Detroit – The Colorado Rockies, the worst pitching team in baseball last season in most categories (including ERA, WHIP, strikeouts and opponent batting average), is tapping into some of the Tigers’ pitching mojo this offseason.

On Tuesday, the club hired Gabe Ribas as its assistant pitching coach. For the last five seasons, Ribas was the Tigers’ pitching coordinator. And, not coincidentally, on Wednesday the Rockies selected the Tigers’ No. 30-ranked prospect, 6-8, 300-pound right-hander RJ Petit, with the first pick in the Rule 5 draft.

Petit, 26, was drafted in the 14th round in 2021 and, under the mentorship of Ribas, steadily ascended through the system, finally getting to Triple-A last year. Between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo, pitching out of the bullpen, Petit posted a 2.44

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