A recent Rockies first-round pick will make his first major-league start Wednesday

The Rockies won’t see their 2023 first-round pick for the rest of the season, but they will get their first starting glimpse at their 2022 first-rounder Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.

Pitcher Gabriel Hughes, who made his major-league debut in relief last Friday in the Rockies’ 15-3 win over the San Francisco Giants, will make his first major-league start against the Los Angeles Dodgers as the Rockies attempt to win their first series against them in over four years, since taking two of three from June 27-29.

Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer announced the decision immediately after his team’s 4-3 win Tuesday night.

It’s a big spot for the club, which hasn’t taken a series from the perennial juggernauts in 16 tries — 13 series losses and three splits.

The Rockies gave themselves a chance to end that streak by rallying from a 3-1 deficit Tuesday. Three eighth-inning runs — aided by two Dodgers errors — and Jordan Romano’s second Colorado save in as many opportunities set up the chance.

And as for Hughes, he’ll likely face a lineup that features multiple eventual Hall of Famers, starting with Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. Might as well toss the young right-hander right into the shark tank and see if he can swim.

The opportunity might have arrived earlier, but injuries and recovery have defined his climb through the Rockies organization. The Gonzaga University product underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023 and saw his path to the major-league level this year detoured by a left oblique injury.

ROCKIES WILL PUSH BACK RYAN FELTNER’S START

Feltner had been scheduled to start the series finale, which will also be the Rockies’ final game at Dodger Stadium this year. Roki Sasaki will get the ball for Los Angeles.

Schaeffer told media after Tuesday’s game that the team was pushing back Feltner’s start. The Rockies gave extra rest to fellow starter Tomoyuki Sugano last week after he struggled June 26 at Minnesota.

Hughes ranks 16th among Colorado prospects per MLB Pipeline. He had a 5.31 ERA and a 1.279 WHIP over nine appearances — including seven starts — with AAA Albuquerque before his call-up.

Last year, he had a 4.53 ERA over three teams in the organization. At AA Hartford, he had a 3.29 ERA and a 0.854 WHIP over nine appearances.