Nuts’ Senzatela named Cal League Pitcher of the Year

Antonio Senzatela was talked into it by the Modesto Nuts’ team barber – relief pitcher Rayan Gonzalez.

When he stepped away from Gonzalez’s chair, Senzatela looked into the mirror and a Mohawk stared back at him. All he could do was smile.

Smiling comes easily these days for Senzatela.

He was named the California League Pitcher of the Year on Friday, an honor that Senzatela greeted with a grin – of course – and a dose of humility.

“I try to get better every day,” said the 20-year-old product of Venezuela. “I thank God for being the pitcher of the year.”

Nuts third baseman Ryan McMahon and outfielder Raimel Tapia also made the league all-star team, but Senzatela’s progress resonated for the second straight year in the Colorado Rockies organization.

In fact, Senzatela became the fourth Nut in the last five years to earn the league’s highest pitching award. He joined Chad Bettis in 2011, Christian Bergman (2012) and Dan Winkler (2013).

Entering his scheduled start Monday at Lake Elsinore, Senzatela is 8-7 with a 2.40 ERA and a league-best 1.05 WHIP (walks and hits per inning). His 124 strikeouts in 135 innings only begin to illustrate why he’s the 13th-ranked prospect in the Rockies’ minor-league system.

He did miss several starts – including the all-star game in June – after he injured his knee in a collision with catcher Troy Stein. He quickly recovered to regain his standing among the Cal League’s best.

“Antonio loves the game of baseball,” Nuts pitching coach Brandon Emanuel said. “He goes about his business the right way. He pays attention to detail and works hard.”

Senzatela possesses great command with his low-to-mid-90s fastball, and it comes from an intimidating angle that encourages ground-ball outs. At only 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds – a modest frame compared to many flame-throwing prospects these days – Senzatela has developed his secondary pitches.

“The slider helps a lot,” he said. “I can finish hitters off more quick.”

He came off an exceptional season for the 2014 South Atlantic League champion Asheville Tourists. He went 15-2 with an ERA of 3.12 despite Asheville’s hitter-friendly McCormick Field, all while he nursed a torn fingernail on the middle finger of his pitching hand.

Spring training became a how-to for Senzatela, who worked with Emanuel, Rockies pitching coordinator Doug Linton and Rockies director of pitching operations Mark Wiley. The mission – to develop a pitch for Senzatela that would complement his fastball and lighten the pressure on the blistered finger.

The Rockies basically ditched Senzatela’s curve in favor of a slider. All sides point to a successful adjustment.

“His slider has a better line and a better break,” Emanuel said. “He really comes at you. You will have to beat him swinging. Does he have the best flat-out stuff in the league? No. Does he come at you as good as any pitcher in the league? Yes.”

Born to an Italian father and a Venezuelan mother, Senzatela first threw the baseball at age 3 to his grandfather. He fondly remembers a little league title won in Venezuela and a switch from third base to pitcher when he was 15.

Senzatela was signed by Colorado in 2011 and, four years later, is making a franchise-sized impact. That said, it’s his passion for the game that – along with his talent – may carry him to higher levels.

“It’s good because I like to work hard,” he said. “Every play, every day, every pitch.”

This story was originally published August 22, 2015 at 5:03 PM with the headline "Nuts’ Senzatela named Cal League Pitcher of the Year."