hitter, blanking the Atlanta Braves in their ballpark but issuing six walks in the process.
• He is the only Rockie to ever start the All-Star Game on the mound.
• He made eight starts for Licey in the Dominican Winter League this offseason, going 1-4 with a 3.03 ERA (29.2 IP, 10 ER), 13 walks and 27 strikeouts.
• He last appeared in MLB with the Baltimore Orioles in 2017, going 6-11 with a 6.81 ERA (142.2 IP, 108 ER) in 31 appearances (25 starts).
• Bud Black has stated that Jimenez is on the “starter track” so until further notice he is not aiming for a bullpen spot.
• Ubaldo Jimenez turned 36-years-old last month

Bret Be Boppin’

• Utilityman Brett Boswell is tied for the Cactus League lead with a .667 batting average
  (6-for-9). He ranks second in RBI (6) and total bases (10).
• He hit .219 with 15 home runs for the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats last season. That was good enough for a 101 wRC+ in the offensively-suppressed Eastern League.
• You can read more about Boswell’s journey and how seriously he should be taken as a prospect here.

Newly Relieved

• Darryl Scott enters his first season as the Rockies’ bullpen coach after being named to the position on Nov. 1 of last year, having spent the previous three seasons as a Minor League pitching coordinator. Before that, Scott served as the pitching coach for four different Rockies affiliations across eight seasons: Triple-A Albuquerque (2015-16), Double-A Tulsa (2013-14), High-A Modesto (2011-12) and Short-Season Tri-City (2009-10).
• Newcomer Tyler Kinley converted his first save of Spring, retiring the side in order in the ninth inning with two strikeouts against the Oakland A’s on Thursday.
• Last Friday, the Rockies signed righty reliever Daniel Bard to a Minor League contract with an invite to Major League Spring Training. He will wear No. 52. He last appeared in the Major Leagues in 2013 with the Boston Red Sox, going 10-19 with a 3.67 ERA. Overall, he pitched 257.1 innings, gave up 105 earned run and 121 walks while collecting 252 strikeouts across parts of five seasons with the Red Sox.
• Lefty James Pazos has picked up 2.2 innings out of the ‘pen so far and hasn’t given up a hit or a run, getting off on the right foot in his quest for a roster spot on Opening Day.
• Tim Collins has similarly impressed with a pair of perfect innings and a pair of punchouts.

Welcome to a New Age

• The Rockies have a total of 62 players in Major League Spring Training, including 22 non-roster invitees. Six players are joining the Rockies from different organizations: Daniel Bard, Tim Collins (Chicago-NL, Cincinnati), Elias Díaz (Pittsburgh), Mike Gerber (San Francisco), Chris Owings (Kansas City, Boston) and Eric Stamets (Cleveland).
• Tommy Doyle, Alexander Guillen, Ryan Rolison, Alan Trejo and Ryan Vilade are all
  attending their first Major League Spring Training.
• Rolison (2), Colton Welker (5) and Vilade (8) are all ranked on Baseball America’s 2020 Colorado Rockies Top-10 Prospects list.

Can You Hear Me Now?

• Jack Corrigan and new broadcast partner Mike Rice will have their next broadcast on February 29 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers on News Radio KOA 850 / 94.1 FM.

Are We There Yet?

• The Rockies will open the regular season March 26 with the first game of a four-game series against the San Diego Padres in California. First pitch is set for 2:10 PM Mountain Time. The Rockies home opener is Friday, April 5, against the Padres also at 2:10 p.m. Mountain Time. It will kick off a three-game series and a short five-game homestand.