It’s safe to say the last three years have not gone according to plan for longtime Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Germán Márquez.
From his first full season in 2017—when he finished fifth in National League Rookie of the Year voting—through 2021, Márquez was one of the most reliable and successful arms in the Rockies rotation.
Worth a combined 14.3 pitching wins above replacement per Baseball Reference over those five seasons, he is close to an ace as a Rockies pitcher could be. Márquez made 135
starts with a 4.25 ERA and 3.84 FIP while striking out 801 batters. He had a sub-4.50 ERA in four of those seasons and a sub-4.00 FIP in three of them while being worth a combined 116 ERA+ over 793 2/3 innings and even won a Silver Slugger award back when pitchers were allowed to hit.
Márquez signed his first contract extension before the 2019 season at five years for $43 million and was the first of the four members of the Rockies’ playoff rotations to be locked down long-term.
His heyday culminated in a 2021 campaign where he dominated the San Diego Padres while having terrible diarrhea, came within three outs of no-hitting the Pittsburgh Pirates at Coors Field, and was named the Rockies’ sole representative to that season’s midsummer classic.
Márquez took the mound in the fourth inning of the All-Star Game—hosted at his own home ballpark in Denver—and set down the side in order with one strikeout in front of a roaring crowd. It was a wonderful and well-deserved moment for someone who had become one of the franchise’s best pitchers in then nearly 30-years of history.
However, 2022 was a down year for Márquez. His 4.95 ERA over 31 starts was the highest in his career, and he suffered from decreased strikeouts. But he entered the 2023 season ready to rebound in the final year of his contract and, hopefully, earn a new one—either in Colorado or elsewhere.
Unfortunately, disaster struck shortly after the season started. Márquez left his fourth start in obvious discomfort. He would need Tommy John surgery.
The Rockies chose to do right by their former ace, signing him to a two-year, $20 million contract extension with multiple performance escalators. The contract would get Márquez through his surgery and rehab, allowing him to eventually return and showcase himself before becoming a free agent following the 2025 season.
“I have a brand new arm,” Marquez said prior to the 2024 season.. “I’m ready for 10 more years.”
Márquez ramped up his rehab efforts last June in preparation to return around the All-Star break. He then made his first start in over a year against the New York Mets, pitching four innings and finally earning the Rockies’ career strikeout record in the process.
He immediately had to be shelved again, though. A stress fracture in his elbow unrelated to his Tommy John surgery caused Márquez to miss the remainder of the 2024 season and would give him just one full season to try and prove he still had value.
When the Rockies got off to their historically awful start in 2025, Márquez struggled along with the rest of his team.
Through his first nine starts and 40 innings, Márquez held an 8.78 ERA with only 21 strikeouts. While his under-the-hood numbers like a 4.87 FIP would suggest a better pitcher was still in there, the former prize of the rotation looked visibly frustrated and lacking in confidence. He struggled with his command and admitted that he was rushing his delivery.
“Baseball is hard–and I’m putting too much pressure on myself to be good,” Márquez told MLB.com’s Thomas Harding in April. “I’ve been working a lot, but I haven’t gotten a result yet. It’s more mental. I’m trying to do too much. I’m trying to be perfect.”
However, at the end of May, things started clicking for Márquez. It coincided with the end of Bud Black’s tenure as the Rockies manager and a change in pitching philosophy brought about by interim manager Warren Schaeffer.
“Here’s where I point out that Warren Schaeffer has had an impact on what we’re seeing from the players,” explained Ryan Spilborghs on his show “Spilly on the Rox.” “They’re pitching a little bit more to their to more to their strengths versus just pitching with the old philosophy that we saw with Bud Black where they establish down and away and then mix and match. I think they’re starting to kind of get into the metrics of how their stuff plays.”
For Márquez this meant throwing his strong knuckle curveball more and spreading his four seam fastball throughout the zone. It also meant using his less effective pitches—the slider and changeup—less.
Márquez looked like his old self over his next 11 starts with a 3.55 ERA over 58 1/3 innings of work. With the trade deadline fast approaching and the Rockies preparing to be sellers, he was effectively pitching himself out of town.
Even Márquez knew that his days with the Rockies might be limited. Unfortunately, he developed right biceps tendinitis—a common affliction in pitchers recovering from Tommy John surgery—and was placed on the injured list. His trade value effectively disappeared overnight.
