Colorado Rockies prospect Kyle Freeland adds to repertoire, closes in on 2015 debut

Kyle Freeland already has an arsenal that includes a fastball, a curveball, and a slider. Now, Baseball America's No. 3 prospect in the Colorado Rockies organization is working on a changeup.

"Coming in [to spring training], my main focus was changeup," Freeland said. "So we've been working on that. Definitely focusing on my bullpen so far. Going through that progression, I've made a lot of strides since I've been working on it."

Freeland said that the Rockies are focusing on having him develop his changeup, and not really worrying about how his pitches will work at high-altitude parks such as Coors Field.

"[The Rockies] haven't really tweaked anything with any of my other pitches," Freeland said. "Maybe a little bit with the curveball, the grip. Their main focus is getting that changeup developed that way I can have that fourth grip in my arsenal."

Though Freeland is in extended spring training right now, he said that he doesn't know where he will start this season.

"I'm hoping Double-A, but Modesto [would] be great," Freeland said. "Lot of guys I know will be there. But wherever I'm sent, I'll be happy and I'm going to work hard there."

First, he'll have to work through shoulder fatigue that prevented him from being sent out with an affiliate. The good news is that the Denver native is "well on his way" to returning despite the setback, Rockies player development director Zach Wilson told MLB.com's Thomas Harding. Freeland is still behind but could make his 2015 debut within the next couple of weeks.