Boone Logan could help out the Rockies bullpen. Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Left-hander Boone Logan threw one scoreless inning in an intrasquad game March 3 and then made his Cactus League debut four days later, allowing one run in one inning. Those were good signs as he attempts to rebound from a hugely disappointing 2014 season and prove he can give the Rockies a return on his three-year, $16.5 million contract — the most the most the Rockies have ever spent on a free agent reliever.
“If he’s healthy and right,” manager Walt Weiss said, “it changes the complexion of our bullpen.”
On Sept. 11, Logan had a bone spur shaved in his left elbow. He still feels some stiffness in the elbow but to where he couldn’t take the mound in an intrasquad game.
“Last year was a pain, no doubt,” Logan, 30, said, “but I’m doing much better. I’m still working out the kinks and getting back my rhythm, but there is no pain.”
Following a season with the Yankees, Logan underwent surgery on his left elbow in October 2013 to have bone chips removed and a bone spur shaved. The Rockies went ahead and signed him to that historic contract. Logan opened the 2014 season on the disabled list with elbow soreness. It was the first of four trips to the disabled list during the season, three with elbow trouble and once with a digestive ailment. Logan pitched a mere 25 innings in 35 games — the last on Aug. 24 — while going 2-3 with a 6.84 ERA. He was scored upon in nine of his final 19 appearances.
A healthy Logan could be a huge help to the Rockies.
Manager Walt Weiss said, “He’s a guy who can pitch late in games and match up (against left-handed hitters). But when his two-seamer’s good, he’s more than just a matchup guy. He can get righties out because of that two-seamer.”
Early in the season, the Rockies got a glimpse of the Logan they expected to see. He made his Rockies debut April 9 and had a 2.45 ERA on May 7 after 13 games, 11 of them scoreless, with four walks and 17 strikeouts in 11 innings.
“Early on in the season, we saw him get some funny swings from some very good right-handed hitters,” Weiss said. “His two-seamer was just bottoming out. It was a pretty firm pitch. Plus, he has a slider that he can throw at any time. He’s going to really help us.”
