DNVR Exclusive: Lucas Gilbreath excels in a new role, new level to help solidify Rockies bullpen

When the next window of contention is discussed regarding the Colorado Rockies, a look towards a cadre of minor league prospects often becomes the source of inspiration and hope.

Many players from Class A or lower rookie-level leagues begin to come to mind such as first-round draft picks Zac Veen and Benny Montgomery, as well as international signings like Helcris Olivares, Ezequiel Tovar and Adael Amador. 

Though these players and the incoming potential of the parent club seem to be a few years away from making a difference in the only standings that count, one member of the 2021 Rockies has contributed ahead of schedule.

Born in Westminster (CO) less than a year after the first game at Coors Field, Lucas Gilbreath is proudly a product of his environment. As only the sixth player born in Colorado and third to make his debut with the Rockies, he represents the best of the state’s untapped natural resource: pitchers.

Speaking after a game that pitted Chatfield High School’s Kevin Gausman and Thomas Jefferson High School’s Kyle Freeland, manager Bud Black gave praise to the state of Colorado, which has produced 12 big leaguers in 2021 including 2021 All-Stars Mark Melancon of Golden High School and Taylor Rogers of Chatfield.

“It’s great to see Colorado pitchers in the big leagues. Today, facing off against each other, it speaks volumes to amateur baseball here in Denver and the Colorado area, that there’s great programs, great facilities, to be able to produce major league players, and hopefully in the future those programs, those facilities those coaches, those teachers continue to grow major leaguers out of the state of Colorado.”

Though the Rockies would lose that matchup against the Giants on September 6, they were able to highlight Legacy High School’s Gilbreath in a scoreless ninth-inning appearance that lowered his earned run average to 4.22 on the season.

Following a rough outing on July 7, he’s been even better than the yearlong mark. Since that game in Arizona, he’s had a 0.45 ERA and the highest fWAR (0.5) among all relievers with the club. He even recorded his first career save against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on July 23.

More recently, he has been used late in games and in high-leverage situations with runners on base, such as the game on Friday night against the Nationals. With two runners aboard and setup man Jhoulys Chacin struggling to hold the score at 7-7, Black looked toward Gilbreath to face National League MVP candidate Juan Soto. Despite walking the young superstar – if you can’t stop him, you can still contain him – and inducing a force out that gave Washington the lead, Gilbreath did well to limit the damage. (Colorado pulled ahead in the 9th and he earned his second win of the season.)

“There’s still some room to grow there and improve. But right now he’s definitely holding his own result and being an integral part of our pen,” Black said of the southpaw.

The importance of Gilbreath this season could be impactful for the franchise going forward. Considering the club spent $106 million in free agency on the bullpen during the 2017-18 offseason and did not have a lefty reliever for the majority of the 2020 season, the homegrown kid could pay dividends by the time the next Rockies team reaches the postseason.

Since welcoming the entire baseball-loving world in Denver this summer for the All-Star Game, the gentlemen who post up behind the Bridich Barrier in right-center have been markedly better in virtually every category.

Strikeouts are up and walks are down for the bullpen as a whole. Home runs have decreased, as have homers per fly ball. Ground ball percentage has dipped by less than a point, but more runners are being stranded when the fresh blood enters the game. The 28th-best bullpen in the first half has become the 14th-best since July 16. 

When asking veteran Daniel Bard – perhaps the only true veteran amongst that group – the first name mentioned regarding the transformation is Gilbreath.

“I think Gilly really stands out. He’s been unbelievable these past eight weeks or so,” offered the 36-year old reliever. “He looked a little bit scared his first month or so on the mound, nervous. You don’t see any of that anymore.”

The lights are brightest on the biggest stage. And when one has perpetually performed off-off Broadway, or in this case the relative obscurity of the California League, the leap to the Big Show can be impossibly large.

“You’ve got to remember two years ago he was in Class A as a starting pitcher in Lancaster. And 2020 was a lost year for so many players. Lucas was one of those who fell into that category. He went to the instructional league. There was enough positive momentum for him. Moving forward, the shift to the bullpen was a good move by our player development staff,” praised Black.

Gilbreath’s success is a direct correlation to support staff that surrounds him and the trust he holds with those members who possess a lifetime of experience and can recount countless success stories (and unmitigated failures) witnessed along the way. Add a willingness to examine any and everything about the game to any and everyone who’ll listen – though it’s usually Bard and bullpen coach Darryl Scott – and the 25-year-old has brought it all to fruition in 2021.

“He’s always asking me questions, asking other guys questions, picking Darryl’s brain down in the bullpen. He really wants to get better, and now we’re seeing the fruits of that.”

Between Gilbreath (3.63 ERA) and Rule 5 pick Jordan Sheffield (2.70 ERA), not to mention trade acquisition Robert Stephenson (3.57 ERA) and Tyler Kinley (1.45 ERA since Aug 7), Colorado has some promising bullpen pieces for the next few seasons to come.