Rockies reassign top prospect Gray

Jon Gray might be nearing the start of his Major League career, but it's not quite time for it to begin.

The Rockies assigned their top prospect to Minor League camp on Friday after a tough start in his final Cactus League appearance.

"He's in a pretty good place as it relates to going out there and competing and making pitches and getting through big league lineups," Rockies manager Walt Weiss told MLB.com.

Before heading into his third professional season, Gray made his second trip to big league camp. MLB.com's No. 17 overall prospect started off strongly with six scoreless innings over three relief appearances, but his ERA took a hit in his first start on March 18. Gray bounced back with four two-hit frames, but his final start against Major Leaguers proved costly.

Against the Cubs on March 28, the 23-year-old University of Oklahoma product surrendered seven runs -- six earned -- on four hits and a walk while recording only two outs.

Gray, the third overall pick in the 2013 Draft, made 24 starts last season with Double-A Tulsa, where he compiled a 3.91 ERA with 113 strikeouts over 124 1/3 innings. He likely will start the season at Triple-A Albuquerque.

"No matter where I am, you're going to get my best," he told MLB.com on Thursday.

With Gray gone, Rockies No. 2 prospect Eddie Butler is a strong contender for the final spot in the rotation.

The 24-year-old right-hander has a 3.07 ERA and eight strikeouts over 14 2/3 innings in five Cactus League outings, including three starts. He'll get the ball on Saturday in the Rockies' spring finale. If all goes well, Butler will be penciled to start against the Brewers on April 8.

"We obviously have some young, talented arms," Weiss told MLB.com. "They're not with us yet, but the fact that we're starting to see those guys show up on the Major League radar … It is exciting and it should be a shot in the arm."

MLB.com's No. 36 overall prospect made three starts last season with Colorado, allowing 12 runs on 23 hits and seven walks over 16 innings. After making his debut in June, Butler went on the disabled list with shoulder soreness but returned a month later and finished out the Minor League season with Tulsa.