Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

The Rockies are no strangers in trying to find bullpen help via the Rule 5 Draft. Anthony Molina was a 2023 selection who spent parts of the next two seasons in the big leagues. Back in 2020, they gave Jordan Sheffield a shot, and he appeared in 30 games the following season. This year, they’re hoping Petit will be their Rule 5 lightning in a bottle. While he was a starter in his last year at Charleston Southern, Petit has done nothing but relieve as a pro since the Tigers drafted him in the 14th round in 2021. After reaching Triple-A in 2025, he was left off the 40-man roster for the second straight year, and the Rockies made him the No. 1 pick in the Major League phase.

Petit is a mountain of a man, standing at 6-foot-8 and 300 pounds, though he’s a good athlete, especially for his size. He can touch as high as 98 mph with his fastball, sitting around 95 and using a steep downward plane to get ground-ball outs. His 84-mph gyro slider is his out pitch, missing a lot of bats and getting a lot of chase, a breaking ball the Rockies think might work in Coors Field. He does have an upper-80s changeup that tunnels off the fastball effectively.

The big right-hander has shown an ability to get hitters on both sides of the plate out and has kept his walk rate in check. His best chance of sticking with the Rockies will likely be as a bulk reliever.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 50 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Petit was a two-time All-Big South First Team selection at Charleston Southern, including as a junior starter in 2021 when he posted a 2.79 ERA in 84 frames. The Tigers selected him in the 14th round that summer and signed him for $125,000, making him the first Charleston Southern player drafted in three years. Petit immediately moved into a relief role in the pros and has remained there since. He pitched well in Double-A in 2024 but was left unprotected and unpicked in that December's Rule 5 Draft. After a strong 2025 campaign that saw him reach Triple-A, Petit was once again left unprotected, but this time the Rockies made him the top pick of the Rule 5.

Standing at 6-foot-8, Petit is a tremendous presence on the mound. He doesn’t get big extension out of that frame, instead using his height to create a steep downward plane leading to solid groundball rates. There is some velocity here, touching 98 mph while sitting 94-96, and he's worked to generate a bit more heat. Petit’s 83-85 mph gyro slider is much better at generating swing-and-miss and chase low in the zone with strong depth, and the Rockies think it's the kind of breaking ball that should play in Coors Field. He can tunnel his 86-89 mph changeup well enough off the fastball with just enough velocity separation for it to be effective.

Petit has shown the ability to get righties and lefties out at the upper levels, and he was able to get his walk rate back down in 2025 to 3.0 per nine after seeing it creep up in 2024 (4.1 BB/9). He'll get his chance to stick with the Rockies, who see him as a potential bulk reliever.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/25/2026	Colorado Rockies placed RHP RJ Petit on the 15-day injured list.
	03/05/2026	RHP RJ Petit assigned to Colorado Rockies Prospects.
	12/10/2025	Colorado Rockies purchased contract of RHP RJ Petit in the Rule 5 Draft.
	07/22/2025	RHP RJ Petit assigned to Toledo Mud Hens from Erie SeaWolves.
	03/06/2025	activated RHP RJ Petit.
	02/24/2025	RHP RJ Petit assigned to Detroit Tigers.
	03/07/2024	Detroit Tigers Prospects activated RHP RJ Petit.
	02/27/2024	RHP RJ Petit assigned to Detroit Tigers.
	09/22/2023	Salt River Rafters activated RHP RJ Petit.
	04/27/2023	RHP RJ Petit assigned to Erie SeaWolves from West Michigan Whitecaps.
	04/27/2023	Erie SeaWolves activated RHP RJ Petit.
	04/27/2023	Erie SeaWolves activated RHP RJ Petit.
	03/08/2023	RHP RJ Petit roster status changed by Detroit Tigers.
	03/08/2023	RHP RJ Petit assigned to Detroit Tigers.
	06/13/2022	RHP RJ Petit assigned to West Michigan Whitecaps from Lakeland Flying Tigers.
	06/13/2022	West Michigan Whitecaps activated RHP RJ Petit.
	05/16/2022	RHP RJ Petit assigned to Lakeland Flying Tigers from West Michigan Whitecaps.
	04/01/2022	RHP RJ Petit assigned to Detroit Tigers.
	04/01/2022	RHP RJ Petit roster status changed by Detroit Tigers.
	09/14/2021	RHP RJ Petit assigned to West Michigan Whitecaps from Lakeland Flying Tigers.
	09/02/2021	RHP RJ Petit assigned to Lakeland Flying Tigers from FCL Tigers East.
	08/30/2021	RHP RJ Petit assigned to FCL Tigers East.
	07/23/2021	Detroit Tigers signed RHP RJ Petit.