How German Marquez’ “little whip” has made him into a stud

DENVER – Well before the season even began, the 2017 version of the Colorado Rockies were defined by their remarkably young, yet clearly talented, starting pitching rotation.

From the offseason when the possibility of acquiring a veteran for the staff was a major talking point among fans and the media, to the first day of spring training — and then the regular season — to the moment you are reading this, questions have been raised about how far Colorado can go considering their entire staff (currently) is 25-years-old or younger.

The second-youngest member of the group, 22-year-old German Marquez, began the season in the bullpen and at times it has looked like the numbers game might force him back into that role once more, but with the way he has pitched lately, that shouldn’t happen anytime soon. Over his last four games, Marquez has thrown 26.1 innings and given up eight earned runs. Most impressively, he has routinely pitched into the sixth and seventh inning all season, especially at home. He has gone at least six innings in six of his eight starts at Coors Field including each of his last four.

“We’re seeing it with German, he’s just steady,” says manager Bud Black. “The trick is to keep it going but he’s done a really nice job. I sense that he’s feeling confident, he’s showing great poise. The command of the breaking ball, the secondary pitches, is coming into play. He’s doing his part.”

While his mix of pitches and a fastball that can touch 99 mph would be devastating out of the bullpen, and the Rockies have some decisions to make when Tyler Chatwood and Chad Bettis return to the active roster soon. What Marquez has accomplished, at this age and in this environment, is unprecedented and borderline miraculous.

As long as he is pitching anywhere near this level, he must remain in the rotation.

“I feel really good getting the win,” Marquez said through translation after his most recent victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates, a seven-inning, two run performance. “My command was there, felt really good. My second pitch (curveball) was there and I was getting a lot of strikeouts with it. I was out there with my confidence ready to execute.”

We asked catcher Tony Wolters about that curveball:

“He spins the crap out of it,” he said. “It’s really late. It comes out of his hand straight and it has a lot of depth to it too. It’s very whippy, it’s a special pitch, it’s a natural pitch for him.”

Wolters couldn’t have been happier with the way Marquez is going right now.

“He’s doing a great job. He’s keeping it simple. He’s shaking me on good pitches. I’m really liking his shakes. He had four pitches today (Saturday.)”

“If he can keep up with that, he’s gonna be a consistent pitcher. He’s gonna be a workhorse and he’s gonna come out and eat innings and get outs all the time. He’s an incredible athlete, a lengthy dude. I think he’s really understanding controlling his body.”

Wolters says he knew early on it would be a good game for the rookie pitcher, and in describing precisely why, may have given the young Marquez a new nickname.

“When I started catching the bullpen I was like ‘he’s locked in’ he was feeling out front with everything. I think his key is not pulling off to first, staying through his target, staying smooth with it and being out front, being like a little whip. When his arm is a whip, his fastball looks like it’s 100 mph.”

The Little Whip. Pequeno Latigo.