“I felt like if they wanted to trade me, it was at the right time — because they could get something in return,” Márquez said after the deadline.
Márquez returned from the injured list against the Chicago Cubs over the weekend, but his start went less than swimmingly. In 4 1/3 innings he got hit hard, giving up eight earned runs. He also walked three batters and failed to record a strikeout for the first time this season.
“I just thought he looked like he was just trying to get back into the swing of things, and not necessarily feeling his delivery very well,” Warren Schaeffer said after the game. “His offspeed wasn’t there and it was his first game off the IL. For me, nothing to worry about—just part of the moving forward process.”
For Márquez, the “moving forward process” involves a lot of questions about his future in baseball.
With just a month left in the regular season, Márquez is effectively auditioning for 2026 and his potential first foray into free agency.
“I’m going to do my job,” Márquez said. “They know what I have. Everybody knows what I have.”
It’s possible the Rockies would like to have Márquez back, especially with many questions surrounding next season’s less than cemented rotation. The now 30-year-old Márquez could be a valuable veteran mentor and reliable starter along with Kyle Freeland among much younger pitchers. However, when asked if he was willing to re-sign with the only big league team he’s ever known, Márquez answered honestly, “I don’t know.”
For now, the remainder of Márquez’ starts in 2025 will need to look much more like his 11-game stretch before his tendinitis. If he instead looks more like he did on Friday and at the beginning of the season, it will only do more to throw his future into question–both with the Rockies and elsewhere.
On the Farm
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 8, Sugar Land Space Cowboys 1
Veterans Owen Miller and Sam Hilliard combined to drive in five of the Isotopes’ eight runs, with Miller going 3-for-4 with a home run. Hilliard and Zac Veen both had two hits on the afternoon. Gabriel Hughes turned in another good start for the ‘Topes, pitching 5 2/3 innings while giving up just one earned run that came via a solo home run. He struck out six batters while walking two.
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats 7, Portland Sea Dogs 3
The Yard Goats snapped a three game losing streak for a much needed win to finish out their series against Portland. Charlie Condon went 2-for-4 with a triple while Julio Carreras went 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Connor Staine struck out three and gave up two earned runs in a five inning performance while Bryce McGowan and Victor Juarez each pitched two innings in relief.
High-A: Tri-City Dust Devils 5, Spokane Indians 2
The Indians capped off their final home series of the season with a a loss and are now on a three game losing streak with just six games left in their season. Ethan Hedges and Andy Perez both went 2-for-4 at the plate and Max Belyeu had an RBI, but the offense wasn’t able to mount a comeback after the Dust Devils turned in a four run fifth inning. That fifth inning was the final frame in Everett Catlett’s start, where he struck out five and walked one.
Low-A: Inland Empire 66ers 9, Fresno Grizzlies 2
The Grizzlies were only able to score two runs despite having nine hits, with just two of those hits going for extra bases. Left fielder Kevin Fitzer was the only batter with multiple hits and catcher Juan Castillo drove in both of the Grizzlies’ runs via a two RBI double in the seventh inning. The bulk of the 66ers’ runs came against starter Manuel Olivares, who lasted just 3 1/3 innings and gave up four earned runs on six hits and four walks.
Rockies’ youth movement still working through growing pains | MLB.com
Before their win on Sunday afternoon, the Rockies were on yet another four game losing streak. However, the team believes the experience is worth it for their increasingly young team. The Rockies are currently tied with the Washington Nationals for the youngest roster in the league.
“They’re having great opportunities for growth now,” said interim bench coach Clint Hurdle. “These reps the pitchers are getting, the reps in the field, the reps at the plate.
“We believe they’ll pay us dividends moving forward.”
Pitch mix helping No. 16 prospect Hughes come into his own | MLB.com
Rockies top pitching prospect Gabriel Hughes has had a long recovery from Tommy John surgery. However, through his first season with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes he’s learned to compliment his low velocity fastball with a better pitch mix. Ever the cerebral player, Hughes has cherished the opportunity to learn.
“I’m just getting a better idea for how to read swings, how to see how a hitter reacts to a certain pitch and then base the next pitch I throw off that, instead of just relying on a fastball by guys and trying to go slider or curveball in the dirt for a chase,” Hughes said. “I’ve become a much more complete pitcher instead of just a thrower.”
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