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Connor Kaiser

Rockies Outright Connor Kaiser

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Rockies infielder Connor Kaiser went unclaimed on outright waivers following this weekend’s DFA, tweets Thomas Harding of MLB.com. He’s been assigned to Triple-A Albuquerque and will remain with the organization while no longer occupying a spot on the 40-man roster.

Kaiser, 26, was added to the roster for his big league debut a few days ago when Ezequiel Tovar was placed on the paternity list. He appeared in three games during Tovar’s absence but went hitless in four trips to the plate during that span. Colorado designated Kaiser for assignment when Tovar returned from paternity and when a 40-man roster spot was needed to select the contract of veteran reliever Fernando Abad.

A third-round pick by the Pirates back in 2018, Kaiser has since bounced to the Padres and Rockies organizations in minor league free agency. He joined the Rox over the winter and turned in a solid .263/.357/.485 batting line with eight homers, 13 doubles, three triples and seven steals in 224 plate appearances at the Triple-A level while seeing time at shortstop and third base.

The Rox now have Tovar back in the fold and Ryan McMahon slotted in at the hot corner. Elehuris Montero is also an option at third or first, while Alan Trejo and Harold Castro can play around the diamond. Coco Montes gives the Rox another infield option on the 40-man roster down in Triple-A. Kaiser will remain on hand as a depth option, perhaps getting another call and another chance at logging his first big league hit if the Rockies incur an injury among that group of infield options.

Rockies Select Fernando Abad

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The Rockies announced today that they’ve selected the contract of left-hander Fernando Abad. In corresponding moves, right-hander Peter Lambert was optioned to Triple-A while shortstop Connor Kaiser was designated for assignment.

Abad, 37, made his MLB debut with the Astros back in 2010. The veteran journeyman pitched also pitched for the Nationals, A’s, Twins, Red Sox, Giants, and Orioles throughout his career before landing in Colorado on a minor league deal back in January. Abad was selected to the roster back in May and made three appearances with the Rockies before being designated for assignment and re-signing with the club on a new minor league deal shortly thereafter.

The veteran sports a career 3.82 ERA and 4.31 FIP in 351 innings of work, though most of that success came from 2010-17. Since the end of the 2017 season, Abad has recorded just 33 1/3 innings of work at the big league level with a 5.40 ERA and 5.09 FIP. The lefty has posted impressive numbers with Colorado’s Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque, however, with a sterling 1.40 ERA in 25 2/3 innings of work. Those run prevention numbers are especially impressive considering the heightened offensive environment in Triple-A’s Pacific Coast League.

Going forward, Abad will look to re-establish himself at the big league level with the Rockies as part of a bullpen that currently contains Daniel Bard, Brad Hand, Justin Lawrence, and Pierce Johnson as late-inning options. Abad joins Hand and Ty Blach as left-handed options in the bullpen for manager Bud Black.

Making room for Abad on the 40-man roster is shortstop Connor Kaiser, who appeared in just three games with the Rockies when selected to the roster back in June while Ezequiel Tovar was on the paternity list. A third round pick by the Pirates in the 2018 draft, Kaiser posted a roughly league average slash line of .263/.357/.485 in 224 plate appearances at the Triple-A level with the Rockies this season. Still just 26 years old, Kaiser seems likely to be placed on waivers, where any club will have the opportunity to claim him. Should he go unclaimed, the Rockies will have the option to assign Kaiser outright to the minors where he would continue to serve as infield depth for the club.

Clearing space on the active roster, on the other hand, is Lambert. The 26-year-old righty was a second round pick by the Brewers in the 2015 drat and once seemed like a promising prospect, but injuries and ineffectiveness have dogged him in recent years. In 2023, Lambert has posted a 6.29 ERA and a 5.99 FIP in 34 1/3 innings of work at the big league level. As noted by MLB.com’s Thomas Harding, Lambert is expected to pitch out of the rotation in Triple-A, providing the club with additional starting depth going forward.

Rockies Select Connor Kaiser

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The Rockies announced that they have selected the contract of infielder Connor Kaiser. He will take the active roster spot of infielder Ezequiel Tovar, who has been placed on the paternity list. The club already had a vacancy on their 40-man roster.

Kaiser, 26, was a third-round selection of the Pirates in the 2018 draft. He rose through the ranks with that club but topped out at Triple-A and was released in 2022. He then signed a minor league deal with the Padres but qualified for minor league free agency at the end of last season.

The Rockies scooped him up on a minor league deal this winter and he’s been playing for their Triple-A club this year. He’s made 205 trips to the plate in 50 games, walking in 13.2% of those. His .278/.376/.506 batting line amounts to a wRC+ of 108, indicating he’s been 8% above league average. He’s also stolen six bases on the year while playing primarily at shortstop but also a bit at third base. He hasn’t played second base this year but has in the past.

He will provide the Rockies with a versatile bench piece, at least as long as Tovar is gone. Stints on the paternity list can be between one and three days, meaning it’s possible this will be a cup of coffee for Kaiser, who has a full slate of options.

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