Antonio Senzatela took the mound for a big league game for the first time in 16 months, showing some good moments but also a bit of rust.
The 29-year-old Rockies pitcher gave up two runs and four hits in three-plus innings during Colorado’s 3-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.
“I’m super happy for myself,” Senzatela said. “I just want to say thank you to everybody who supported me during this long year, my teammates, my family, my trainers, my coaches. It didn’t start very well but it is what it is. I tried to keep the game there for the team and at the end of the day we got a win and that’s all that matters.”
Senzatela’s 2022 season ended early when he tore his left ACL on August 18 while covering first base on an infield grounder in a game against St. Louis.
He came back last year and pitched on May 5 and 10, but left his second start with a strained right elbow.
He was later diagnosed with a torn UCL and had Tommy John surgery on July 26.
Against the Diamondbacks, Senzatela struck out two batters and walked two. He threw 42 of his 67 pitches for strikes, averaged 95 mph with 39 fastballs, and also threw 15 sliders, eight changeups, and five curveballs.
Corbin Carroll tripled to start the game and Ketel Marte hit a home run to center field right after. Senzatela bounced back from the rough start by retiring five straight batters and nine of the next 11.
“He looked really good,” catcher Hunter Goodman said. “That first inning, he made a mistake but he came right back firing, wasn’t afraid to throw the fastball. By the second and third innings he was pounding the zone and hitting spots, throwing off-speed pitches for strikes. It was really good.”
