Rockies right-handed pitcher RJ Petit The team announced to reporters at the Spring Complex (via Thomas Harding of MLB.com) that he has been diagnosed with an ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his right elbow. He will be sent for further evaluation before next steps are determined. Of course, every case is different, but most UCL sprains result in surgery, either an internal brace to stabilize/strengthen the existing ligament, or a total UCL reconstruction (Tommy John surgery). The Rockies have not yet said whether surgery is an option for Petit.
Petit was the No. 1 pick in the Rule 5 Draft this December. The Rockies plucked the towering 6’8″ right-hander from the Tigers’ system after Detroit left him unprotected despite a strong minor league record. In 66 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last season, Petit posted a 2.44 ERA with an 8.2% walk rate and 29.5% strikeout rate. He hit 95 mph as a four-seamer, and His speed comes courtesy of the extension he gets from his 6-foot-8 frame and long limbs, and he allowed three runs in four innings in the spring before suffering a ligament injury.
The Rockies had hoped Petit could earn a spot in a much more open bullpen mix through an offseason trade. Angel Chivili And an elbow injury on a DFA pickup. pearson come (Tommy John surgery required) Petit will likely see a noticeable absence whether he needs surgery or not.
If the Rockies want to hold on to Petit, they can do so. He could be placed on the 60-day injured list and spend the entire season there if needed. That is, as long as the team is willing to give him major league service time and pay for that IL time. In this scenario, Petit’s Rule 5 designation would carry over into the 2027 season. That leaves the Rockies unable to option him to the minor leagues until he spends at least 90 days on the active roster.
For a club in the Rockies’ position, this might not be a dealbreaker. The revamped Colorado front office, led by new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and general manager Josh Byrnes, clearly does not view the 2026 season as a competitive season for the club. They liked Petit’s arm enough to take him with the top pick in the Rule 5 draft, and even in the unfortunate event that he’s out until next season, they’ll still have control of the right-hander until at least 2031 after he meets the criteria to escape Rule 5 status.
