Looking Back on Germán Márquez’s Tenure with the Rockies

Germán Márquez and Kyle Freeland Leading the Rockies’ Rotation

If it is indeed the end of Márquez’s career in Colorado, he finished with a stellar 14.8 WAR over his 10 seasons with the Rockies. After playing just six games in his debut season in 2016, he saw his opportunity in 2017 and didn’t look back. 2017-18 was the last time the Rockies made the postseason. Both were Márquez’s best seasons by WAR in purple. From 2017-22, (excluding the COVID-shortened 2020 season), Márquez pitched at least 162 innings in each season, including a career-high 196 in 2018.

The Rockies found an excellent duo in left-hander Kyle Freeland and Márquez atop their rotation. 2018 was a special season for both. Freeland and Márquez were in their second and third seasons in Major League Baseball, respectively. The Rockies finished 91-72 and forced the Los Angeles Dodgers to a game 163 to decide the National League West. But they would not have come close without Freeland and Márquez leading the way. Finally, the Rockies did not have to rely on outscoring their opponent every game.

In 2018, Freeland and Márquez combined for a stellar 12 WAR. Both posted career-high win totals with 17 (Freeland) and 14 (Márquez), respectively. Freeland twirled 6 2/3 shutout innings at Wrigley Field with six strikeouts to just one walk in a 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card Game. In a home start in the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers, Márquez pitched five innings, allowing two runs on seven hits with five Ks to one BB in a home start. But he received no run support in a 6-0 Rockies loss that ended their season. The Division Series was very disappointing, as the Rockies were outscored 13-2 in a three-game sweep. As they had done all season, Freeland and Márquez did their part to lead the Rockies in the postseason.

Márquez’s All-Star 2021

While the Rockies have not returned to the postseason since 2018, Márquez still had some solid seasons in Colorado. In his only career All-Star campaign, he went 12-11 with a 4.40 ERA in 180 IP across 32 starts. Márquez led the club in wins (12), ERA (4.40), and strikeouts (176). He achieved a career-high three complete games in this special season. He has recorded only one other complete game in his career, which came in 2019. One of his complete games in 2021 is still one of the best starts all-time at Coors Field.

On June 29, 2021, Márquez came within three outs of a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was stellar, allowing only one hit with five Ks to one BB in a dominant 8-0 win. Outside of a start against the Cincinnati Reds on June 12, in which he allowed eight earned runs on 12 hits, Márquez had an all-time month for a Rockies pitcher. In five wins covering 36 innings, Márquez allowed just three runs on 10 hits with 27 Ks to 6 BBs. He posted two shutouts in that span, with four of those wins coming at home.

This stellar month cemented Márquez’s All-Star appearance. It was an extra special year for Márquez to be an All-Star, as the Midsummer Classic was held in Denver. Márquez pitched one scoreless inning with a strikeout in his appearance in front of the hometown fans. Furthermore, he was just the sixth Rockies’ starting pitcher to make the All-Star Game and the first since Ubaldo Jiménez in 2010. He earned a 2.4 WAR in 2021, the third highest of his career behind only 2017 (3.5) and 2018 (4.2). It was a special season for Márquez, and he stamped his place as one of the greatest Rockies starting pitchers of all time.

Keys to Márquez’s Success

In 2018 and 2021, Márquez had K rates of 28.2% and 23.3%, respectively. His bread and butter in 2018 was his knuckle curve and slider. That season, his curve and slider averaged 82 and 85.5 mph, respectively. Per Statcast, both pitches were stellar at drawing whiffs and putting away batters.

2018

Knuckle Curve:

• 82 mph
• 47.6 whiff %
• 33.2 put away %
• Opponent batting average: .148
• 131 Ks

Slider:

• 85.5 mph
• 42.4 whiff %
• 27.7 put away %
• Opponent batting average: .162
• 36 Ks

2021

Knuckle curve:

• 85.2 mph
• 42.7 whiff %
• 26.6 put away %
• Opponent batting average: .144
• 85 Ks

Slider:

• 86.2 mph
• 40.1 whiff %
• 30.3 put away %
• Opponent batting average: .245
• 66 Ks

In 2018, Marquez’s 16 breaking run value was in the 97th percentile league-wide. In 2021, it was in just the 63rd percentile with a 3 breaking run value. But Márquez adjusted accordingly and relied more on his 94.8 mph 4-seam fastball. His fastball run value went from -5 in 2018 to 5 in 2021. His stellar use of the breaking ball led to a 28.2% K rate in 2018, good for the 82nd percentile in MLB. But he still found an effective way to get out batters at Coors Field in 2021 when he was not drawing as many strikeouts. His ground ball percentage improved from 48.5% (69th percentile) in 2018 to 52.8% (87th percentile) in 2021.

Any pitcher has to adapt from year to year to stay successful in MLB. But that is especially true for pitchers in Colorado. Márquez had two of the best breaking balls in the sport in 2018. But when the knuckle curve’s put-away percentage dropped and opponents were hitting much better against the slider, Márquez adjusted. Time and time again, Márquez proved adaptable when needed and capable of being very successful at the hitter’s haven that is Coors Field.

It Has Been a Tough Road Lately

It has been a tough road for Márquez the past three seasons. Márquez had logged almost 1,000 IP in his career ahead of the 2023 season. That wear and tear caught up to him. Márquez played in just four games in 2023 before being shut down for the season due to right forearm inflammation that eventually required Tommy John surgery. He returned for just four innings in August the following season, leaving his only start due to a stress reaction in his right elbow. This resulted in him being shut down for the remainder of 2024.

Márquez returned for 26 games this season, but the results were not there. He posted a career-worst 6.70 ERA and went 3-16 with a -1.1 WAR. He was in the bottom-five percent in numerous categories, per Statcast. His -42 pitching run value and -29 fastball run value were both in the bottom one percent league-wide. It is an accomplishment on its own that Márquez successfully made it back to the league after playing just five games in two seasons. The 26 games pitched are a bright spot for Márquez to take into the offseason. But he will have to show he can rebound from his worst season stats-wise in his career.

New Era Dawns for Márquez

At just 30 years old, Márquez has time to reinvigorate his career. It just will likely not be in Colorado. He is an unrestricted free agent, and the timeline of the Rockies doesn’t mesh with Márquez’s age. But perhaps pitching outside of altitude for the first time in his career will help Márquez bounce back. The veteran addressed the reality of the situation following his possible last start with the Rockies in San Francisco on Saturday.

Márquez gave the Rockies some of the best pitching they have seen in franchise history. He was a core part of their last postseason teams in 2017-18. It will be a strange feeling not seeing the familiar number 48 at Spring Training next year. But both the Rockies and Márquez are at different stages, and the timing makes sense to part ways. Rockies fans love you, too, Germán, and wish you well.