The Rockies recalled right-handed relief pitcher Scott Dohmann and infielder Omar Quintanilla from Triple-A Colorado Springs and designated right-handed pitcher Sun-Woo Kim and infielder Jason Smith for assignment, manager Clint Hurdle announced after Colorado's 13-0 loss to the Marlins on Saturday.
The moves came hours after Hurdle, his coaching staff and several members of the team's front office met to assess the Rockies a third of the way into the season.
Hurdle also gave shortstop Clint Barmes a vote of confidence after the game, saying he told Barmes he was the team's shortstop. Barmes had struggled earlier in the season, but now has hit safely in three straight, after going 2-for-3 on Saturday.
Hurdle said he had discussions with other members of the team that he wished to keep private.
This will be Dohmann's second stint with the Rockies this season. He was 0-0 with a 4.76 ERA, before he was optioned to Colorado Springs on May 23. In his four appearances with the Sky Sox, he threw three scoreless innings and struck out seven.
Quintanilla, who can play both shortstop and second base, will be making his first trip to the Rockies this season. In 50 games with Colorado Springs, he hit .286. He played in 39 games for the Rockies in 2005.
Kim, who came off the disabled list two weeks ago, made six relief appearances for the Rockies, allowing 15 runs in seven innings. In a tight game on Friday night, he walked the first two batters in the eighth inning before being pulled by Hurdle. While packing his locker, Kim said he was not surprised by the move and didn't know what his next step would be.
In 32 games, Smith hit .267, including three homers. All the home runs came in a three-game series April 7-9, in San Diego.
Colorado has 10 days to trade, release or outright Smith and Kim to the Minors.
The two-hour meeting on Saturday morning, which included general manager Dan O'Dowd, Jeff Bridich, director of baseball operations, and Marc Gustafson, director of player development, has become custom a third of the way into the season and was a chance to evaluate the team, its Major League roster and Triple-A prospects.
"We look at it as an opportunity to give everybody a chance to play and to pitch with some length behind it," Hurdle said before the game. "[We] evaluate them [the players] individually and evaluate the people that we have our eyes on in our Minor League system and see if there's any way, shape or form that we can make this a better ballclub."
The team has struggled offensively lately, losing eight of its last 10 games, but Hurdle said the meeting was not in response to the slump.
The team entered Saturday's game with Florida ranked last in the National League West, but only 4 1/2 games behind first place Arizona.
"Nobody is going to dream bigger than we are as a group," Hurdle said. "We still have as good a chance as anybody in our division."
'Underdog' getting his chance: Outfielder Ryan Spilborghs said he likes playing the role of the underdog, surprising some people on his was to the Majors.
"It gives you incentive to prove people wrong," said the 2002 seventh-round pick. "To me, it's a mental thing, giving me motivation."
Since being recalled a week ago, he has started four of six games. In those games, he has hit his first two career homers, a triple and driven in four runs. He also had a short stay with the Major League club in late April.
In his 16 games in the Majors this year, Spilborghs is hitting .310. At Triple-A Colorado Springs earlier this season, he hit .317. Last year, splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A, he hit .340.
There just might be a spot for Spilborghs to play every day with the Rockies.
"I think Ryan has the skill-set to play every day," Hurdle said. "There are opportunities out there where he could play every day [with this team]."
The team is still evaluating the best way to use Spilborghs, Hurdle said, adding the team is looking at which outfield position best suits him, and that he also plays extremely well off the bench.
What has Hurdle told Spilborghs about when he will play?
"Just be ready," Spilborghs said.
Coors Field advantage? The Rockies opened their third-longest homestand of the season on Friday night, a nine-game stay in which they will face the Marlins, Pirates and Dodgers.
Heading into the All-Star break, the team will play 21 of 34 games at Coors Field, a fact that is not lost among players.
"It's nice not being on a plane every third day and sleeping in our own beds," second baseman Jamey Carroll said. "Hopefully, we can use that to our advantage."
To get that advantage, one thing the team needs to do is again make teams afraid to play at Coors.
"We need to rebuild that, refine that, reignite that. We didn't scare Dontrelle last night," Hurdle said, referring to the seven-hit, two-run pitching performance from Marlins starter Dontrelle Willis.
Up next: The Rockies round out their three-game series with the Marlins on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. MT. Rox right-hander Jason Jennings (3-5, 4.54) will start against southpaw Scott Olsen (3-3, 5.83).
