Welcome to the 2025 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we take a look back at every player to log playing time for the Rockies in 2025. The purpose of this list is to provide a snapshot of the player in context.
The “Ranking” is an organizing principle that’s drawn from Baseball Reference’s WAR (rWAR). It’s not something the staff debated. We’ll begin with the player with the lowest rWAR and end up with the player with the highest.
No. 41, Antonio Senzatela (-0.5 rWAR)
Antonio Senzatela had a strange 2025.
The 30-year-old right-hander played multiple different roles before finally settling permanently into the bullpen in late August. Senzatela started 23 games for the Rockies, but pitched in 30.
In 108 innings as a starter, Senzatela posted a 7.48 ERA and 1.91 WHIP; in 22 as a reliever, he posted a 2.86 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.
“It’s been rough,” Senzatela said in mid-September of his season.
“It was a really rough middle – a couple good games, a couple really bad ones. But I feel good, I feel healthy, and that’s all that matters right now to me. I’m going to finish strong and just get ready for next year.”
Senzatela got off to a decent start, allowing just one unearned run in his first two starts on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies.
Unfortunately, though, the wheels came off in his first start at Coors Field on April 9th against the Milwaukee Brewers, and they were never fully replaced. In his remaining 21 starts, Senzatela allowed two or fewer runs just three times. And the only time he allowed zero runs (earned or unearned) between April 9th and August 22nd was on June 6th against the New York Mets at Coors Field.
The interesting thing about that outing, though, is that Senzatela did not start that game.
Instead, rookie left-hander Ryan Rolison pitched the opening inning, and Senzatela then pitched the next four. He allowed zero runs on three hits, but also walked four and only struck out two. In his following outing against the San Francisco Giants, Senzatela returned to the starter role and allowed seven runs on nine hits with one home run, three walks and two strikeouts over four innings.
It seemed like, perhaps, an opener would be a great way to utilize Senzatela, as he allowed 4+ runs in every outing except one between April 14-May 31.
However, Senzatela continued to start games until August 29th, when he pitched three innings of relief after Germán Márquez got roughed up by the Chicago Cubs in the first 4 ⅓ innings. In that game, Senzatela allowed two runs on three hits (both home runs) with one walk and two strikeouts.
“Needless to say, ‘Senza’ has not had the season he wanted to have on a consistent basis,” then-general manager Bill Schmidt told the Denver Post of the move. “The move to the bullpen needed to be made. I’m not going to use the term ‘reinvent himself,’ but he’s got to make some adjustments going forward.
“The bottom line is that he was not helping the club. He was hurting the club, especially early in the game.”
Senzatela continued to work as a reliever for the rest of the season, and was effective in that role.
His worst relief outing came on September 13th in San Diego, where he allowed four runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeouts in three innings. But otherwise, he allowed just one other earned run – a solo homer by Giants’ infielder Casey Schmitt – in September.
At the end of the season, the Rockies made the decision to keep Senzatela in the bullpen for the 2026 season.
“I just want to be prepared for anything,” Senzatela told Thomas Harding of the decision. “I just need to prepare myself to be better. I just want to be there to get outs for my team, and get my arm right. My arm feels good now. During the season, it felt good in spots. Recovery from TJ is different. But I’m glad I’m healthy now.”
Senzatela is entering the final guaranteed year of a five-year, $50.5 million contract. There is a club option for 2027, and he is scheduled to hit free agency in 2028. With all that in mind, his fate after 2026 is murky at best.
