Shushkewich: Quantrill and healthy shoulder head to Colorado Rockies
Ontario Terriers and Junior National Team alum Cal Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) was traded to the Colorado Rockies on November 17.
January 14, 2024
By Tyson Shushkewich
Canadian Baseball Network
The business side of baseball can be unforgiving at times, something right-hander Cal Quantrill experienced in November.
The Cleveland Guardians, looking to cut payroll, designated the Canadian hurler for assignment early on November 15 and then two days later traded him to the Colorado Rockies for catching prospect Kody Huff.
“Every place you play, your teammates become your family,” said Quantrill, speaking to the Canadian Baseball Network. “I have a lot of close friends in Cleveland both on the team and amongst the staff. They are a fantastic group of people and I will miss all of them. In the end, it’s a business and I am excited about a really good opportunity with a young new team in the Rockies.
“I think I can be a good player and provide some guidance to some of the younger players on the squad in a beautiful city.”
Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) made his big league debut with the San Diego Padres in 2019 and was moved, along with fellow Junior National Team alum Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) at the 2020 deadline, to Cleveland as part of the deal that saw Mike Clevinger head the opposite way.
After moving into the AL Central, Quantrill posted a 3.58 ERA through 99 outings (75 starts) while registering a 1.262 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, and a 6.7 K/9. Quantrill split his time between the rotation and bullpen during his first two campaigns with the Guardians before moving into the rotation full time.
Last season, the 28-year-old former Stanford product struggled with shoulder issues that sidelined him on multiple occasions. He was limited him to 19 starts. Battling the shoulder ailments, Quantrill authored a 5.24 ERA and a 4.79 FIP while his H/9 rose to a career high 10.0 H/9 while also seeing a slight uptick in his walk rate to 3.2 BB/9.
“When I was healthy, I performed at the level that I believe I am capable of,” said Quantrill, speaking on his 2023 campaign. “Unfortunately, my shoulder was disagreeing with me for a good chunk of the season and even in times I was pitching well I was still battling. It was disappointing in the sense in that I know I can do better but that being said, when I felt right, I pitched the way I know I can and I feel motivated heading into this year.”
Even with the shoulder disagreements, Quantrill walked away with hardware from the Baseball Canada Awards Banquet & Fundraiser on Saturday, as the Terriers and Junior National Team alum earned the Larry J. Pearson Alumni Award.
“The history of Baseball Canada runs so deep and there are so many impressive players and people to come through this organization,” said Quantrill about the award. “It’s an honour. Any time I get to come back and get to participate and see some of the younger players and the older players, guys taking time out of their day to be part of this event, just shows the care and love we have for this program. To be able to share a stage with some real legends of this sport is a real honour.”
Looking ahead, Quantrill is joining a Rockies squad that finished with a 59-103 record in the NL West last season but dealt with numerous injuries to their rotation (Antonio Senzatela and Germán Márquez both underwent Tommy John surgery) while former NL MVP Kris Bryant was limited to 80 contests due to injuries.
While Coors Field is one of the most hitter friendly ballparks in the big leagues due to the elevation, Quantrill will have a chance to work out of the rotation for Colorado this season and is healthy heading into the new year with a young team boasting the likes of Michael Toglia, Nolan Jones, and more knocking on the door.
When asked about his goals with the new club, Quantrill was focused on his body heading into the new campaign.
“It’s all health,” he said. “I want to make sure I am coming in and putting my best foot forward with a new team and give myself a chance to be healthy for the entire year and treating the body right to prepare for the upcoming season.”
The former first-rounder will enter the 2024 season with two more years of arbitration left (he signed a one-year deal worth $6.55 million with the Rockies to avoid arbitration) before being able to test free agent waters.
For now, Quantrill is focused on helping his new squad compete in an ultra-stacked NL West division as he looks to put an injury plagued 2023 campaign in the rearview mirror with his new squad.