Rockies release Jhoulys Chacín, one of the best pitchers in team history

The Colorado Rockies executed a transaction on Thursday that was a long time in the making, releasing right-handed pitcher Jhoulys Chacín.

Chacín, a 14-year MLB veteran, has really struggled in 2022 out of the bullpen. In 35 appearances over 47.1 innings, the 34-year-old has been tagged for a 7.61 ERA, which is third-worst in MLB this season among pitchers who have thrown at least 40 innings. While the ending to Chacín’s career comes unceremoniously, as the worst pitcher on a team nearly 20 games under .500, he was once one of the better pitchers the team has ever had.

Chacín was in the second year of his second stint with the Rockies. This time around as a reliever on the mediocre was not much to remember. But his six-season first-stint with Colorado as a starter was the 10th best by fWAR in club history.

Making his debut as a 21-year-old, Chacín helped the Rockies down the stretch in their 2009 playoff-bound season. Starting in most of his appearances in 2010, Chacín’s 2.98 ERA is still best among rookie starters in Rockies history. While the Rockies collapsed out of the playoff picture that season and Chacín was overshadowed by All-Star Ubaldo Jiménez, Chacín finished up the season with the sixth-best adjusted ERA among starters with more than 100 innings thrown that season.

Chacín’s 2011 was even better, followed by his 2013 season which was one of the better pitched seasons in Rockies history. He did much of this while the club was irrelevant so his good pitching often gets forgotten.

Chacín finishes up his time in purple 10th in wins, 11th in innings pitched and ninth in strikeouts.

Chacín wondered around a bit between stints in Colorado, having solid seasons with the D-Backs, Brewers and Padres.
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