What’s The Colorado Rockies’ Plan With Cristhian Adames?

Sep 27, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher T. Federowicz (26) throws out Colorado Rockies shortstop C. Adames (10) at first base in the sixth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Colorado Rockies just promoted a shortstop prospect to AAA, and they have a pretty decent shortstop in the big leagues right now — what to make of the prospect left in the balance?

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The Colorado Rockies aren’t hurting for shortstop options. They’ve got a kinda decent one in Denver (Troy Tulowitzki, maybe you’ve heard of him?), a good one who’s just 23 years old in AAA (Cristhian Adames), another who was just promoted to AAA and is just 22 years old (Trevor Story) and a few more coming later on, like recent first-round draft pick Brendan Rodgers.

Talk about a good problem to have! And while Tulo is certainly the man for the job in the big leagues, and Rodgers is a long ways away from seeing big league action, it’s those middle two — Adames and Story — that make me curious. If the Rockies believe in Story enough to promote him to AAA already (he’ll play in the Futures Game at the MLB All Star Game in a few days), what should we think about Adames’ future in Colorado?

The way the Denver Post — and others — tell it, Story is the heir apparent to Tulo (whenever/however that may be). But, again, Adames is still just 23 himself — and he hasn’t exactly been a slouch in Albuquerque this year. In his AAA career, in fact, Adames has slashed .322/.374/.446 with 27 doubles, 34 walks, and seven home runs in 450 plate appearances against just 59 strikeouts.

He’s four years younger than the average PCL player this season, and last winter he was nearly five years younger than the average player in the Dominican Winter League, where he slashed .353/.426/.473 with an .899 OPS and four doubles, five triples, two home runs, and 18 walks against just 19 strikeouts in 198 plate appearances.

Seems like Adames has done pretty well holding his own against veteran competition in the Dominican and AAA; what more does a guy have to do next to get a sustained shot in the big leagues? (Yes, Adames came up briefly in September last season as a 40-man roster expansion addition.)

What can the Rockies do to realize (or use) Adames’ value as a prospect? Does he have a future in Denver?

Next: Option One: Bring Adames To Denver

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