Catcher Yorvit Torrealba has the confidence of the Rockies pitching staff and also is among the team's leading hitters this spring.

kelly presnell / arizona daily star

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Colorado Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez fell behind 3-2 in the pitch count during a recent spring training game.

Rather than calling for Jimenez's signature, high-90s fastball or his nasty slider, catcher Yorvit Torrealba signaled for the 24-year-old's change-up — a pitch Jimenez has been trying to improve.

That's one of the many reasons why Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca adores Torrealba — he doesn't always play by the rules or rely on a pitcher's fastball.

Torrealba guessed right. By hurling a change-up, Jimenez racked up another strikeout.

"For me, he's the perfect catcher that we can possibly have," Apodaca said. "The pitchers trust him. They love his imagination, still staying within the confines of what they do well."

Apodaca calls Torrealba's responsibility for the Rockies' pitching success in 2007 "immeasurable." The club posted a franchise-best 4.32 ERA. Coach and catcher share feedback without worrying about what each other says because, as Apodaca puts it, they value each other's opinion.

"He's really solid for us behind the plate, nailing all the pitches, good learning curve with the guys he doesn't know as well and establishing more volume of knowledge with the guys he has caught," manager Clint Hurdle said.

Torrealba has also served as a mentor to the Rockies' young Latin pitchers, Jimenez and Franklin Morales, a 22-year-old candidate for the starting rotation. Both gained postseason experience last year, but Jimenez has pitched 17 games in the big leagues, and Morales eight. Torrealba said he expects both pitchers, with their high level of talent, to adjust quickly after making mistakes.

In the instance of calling for Jimenez's developing change-up, Torrealba, 29, boosted Jimenez's confidence.

"If they start getting a little inconsistent, or if their focus starts to wane a little bit, he doesn't hesitate to get in their face, and because of that respect they have for him, they take it very positively," Apodaca said. "It's such a huge advantage that he can speak their native language, where there is no miscommunication."

While remaining consistent behind the plate and adapting to new pitchers, Torrealba has been one of the Rockies' top hitters this spring, posting a .438 average. He went 1 for 4 in Sunday's 8-2 victory against the Dodgers at Hi Corbett Field. He has hit safely in nine straight games and collected eight RBIs in 11 games. His success at the plate seems to have carried over from the postseason, when he hit .313 with runners in scoring position.

"His offense has been really good and he's been able to revisit his stroke as far as driving the ball to right-center field," Hurdle said. "He's staying on balls longer."

Unlike spring training last year, Torrealba is pain-free. His right shoulder, which was strained early in 2006, felt sore during spring training and last season, one reason why he threw out just 13 of 74 base runners. Torrealba and the pitching staff are focused on slowing down opponents' running games in 2008.

"There are so many fast runners in the league and that affected me a lot," he said. "I'm working hard and my shoulder feels better and hopefully this year we're going to stop that."

For the first time in 14 years, Torrealba opted to skip winter ball after last season, allowing his shoulder — and entire body — to recuperate. Besides starting all of the Rockies' 11 postseason games during their run to the World Series, he made 105 starts behind the plate during the season, his most during a majorleague season. His previous high for games in a big-league season was 66 in 2003 with the San Francisco Giants.

"I think that helped me out with my shoulder because it's well-rested and so far, so good," Torrealba said.

See a gallery of images from Sunday's game between the Rockies and Diamondbacks at azstarnet.com/slideshows.