German Márquez Reaches Incredible 1000 Strikeout Milestone

German Márquez is the 1st Colorado Rockies pitcher to hit 1000 strikeouts with the team. It’s always been tough to put on a Rockies jersey when you’re a pitcher. Not because the team is bad, although they are in a rough patch, but more because of the conditions you have to pitch in. Spending half your season a mile above sea level doesn’t help your case when the ball flies around the yard. 

German Márquez Has Had a Solid Career

Born in Venezuela, Márquez is 30 years old and debuted for the Rockies in 2016. He got a small taste of big league ball in six games, giving up 12 runs in 20.2 innings and striking out 15. In his first full season in 2017, he started 29 games and went 11-7 with a 4.39 ERA. He started to make his mark in the strikeout category with 147 of them. His most in a season was one year later, in 2018, with 230 over 196 innings. He started 33 games and went 14-11, while logging a respectable 3.77 ERA.

His best year came in 2021, when he was named an All-Star for the first and only time so far. He led the shortened 2020 season in innings pitched at 81.2, but was thirsting for a full season, and he proved himself the following year. He went 12-11 in 32 starts and struck out another 176 to the tune of a 4.40 ERA. His biggest feat, beyond the All-Star nod, was his three complete games, which led the league.

Now, in 2025, Márquez has reached an amazing milestone, 1000 career strikeouts, all for the Rockies. He has a career 65-60 record and has amassed 16.8 WAR in 182 games. He owns a 4.52 ERA, but we have to remember how hard it is to pitch at Coors Field, so take that with a grain of salt. 

What’s Next for the Rockies?

Márquez had three strikeouts in his four innings of work but suffered his 4th loss of the season and raised his ERA to 9.30. It’s not a good look, even on a team that has been skidding as badly as the Rockies the last few years. They are currently sitting in dead last in the National League West at 4-20, and have lost their last 13 road games, tying a franchise record.