If I asked you at the end of last season to name the two Colorado Rockies pitchers who would win MLB monthly awards in April, you’d probably say “Jon Gray and…”
Yet, here we are in May and reliever Greg Holland has just won the NL Reliever of the Month award and Rockies rookie starter Antonio Senzatela has won the Rookie of the Month award.
Greg Holland has been named National League Reliever of the Month!
Congratulations to Greg on this well deserved honor. 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/Pwigksg125
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) May 3, 2017
Neither awards should come as a surprise. Holland leads the big leagues in saves with 11 and has converted every save opportunity he was given in April. He allowed only two runs in 12 games en route to a 1.50 ERA and did not give up a home run. The only closer whose numbers even come close to Holland’s are Red Sox reliever’s Craig Kimbrel, but he only has nine saves.
One month in the big leagues, one Rookie of the Month Award! #Senzational!@asenzatela32 🤜🤛 pic.twitter.com/ZWFBHE0Fas
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) May 3, 2017
Expectations were weren’t notably high for Senzatela coming into the season, as he had never even made a Triple-A start, but he has come in and blown everybody out of the water. He posted a 3-1 record in five games in April and had the best ERA for a starting pitcher on the roster at 2.81. Opponents batted only .223 against him and he struck out 18 against just seven walks.
The Rockies also have arguably the second-best rookie pitcher in the NL on their roster so far this season, as well. Kyle Freehand is second among Rockies starters in ERA at 2.93, has an identical 3-1 record and has allowed one less run than Senzatela, albeit with less innings pitched.
Senzatela will toe the rubber Wednesday night when he takes on the Padres. He’ll be matching up with Jered Weaver. Hopefully Rockies fans will get an opportunity to see Holland get his league leading 12th save as well and start May with the same success as April brought.