What happened: The Colorado Rockies have hired Ethan Katz as their Major League pitching coach. The club announced the appointment on Monday to lead its big-league pitching staff.

Why it matters: The hiring addresses a central vacancy on Colorado's coaching staff following the recent departure of longtime organizational figure Clint Hurdle. It provides new leadership on the mound as the front office shapes its organizational direction for the upcoming season.

What to watch: Colorado will continue filling out its major league staff as offseason preparations continue ahead of the Dec. 1 league deadline.