Two weeks ago, I made the case for Mickey Moniak to be an All-Star in 2026. The Rockies will likely only get one representative this year — especially with their May regression — but if Moniak isn’t chosen, there might be another candidate: Antonio Senzatela.
Antonio Senzatela’s 2026 renaissance has been a thing of beauty to watch.
After a 2025 season that saw him reassigned to the bullpen and ranking 41st in our Ranking the Rockies series (out of 57 total players), Senzatela currently leads not just
the Rockies pitching staff in bWAR (1.8) but the entire team. (Hunter Goodman is second with 1.4 bWAR.)
At the end of 2025, it was unclear if Senzatela would even make the 2026 team. Now, he is one of their most viable trade candidates. And something that would add to that trade portfolio, or just be a cherry on top of his contract year, would be making his first-ever All-Star appearance.
Entering Sunday, Senzatela ranks among Rockies bullpen leaders in nearly every category.
Note: These stats include pitchers who have pitched 20 or more innings, and do not include Tanner Gordon or Chase Dollander.
But he also ranks among league leaders with 20+ innings in numerous categories, as well:
Senzatela ranks among league leaders like Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon (SDP); Robert Suarez and Dylan Lee (ATL); Trevor Megill and Aaron Ashby (MIL); Gregory Soto (PIT); and Will Klein (LAD).
Among that group, they have seven All-Star appearances — two have multiple appearances (Suarez, Soto); two have one (Miller, Megill); and three would also be first-time All-Stars (Lee, Ashby, Klein). Not a bad group to be part of!
The last time the Rockies sent a pitcher to the Midsummer Classic was Germán Márquez in 2021, but the last time they sent a relief pitcher was Greg Holland in 2017. It’s been a while, and Senzatela seems best poised to break that streak with the season he’s been having.
That all said, Senzatela will face a much stiffer competition on the pitching side than those face on the position-player side. Normally, the All-Star pitching staff is filled with starters who each pitch one inning and then some closers such as Edwin Díaz or Mason Miller. The 2025 National League pitching staff featured 12 starting pitchers and six relievers, while the 2025 American League pitching staff had 12 starters and four relievers.
Senzatela has earned serious consideration for the All-Star Team.
But even if Senzatela isn’t selected to the 2026 All-Star Game, his career rejuvenation has been an absolute joy to watch and a bright spot in this rebuilding Rockies season.
On the Farm
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 8, El Paso Chihuahuas 7
It looked precarious for a minute, but the Albuquerque Isotopes managed to walk off the El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres) off a Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) solo homer. The Chihuahuas scored first, going up 4-0 after six innings, but then the Topes stormed back with a Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP) sac fly in the sixth to score Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP), and then a five-run seventh that ended with a Veen homer to put them up 6-4. Carrigg walked with the bases loaded to score Jose Cordova in the eighth, but then the Chihuahuas scored three runs on a Carlos Rodríguez triple and a two run homer by Will Wagner off Jeff Criswell. But Condon was the hero in the ninth— belting a first-pitch no-doubt home run to center field to walk it off.
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats 9, Altoona Curve 0
It was a pitchers’ duel for most of the game, but the Yard Goats broke through in the sixth against the Curve (Pirates) and never looked back. The first run of the game was scored by Dyan Jorge on a balk. A wild pitch by Alessandro Ercolani scored Andy Perez, and then Connor Capel stole home to put the Goats up 3-0. In the seventh, Bryant Betancourt homered, and Perez singled to score GJ Hill to tack on two more runs. And then in the eighth, Betancourt hit a sac fly to score Capel; Jimmy Obertop grounded out to score Benny Montgomery; and Hill smacked a two-run homer to seal the blowout. Eiberson Castellano and Stu Flesland III combined for nine shutout innings. Castellano allowed three hits, three alks and struck out seven in six innings. Flesland also allowed three hits, but did not allow a walk and struck out four in three innings.
High-A: Tri-City Dust Devils 4, Spokane Indians 2
It was a low scoring affair in Pasco, WA between the Indians and the Dust Devils (Angels). Roynier Hernandez doubled to score Tommy Hopfe in the first, but then the Indians gave up four runs in the third and fourth to go down 4-1. Robert Calaz took one for the team and scores Hopfe after being hit by a pitch in the fifth, but that was the end of the scoring. The Indians mustered just four hits — two from Hopfe, one from Roynier Hernandez, and one from Max Belyeu (No. 15 PuRP). Hopfe also recorded two walks, and was the only Indian to not strike out once. On the pitching side, Jordy Vargas (No. 21 PuRP) struggled with command. He threw only four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Low-A: San Jose Giants 8, Fresno Grizzlies 7
The Grizzlies nearly completed the comeback after going down 5-1 through the first six innings, but it wasn’t quite enough. The Giants (Giants) scored in the first, fourth (2), fifth and sixth. Roldy Brito (No. X PuRP) singled to score Jesus Freitez in the third, and he hit a ground-rule double to kick things off in the four-run seventh. Derek Bernard tripled to score Brito, and Tanner Thach singled to score Bernard to tie the game. San Jose tacked on another run in the eighth and two in the ninth, and the Grizzlies also scored two in the ninth — a Thach single to score Brito and Clayton Gray — but it wasn’t quite enough to seal the victory. Seth Clausen was the only Grizzlies’ pitcher to record a scoreless outing, but he only pitched 0.2 innings and still allowed a hit and a walk.
Doyle using injury break as chance to reset | MLB.com
Brenton Doyle went on the injured list on May 21 after making an awkward diving catch and injuring his left oblique. Thomas Harding caught up with Doyle about his recovery — both physical and mental.
Strong ‘mental game’ key to Feltner’s efficient return to mound | MLB.com
Ryan Feltner returned to the mound on Saturday night and pitched a gem. After the game, Feltner discussed his own recovery and the importance of his strong mental game.
TJ Rumfield has taken the Rockies, and the league, by storm. Entering Saturday, he was leading the team in several statistical categories and is making a case for NL Rookie of the Year. Patrick Saunders illustrates how Rumfield got to this place, and how important he’s been to a rebuilding Rockies team.
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