Jhoulys Chacin 1On Thursday night, Jhoulys Chacin took another step toward rejoining the Colorado Rockies.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound righty threw 80 pitches in 4 2/3 innings in a rehab start for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox against the Iowa Cubs, allowing five hits and four runs (two earned) while striking out four and walking one. Chacin, who began the season on the 15-day disabled list with a strained throwing shoulder, threw 52 strikes and hit 91 mph on the radar gun with his fastball.

The 26-year-old said his shoulder felt strong, and he was happy with the location of his offspeed pitches.

Chacin spent most of his start focusing on locating his array of pitches.

Chacin said his shoulder strain likely occurred because he was not delivering the ball “the right way” or with the correct arm angle while ramping up his offseason throwing regimen heading into the season. He could rejoin the Rockies as early as next week, and he said he would be ready if called upon even though he has pitched just 12 innings in his three rehab starts this month.

Chacin needed just 22 pitches to retire the first six batters he faced, but ran into trouble in the third. After giving up a hit to Logan Watkins, Chacin walked Eli Whiteside after a nine-pitch at-bat and gave up his first run when Chris Coghlan doubled Watkins home from second.

He followed a 26-pitch third inning by throwing 21 in the fourth, when he surrendered two unearned runs after giving up a double to Whiteside. Chacin got the first two outs of the fifth before being lifted for Pedro Hernandez with a runner on second base and the Sky Sox trailing, 3-0.

 

Source: MLB