The Colorado Rockies pick things up from their 8-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday night with an afternoon game on Sunday. Long-time farmhand Alan Johnson will make his major league debut when he pitched the top of the first inning for the Colorado Rockies.
As a result of the double header on Thursday, the Rockies needed an extra pitcher, so the team moved Aaron Cook to the 60-day disabled list to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for Johnson. The right-handed pitcher has been with the Rockies since 2005, when he signed as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State.
At 27 years old, Johnson is not a prospect and he doesn't have the stuff to be more than fifth starter, if even that, but he's done his work over the last six seasons. He's advanced up the ladder each season, reaching Triple-A Colorado Springs in 2009. He spent 2010 there as well and returned to start 2011 there too. He will head back there after this spot start.
Will Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro make Johnson look foolish in his debut, as he did Felipe Paulino in Saturday night's game?