Rockies release infielder Kelby Tomlinson

The Rockies released infielder Kelby Tomlinson, reports MLBTR’s own Steve Adams. Tomlinson had signed with Colorado in January on a minor-league deal but won’t be given the opportunity to continue his stint.

With speculation about a possible Nolan Arenado trade running rampant at the time of his signing, Tomlinson might have seen a heightened role with the Rockies if Arenado were out of the picture, but with no such trade coming to fruition, the need for Tomlinson was limited. And with the likes of Brendan Rodgers, Josh Fuentes, Ryan McMahon, and others also in the picture, Tomlinson faced plenty of competition for at-bats from the Colorado infield.

Tomlinson hasn’t appeared in regular-season action since 2018 when he was with the Giants. He played the entirety of last season at the Triple-A level in the Arizona and Seattle minor-league systems, posting an overall .602 OPS. In parts of four seasons with San Francisco, Tomlinson managed a .265/.331/.332 batting line.

Even though he provides little in the way of power, Tomlinson could be a depth option for a club in need of reserve infielders. The 30-year-old can play shortstop, second base and third base, and could be worth a spot on a team’s 60-player pool.