Rockies’ Seth Halvorsen to Start Season in Triple-A as Roster Takes Shape

As the Colorado Rockies finalize their 2026 roster, the focus has shifted to shaping the bullpen, with notable decisions emerging over the weekend. Among them is the news that reliever Seth Halvorsen will begin the season in Triple-A Albuquerque. This move comes as the team aims to bolster its pitching depth while Halvorsen works through some early-season challenges.

Manager Warren Schaeffer addressed Halvorsen’s situation, stating, “Coming off injury, high walk rate in spring. He needs to go down there and get right because we know what kind of pitcher he can be for us in leverage situations.” Halvorsen’s spring performance has been difficult, posting a staggering 21.60 ERA across 5.0 innings, during which he allowed eight hits that resulted in 12 runs.

In addition to Halvorsen’s demotion, the Rockies confirmed that Tyler Freeman will start the season on the Injured List due to ongoing back issues that have plagued him throughout spring training. This development opens the door for Troy Johnston, who has impressed during the spring with a .358/.426/.547 slash line over 22 games. Johnston, who hit his first spring homer last night against the Detroit Tigers, brings versatility as a first baseman and outfielder.

Johnston was claimed from the Miami Marlins on November 5th, and his strong performance this spring has solidified his spot on the Rockies’ roster as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.