SALT LAKE CITY — Outfielder and part-time first baseman Tyler Colvin arrived at spring training riding the wave of his breakout 2012 season.

The ride ended Friday when the Rockies optioned Colvin to the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox. The move opened the door for infielders Reid Brignac and Jonathan Herrera to make the 25-man roster.

While spring training statistics don’t always mean a lot, in Colvin’s case the numbers mattered. He hit only .167 with a team-high 14 strikeouts. Colvin spent the entire 2012 season with the Rockies, batting .290 with 27 doubles, 10 triples, 18 home runs and 72 RBIs in 136 games.

Sending Colvin down can also be viewed as a way to get Jordan Pacheco more playing time at first base behind aging starter Todd Helton. Colvin’s demotion also could be temporary, with the Rockies hoping he breaks out of his slump while playing at Triple-A.

The move leaves the Rockies stocked with infielders, but with just four outfielders: Carlos Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler, Michael Cuddyer and Eric Young Jr.

More roster moves. As expected, the Rockies officially added catcher Yorvit Torrealba to the roster and designated veteran Ramon Hernandez for assignment. The team has 10 days to trade or release Hernandez, who is still guaranteed his $3.2 million salary. The club also designated right-handed pitcher Will Harris for assignment to clear space on the 40-man roster.

Torrealba, 34, is viewed as a mentor to starting catcher Wilin Rosario and also excels as a game caller. Torrealba played well this spring, hitting .526 with one home run in 12 Cactus League games. Hernandez hit just .148 this spring, and only .217 in a 2012 season marred by a strained left hand and a torn hamstring.

Pitching updates. While the rest of his teammates took Friday off, right-hander Juan Nicasio pitched in a minor-league game against the Rockies’ Triple-A players.

Nicasio, who will start the third game of the season-opening series in Milwaukee, pitched seven innings, allowing three runs and seven hits. He walked two, struck out nine and threw 104 pitches.

On Thursday, lefty Jorge De La Rosa, who will pitch Tuesday in Milwaukee, gave up one run and three hits over six innings against the Diamondbacks’ Triple-A squad.

“The last inning I got a little tired, but I finished good,” De La Rosa said. “I’ve started feeling like me again.”

Footnotes. The Rockies play the Mariners in the final exhibition game at 1:05 p.m. Saturday at Salt Lake’s Spring Mobile Ballpark. Rockies starters are expected to play only a couple of innings. The game is a sellout. … Outfield prospect Corey Dickerson was named the winner of the Abbey Greer Award, given to the most productive player in camp. Dickerson hit .360 with eight RBIs. He hit a combined .304 with 40 doubles and 22 homers at Single-A Modesto and Double-A Tulsa last season. The award is named for Abby Greer, a young Rockies fan who lost her life in an accident while leaving Coors Field on Aug. 22, 2006.

Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428, psaunders@denverpost.com or twitter.com/psaundersdp