The Colorado Rockies will promote right-handed pitcher Chad Bettis from Double-A Tulsa, according to a source within the organization. The team has yet to confirm the move.

It would make sense for the Rockies to have Bettis, 24, start on Thursday, as the team doesn't have anyone to fill that spot in the rotation after demoting Collin McHugh following his rough start on Saturday. However, there are conflicting reports about what Bettis' role with the Rockies will be.

Still, it comes as refreshing news that the Rockies have reportedly decided to bring up the Texas Tech alum. If not for an injury prior to the 2012 season, Bettis would likely already be in Denver, but he has rebounded well with a solid performance at Tulsa, striking out 9.7 batters per nine innings while walking fewer than two and posting a 3.71 ERA in 63 innings.

Bettis has long been talked about as having an MLB future as a reliever, but he has only made one relief appearance in the minors, which came back in 2010 with Tri-City. Across 53 games and 52 starts, Bettis has a career minor league ERA of 2.91 with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.34.

The 6'1, 200-pound Texan utilizes a plus-plus fastball and plus-plus slider to dominate minor league hitters, but his change-up leaves a lot to be desired. If he can get that to average or slightly-above, there's no reason to think that Bettis can't be a solid big-league starter, health permitting. Otherwise, he would almost assuredly be a terrific bullpen piece.

Once there is some clarification on Bettis' role with the team when he arrives in Atlanta, we'll be sure to provide an update.

Off-topic

Links

Troy Renck writes about the interest the Red Sox and Indians have in Josh Outman, who pitched a scoreless ninth last night. Included is a blurb about the Rockies' having interest in Cubs reliever Kevin Gregg, who is one of two pieces, along with Nate Schierholtz, that Chicago will more than likely move before the deadline on Wednesday.

The Dodgers are the front-runners for free-agent reliever Brian Wilson, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale. Wilson was also being pursued by the Pirates, Giants and Diamondbacks. The Rockies were in attendance for Wilson's workout last Thursday in Los Angeles but apparently aren't interested.