Future Colorado Rockies: Grand Junction Rockies July 20 Update

Apr 10, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; General view of Colorado Rockies hats and gloves during the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field. The Rockies defeated the Cubs 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Trending up (Collin Ferguson): The first baseman leads the GJ Rox in home runs (with five) and is slashing a respectable .313/.421/.750 in Grand Junction, after starting the season with the Boise Hawks in the short-season Northwest League. Ferguson on Saturday enjoyed a 4-for-5 day with a home run, an RBI, and two runs in the Rockies’ win over Helena.

The 17th round draft pick from St. Mary’s (CA) is a 6’2″ left-handed hitting first baseman — sure, he’s a long way off, and sure’s he’s blocked at first by guys like Ben Paulsen, and Kyle Parker, and Wilin Rosario (well…), and Matt McBride, and a couple more down in the high minors, but you can never have too many lefties with pop, and as a Division I college guy, expect him to move up the minor leagues pretty quickly if he displays that power bat like he’s done in the Pioneer League.

Trending down (Dakota Behr): The local guy has had a tough time adjusting to professional baseball from his stint at Colorado Mesa University, but his struggles are more indicative of just how tough it is to pitch in the Pioneer League, than anything about his talent level specifically. Behr has allowed four home runs in 9.2 innings this summer, and go figure (pitcher wins!), is 2-0 in eight relief appearances. Because, of course he is.

Hitters are batting .413 against him, but for an undrafted free agent who is honestly just eating innings at points for a club that’s trying to bring high-round draft picks along slowly, his development process is very different from that of the prospects we tend to place more of our focus upon.

Not for nothing, Behr allowed six earned runs in 37 innings in his final season of college ball at Colorado Mesa University (on a team that won the NCAA Division II National Championship), so he’s got guile out of the bullpen.

Next: GJ Rockies Notes