Rockies option David Hale to Triple-A, reassign 5 others to minor league camp

The Colorado Rockies on Friday announced a third round of roster cuts, sending five players down to minor league camp and optioning right-handed pitcher David Hale to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Hale made 17 appearances last season, including 12 starts. On his way to a 5-5 record, he recorded a 6.09 ERA in 78.1 innings pitched.

Among the other cuts was Kyle Parker, who played in 48 games for the big league team last season and hit .179. Parker was outrighted off the 40-man roster this past winter.

Nelson Gonzalez, Brock Huntzinger, Ryan Casteel, and Michael Tauchman were also assigned to minor league camp.

Huntzinger, who was the 2007 third-round pick of the Boston Red Sox, spent last year in the Oakland A's organization, playing for Triple-A Nashville. Nelson Gonzalez also spent 2015 in Triple-A, while Tauchman had a solid year for Double-A New Britain.

Following today's cuts, the Rockies have 40 players, seven of whom are non-roster invitees, in major league camp. There will be a final round of cuts in the coming days.