Tim Melville has thrown roughly 1,000 career minor league innings. He’s thrown 48 in the big leagues over four years—33 1/3 in Colorado—and he has now been released by the Rockies.
“Melville, whom the Rockies signed last May out of an independent league, said his winding baseball journey isn’t over yet.” Melville wore uniforms for the Rockies, Isotopes, and independent Long Island Ducks in 2019. He made seven starts with Colorado last year, the eighth most among Rockies starters, and posted a 4.86 big league ERA.
Melville’s full Baseball Reference history shows he’s persevered through numerous affiliate and independent teams since being drafted out of high school in 2008. He suffered a fractured rib in his final start on September 25, and did not pitch in the Cactus League this year because of it. He entered spring training as a non-roster invitee.
From November: 2019 Ranking the Rockies: Tim Melville was the feel-good story of a lost season | Purple Row
Melville began 2019 working at Little Miss BBQ in Phoenix. He and his girlfriend watched Opening Day at Chase Field from the stands. He would later pitch seven innings at Chase Field in his Rockies debut last August, holding the Diamondbacks to two hits over seven innings.
Rockies Release Tim Melville | MLB Trade Rumors
MLB Trade Rumors also released news on Melville, adding how the timing of his release is newsworthy. “Not long after Spring Training was shut down and baseball was put on an indefinite hiatus, it was reported that rosters would be locked.” They add it is “rather peculiar to see a player confirm a recent release” given those previous roster guidelines.
From March: The Rockies’ starters will be better this year | Purple Row
This writeup addresses some “organizational depth” among starting pitchers for the Rockies looking onward—including a wild card in Ubaldo Jiménez, a non-roster signee like Melville.
Colorado Rockies: The DH will give the young bats an opportunity | RoxPile
MLB’s return proposals have addressed a need for the universal designated hitter in 2020—something that would allow numerous lineup possibilities for the Rockies.
RoxPile notes how Charlie Blackmon could reason as the most probable DH candidate. This could give Raimel Tapia or Sam Hilliard a chance as an everyday outfielder, and even allow for Garrett Hampson to see additional action on the outfield grass. Using the DH on an infielder could open a position for Brendan Rodgers to see increased action in the field—or Rodgers in the DH spot himself could help ease his way back from labrum surgery last summer.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis gives green light to pro sports in state | Yahoo! Sports
“We’re certainly ready as soon as the leagues are ready,” Polis said.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis reportedly spoke with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred on Monday, addressing how Colorado will allow pro sports to resume. Polis also suggested allowing a select number of essential workers, like nurses, into the ballpark for games: “It’s easy to have 10, 15 people at a distance from one another.”
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