TUCSON - Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook are the givens in the Rockies rotation.

Rodrigo Lopez was the offseason addition, counted on to step in and help pick up the load left by the trade of Jason Jennings.

Byung-Hyun Kim and Josh Fogg are the holdovers from last year.

And Jason Hirsh is the long-range hope, the highly touted prospect who came from Houston in the Jennings deal.

Then there is Ubaldo Jimenez.

He's the dark horse in the spring training battle for a spot in the rotation, one of the prized young arms in the Rockies farm system.

But at age 23 and with only 13 games of experience at the Triple-A level, the Rockies are being careful with his development. They don't want to rush him.

But Jimenez is making his presence known.

He made his spring training debut in the Rockies' 4-3 exhibition victory against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday afternoon, working two shutout innings.

He walked two, but he also allowed only one ball to be hit out of the infield and struck out Joe Crede, the only projected starter in the White Sox's split-squad lineup.

Jimenez, like Oscar Rivera, who gave up a two-run home run to Crede in two innings of work, most likely will be in the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox rotation when the season starts. But the Rockies see potential in both that creates a feeling they could be help if a need arises during the season.

Rivera is on a make-good basis in spring training. If the Rockies decided to keep the 24-year-old left-hander in the majors or in the minors, they have to pay Cancun, his team in the Mexican League, $1.3 million, which seems probable given his ability to hit spots with his pitches and the quality of his changeup.

Jimenez merely is reinforcing what the Rockies already know about him - that he's one of the quality young arms in the game.

The luxury the Rockies have is they have enough other options that they can be patient with Jimenez, who could force the issue.

"He is making his presence known," manager Clint Hurdle said. "That game he was able to pitch at Wrigley Field last year was big for him. He came into camp this year with a bounce in his step, looking like he belonged (in major league spring training). He acts like he feels he can compete and add to what we've already done."

Jimenez was in a unique situation with the Rockies in September. They wanted him to be in the major league environment but initially didn't plan on having him pitch, so he wasn't activated, but he traveled with the team and worked out before games.

The Rockies liked his bullpen work enough that he was activated Sept. 21, made his debut with one shutout inning of relief Sept. 26 at Los Angeles, then started the season finale against the Cubs.

He was charged with four runs (three earned) in 6 2/3 innings, but he left with a 4-2 lead, and two runners he left on base scored.

"I feel I did what the organization wanted me to do," Jimenez said.

But then there has been little the organization hasn't liked about Jimenez.

Four years ago, the thought was he would be in the majors by now, but there was a detour three years ago when he was with Single-A Visalia (Calif.), and he made only nine starts because of a stress fracture in his right shoulder.

He admitted the concerns from injury lingered, and he lacked confidence in 2005.

Last year, things began to click again. He started the season with Double-A Tulsa (Okla.) and after going 9-2 with a 2.45 ERA in 13 starts, he was promoted to Colorado Springs, where he was 5-2 with a 5.06 ERA in 13 starts.

He led the Rockies system with 14 victories last season and he ranked third with 150 strikeouts in 151 2/3 minor league innings. But he walked 83, something he knows is an area he needs to address.

"They say I have things to work on, mainly control of my fastball, and I agree," Jimenez said. "But it would be nice to be a surprise (in spring training). Surprises are good things."

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