Rockies' Hawkins removed from closer role; Weiss doesn't name permanent replacement

LaTroy Hawkins' stint as the Colorado Rockies' closer ended Monday after manager Walt Weiss confirmed that the 42-year-old won't handle the ninth inning for the time being, according to MLB.com's Thomas Harding.

Hawkins, who made his MLB debut in 1995, entered the campaign poised to reprise his role after logging 23 saves for the Rockies last season, but was demoted Monday after blowing each of his last two save opportunities. Over his last two appearances, Hawkins has allowed five earned runs on six hits and one walk while recording just five outs.

Weiss noted that veteran right-hander Rafael Betancourt will handle closing duties Monday against the San Francisco Giants, if necessary, but stressed that matchups will likely determine how he deploys his bullpen going forward.

Betancourt, 39, has yet to allow a baserunner in three appearances this season, but missed the entire 2014 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Adam Ottavino, meanwhile, is another candidate for ninth-inning opportunities, as the 29-year-old right-hander has logged seven strikeouts over four innings in 2015 and boasts a 2.99 ERA (146 ERA+) with a 3.23 strikeout-to-walk ratio over the last three seasons.