How does a converted infielder take the lessons he learned in college as a hitter and use them now that he’s a pitcher for the Rockies?

Zach Agnos has figured out the answer to that question, and it’s helping him become one of the rising stars of Colorado’s surprisingly strong bullpen.

While playing at East Carolina University, Agnos was a two-way player for the Pirates in 2022. He started at shortstop and slashed .330/.405/.479 over 312 plate appearances while also pitching 23.1 innings out of the bullpen and posting a 2.31 ERA.

While Agnos was excelling with the bat, the Rockies saw what he could do with his arm and selected him in the 10th round of that year’s MLB draft as a pitcher.

“I think I can still hit,” Agnos said with a laugh. “But, as soon as I got to pro ball, I was throwing bullpens and working on pitch design and really developing as a pitcher. I think that’s when it finally settled in that I’m a pitcher now.”

While the 24-year-old Agnos has left his hitting days behind him and is focused on improving on the mound, the lessons he learned as a hitter are benefiting his growth as a pitcher.

“In college, I got to understand how hitters think,” Agnos said. “At East Carolina, we always had a good approach. I feel like as hitters, we didn’t strike out a ton, and we put together tough at-bats. With that, I understand the basics of how hitters think, which has helped me tremendously to know what to throw, when to throw it, and how to read guys’ swings.

“Everyone has his own unique swing, so identifying that and seeing where batters can struggle, and where they handle a pitch as well, is important, especially at this level. Most hitters have maybe one cold zone that you can attack. The other battle is just trying to keep them off balance.”

Agnos has a four-pitch mix (fastball, changeup, cutter, and slider) he uses to keep MLB hitters off-balance, and the mix has worked so far in his early career. Through his first nine appearances of the season covering 11.0 innings, Agnos has given up just two earned runs and struck out five while walking just one.

It’s been a meteoric rise for Agnos, who started the 2024 season at High-A and earned his inaugural spring training invitation this year. Agnos earning a spot in spring camp kept the buzz going about just how soon he might be a part of the Colorado bullpen.

“I try not to read too much into that. I just want to go out there and do my job,” Agnos said of his rise through the minor league levels. “In spring training, I really wanted to showcase to the staff what I have and what I’m able to bring to the table every day, on and off the field, including in the clubhouse. My main focus was letting them know that I’m here, and that I was ready to go.”

Agnos has been ready to go for the Rockies since making his debut on April 20. That night, as Colorado was on its way to a 3-1 win over the Washington Nationals, Agnos allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth inning to earn his first MLB hold.

Ten days later, Agnos logged his first Major League save, throwing a scoreless ninth in a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves. That capped a 10-day span where he notched 6.1 shutout innings, part of an impressive collective stretch for Colorado’s bullpen. Over the last 31 games, Rockies relievers have posted a 3.25 ERA, the third-lowest bullpen ERA in the National League and the sixth-lowest in baseball during that span.

It’s also been a trying stretch during that time as Colorado’s bullpen has logged 122.0 innings, the second-most innings pitched of any MLB team.

Agnos says the bullpen’s collective mentality of being prepared for whatever situation may arise has been a big part of the group’s success this season.

“Always being ready. You never know what’s going to happen,” Agnos said. “TK (reliever Tyler Kinley) always comes up to me and emphasizes to stay ready and stay locked into the game. Expect the unexpected. The game of baseball is such a weird game where anything can happen at any given moment, so always staying ready, being on your toes and getting ready to go.”

Despite the Rockies struggling to just seven wins so far this season, four players (including Agnos) have notched saves. That kind of competition is helping to form a close but competitive relief corps.

“I think it makes everybody better.” Agnos said. “We’re all trying to go earn that spot. At the same time, we’re very mature people, so we understand that it’s a business and it’s a job. We’re best friends out there. We love each other. If one of those guys went into battle, we’re right on his tail going with him. We embrace it and we have good time but, whether it’s the fifth or the ninth, all of us are going prepare to do our best job.”