Scottsdale, Ariz. -- A couple days ago, we posted video of Colorado Rockies starter Jordan Lyles throwing in an intrasquad scrimmage at the team's Arizona practice facility. In that scrimmage, Lyles went opposite Shane Carle (video, above). Carle, like Lyles, didn't fare too well in the scrimmage and was tagged pretty solidly throughout his first three innings of work, which we have for you here.
Carle, at just 24 years old, is an interesting quasi-prospect who could impact the Rockies a little bit this summer if the club's pitching depth really gets tested. As it stands now, he's probably slated for a ticket to Triple-A Albuquerque, after going 14-7 with a 3.68 ERA in 26 starts for Double-A New Britain last summer, his first in the Rockies' organization. (You'll remember he was traded to Colorado from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for reliever Rob Scahill last winter.)
This was my first time seeing Carle pitch in person. He has a pretty conventional, if calm delivery, and doesn't inspire much deception; on the flip side, of course, he's not showing greater-than-average risk for injury or breakdown, either. I didn't have a radar gun on him at the scrimmage, but judging by hitters' reactions, he's not relying on the velocity of hurler like Jon Gray or Jeff Hoffman.
Carle throws a fastball (which he can also run arm-side as a two-seamer), a change-up, cutter/slider (the depth/break varied), and a curve ball. With those varied pitch offerings, he obviously profiles in what he's done his whole career as a starter, but at higher levels he's likely a back-end rotation contributor rather than anything near the middle or frontline of the five.
I wouldn't be surprised if we saw him in the big leagues briefly this summer; it'll depend obviously on how well he throws in Albuquerque, and the health issues the Rockies do or don't face with their own starting rotation. That being said, he's still just 24 years old and he isn't far away from being big league ready. Albuquerque is a far different monster for pitchers than was Carle's time in the Eastern League, of course, but he's going to get a long look there, and in all likelihood, a long evaluation by the Rockies' front office.
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