Rockies Journal: Ryan Feltner, unleashing his “mental tiger,” could be Colorado’s best starter

DALLAS — The most intriguing player on the Rockies’ 2025 roster? I’ll take right-hander Ryan Feltner. I’m not alone.

During this week’s Winter Meetings, a National League manager told me that Feltner “has the stuff to be the top arm in that rotation.”

“He’s grown up a lot,” said the manager, who asked that I not use his name. “And he’s got the kind of fastball that gets on guys in a hurry, kind of sneaks up on them. If he can improve his secondary pitches and stay healthy, he’ll be a force.”

Feltner, 28, has endured a roller-coaster career, with more downs than ups. His 9-24 record, 5.24 career ERA and 1.46 WHIP over his first 61 starts (62 games) illustrate that. He also came down with a case of Rocky Mountain fever, pitching to a 6.01 ERA and 1.504 WHIP in 28 career starts (29 games) at Coors Field.

His career screeched to a half on May 13, 2023, at Coors. Philadelphia’s Nick Castellanos scorched a line drive toward the mound in the third inning. Feltner had just enough reaction time to avoid getting hit in the face, but the baseball struck Feltner in the back of his head. He suffered a concussion and fractured skull. Symptoms of dizziness lingered for about a month.

But he pitched again that season, and the Rockies were impressed by his tenacity and desire to get back on the mound.

Still, Feltner pitched poorly early in 2024. He sometimes tried to do too much. He didn’t seem to trust his stuff. Manager Bud Black didn’t think he was attacking hitters like he should.

That changed in the second half when he became Colorado’s best starter. Over his last 15 starts, he posted a 2.98 ERA, the first Rockies starter with a sub-3.00 ERA over a 15-start span since German Marquez did it during his 2021 All-Star season. Since 2014, only three other Rockies starters have put together a run that good — Jon Gray in 2017, Kyle Freeland in 2018, and Marquez in 2018 and ’21.

In September, Feltner returned from a strained right shoulder to go 2-0 with a 1.78 ERA over five starts, walking 10 and striking out 23.

“The mental tiger came out, right?” Black said. “You could tell he (was more) confident. A little bit of a mental tiger came out and that was really good to see. I was impressed.”

Feltner still must slay his Coors Field demons and bury them for good, but Black thinks he can. And will.

In the right-hander’s last three starts at Coors last season, he went 1-2 with a 1.45 ERA, 11 strikeouts, five walks and just one home run allowed.

Overall, Black sees a thrower who’s learning how to pitch.

“Late in the year, we didn’t see (his struggles),” Black said. “He got through innings. He got through innings when there was a crisis. He got through all lineups, all teams. Those were big hurdles that he cleared. (I’m) proud of him. So are the guys. His teammates were impressed.”

Rodgers vs. Estrada. Colorado’s decision to non-tender veteran second baseman Brendan Rodgers surprised several people, including Rodgers, I’ve been told.

Yes, it was a cost-cutting move, but only to a minor extent.

Entering his final year of arbitration, Rodger was projected to make $5.5 million-$6 million. His replacement at second, Thairo Estrada, who should finalize his contract within the next week after passing a physical, will earn $3.25 million with the Rockies in 2025 with a mutual option for 2026 that contains a $750,000 buyout, making it a $4 million guaranteed contract. If his option isn’t exercised, Estrada will still be arbitration-eligible for the final time in 2026.

But it wasn’t just the favorable contract terms that the Rockies liked. They like Estrada’s energy and his speed on the bases. They believe he can help spark an offense that needs a jumpstart.

As a bonus, Estrada has lit up Coors Field. In 24 career games in Denver, the former Giants infielder has a .348/.406/.565 slash line and his four homers are his most at any venue other than San Francisco’s Oracle Park. In 39 career games against the Rockies, Estrada has hit .345 with seven homers and 33 RBIs.

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