Rockies' Senzatela Shines in Extended Relief Outing

Veteran right-hander impresses with new pitch mix in loss to Marlins

Mar. 29, 2026 at 11:19pm

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Antonio Senzatela, a 10-year veteran with the Colorado Rockies, delivered an impressive 2 2/3 innings of relief in the team's season-opening series against the Miami Marlins. Despite the Rockies' 4-3 walk-off loss, Senzatela's performance with a revamped pitch mix, including a new sinker and a faster four-seam fastball, was a bright spot for the team's bullpen.

Why it matters

The Rockies have struggled with their starting pitching depth in recent years, and Senzatela's ability to provide extended relief outings could be a valuable asset for the team as they look to compete in the NL West. His improved pitch mix and velocity also suggest he may be able to reclaim a spot in the starting rotation if needed.

The details

Senzatela struck out three batters and allowed just one hit in his 2 2/3 innings of work. He relied heavily on his new sinker, throwing it on 18 of his 43 pitches, and his four-seam fastball averaged 97.4 mph, faster than his 95 mph average last season. Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer praised Senzatela's performance, saying he was "extremely happy" with the veteran's first outing of the year.

  • Senzatela was removed from the Rockies' starting rotation late in the 2025 season.
  • Senzatela arrived at spring training in 2026 with a more diverse pitch mix, including a new sinker.
  • Senzatela contributed to Venezuela's World Baseball Classic title run before joining the Rockies for the start of the 2026 season.

The players

Antonio Senzatela

A 31-year-old right-handed pitcher who is in his 10th season with the Colorado Rockies. He has dealt with injuries in recent years, including a left ACL injury in 2022 and Tommy John surgery in 2023, but arrived at spring training in 2026 with a revamped pitch mix.

Warren Schaeffer

The manager of the Colorado Rockies, who praised Senzatela's performance and expressed the team's need for depth from their starting pitching.

Jose Quintana

The Rockies' starting pitcher on Sunday, who felt his stuff improved after the first two innings but was unable to go deeper due to a high pitch count.

Owen Caissie

The Marlins' outfielder who hit a two-run, walk-off home run off Victor Vodnik in the ninth inning to give Miami a 4-3 victory over the Rockies.

Jimmy Herget

A Rockies relief pitcher who struck out two batters to end the fifth inning.

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What they’re saying

“I just like being outside with a uniform on.”

— Antonio Senzatela

“Jimmy did a great job and 'Senza' was hot -- coming with really big gas.”

— Jose Quintana, Rockies starting pitcher

“That was fantastic to have him show up his first outing of the year and give us almost three innings, pitching like that. I'm extremely happy for him. But we're definitely going to need depth into the game out of our starting pitching.”

— Warren Schaeffer, Rockies manager

What’s next

The Rockies will look to Senzatela to continue providing quality relief outings as they aim to get more length from their starting pitchers in the coming games.

The takeaway

Senzatela's strong performance in relief, with a revamped pitch mix and increased velocity, demonstrates the Rockies' depth in the bullpen and the potential for him to reclaim a spot in the starting rotation if needed. The team's overall bullpen efforts have kept them competitive in a tough season-opening series against the Marlins.