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Future Colorado Rockies: Albuquerque Isotopes July 29 Update

By BobDeMuro |
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The Colorado Rockies’ top-level minor leagues — including the Albuquerque Isotopes — are in flux after a major trade at the big league level this week.

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The Colorado Rockies made a huge trade this week at the big league level, and it’s going to affect the Isotopes a lot — namely, in the short term, with several call ups (Justin Miller, Cristhian Adames, Aaron Laffey) to bridge the gap in terms of roster options until the 25-man calms down a little bit.

Additionally, Wilin Rosario is back down in AAA Albuquerque after not being able to get on the field very much in Denver the last couple weeks though we’ll see how long that lasts (not for nothing, he could be a trade candidate in the next day or two, as well!).

Let’s jump in on the ‘Topes…

The last week (3-4): The Topes kept on doing about what the Topes have been doing all year, going 3-4 over their last seven games. The lowlight, for sure, was losing both ends of a doubleheader to the Sacramento River Cats by the scores of 10-0 and 10-1 on Monday afternoon. Yikes.

The Isotopes are now 47-57, and 11.5 games out of first place in the Pacific Coast League’s Pacific Southern division. That means the Topes unfortunately have the fifth worst winning percentage in the 20-team Pacific Coast League.

Next: Trending Up And Down For ABQ

Jul 26, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; A general view during the fifth inning between the Colorado Rockies and the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field. The Rockies won 17-7. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Trending up (Christian Bergman): The big league-quality middle reliever/spot starter is here in Albuquerque this week on a rehabilitation assignment to recover from an arm injury in the hopes of quickly returning to the Colorado Rockies in another few days.

Bergman’s had a nice year in Denver — or at least he did before the injury — going 2-0 with a 4.66 ERA in 19 games (1 start). On Tuesday night, Bergman threw two scoreless innings for the Topes, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out two batters.

Obviously, considering the Rockies’ starting pitching and bullpen depth in 2015 as the season starts to end, Bergman’s return to Denver fairly soon would be a welcome addition to a beleaguered staff.

Trending down (Charlie Culberson): What in the hell happened to Culberson? The man who spent most of the season on the 40-man and 25-man rosters has completely disappeared from the Rockies’ plans in 2015. After dealing with a groin injury immediately from the start of Spring Training, Culberson disappeared for much of the first two months of the year.

He surfaced at the end of May, played five games, went 4-for-20, and promptly went right back on to the disabled list. This is a lost year for him, but considering some of the Rockies’ options coming up (Trevor Story, Cristhian Adames, etc.) and some of the ones who have asserted themselves in Denver already (DJ LeMahieu), Culberson may not be long for the Rockies’ organization.

Next: Isotopes Notes

Apr 20, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of gloves and hats in the Colorado Rockies dugout during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

One to watch (Tom Murphy): The catching prospect was just promoted to Albuquerque from AA New Britain.

Now that he’s up at the highest minor league level, he’s gone 3-for-11 in three games for the Isotopes, with one run, one RBI, and one walk.

Murphy just got done representing team USA at the Pan-American Games in Toronto earlier this month, and a promotion to Albuquerque for the 3rd round draft pick from 2012 may mean the 24-year-old is getting very close to the big leagues.

Quick hits: Simon Castro has thrown 16.2 innings in his last ten game, allowing 13 hits and two walks, while striking out 23 hitters and walking only one … Matt McBride, slashing .350/.394/.588 this year, just came off the disabled list and returned to the Isotopes’ active roster … On Monday, the Pacific Coast League announced that Trevor Story has been named PCL Player Of The Week. The shortstop went 13-for-26 with four homers, 11 RBIs, and two walks on the week … Gray watch! Jon Gray has 64 strikeouts in his last 56 innings in AAA, and with 102 strikeouts on the year thus far, he leads the PCL in whiffs. He’s also gone 3-1 with a 3.70 ERA in his last ten starts, and is now putting together a decent season that will surely result in a call-up soon.

Socials:
ABQIsotopes.com
@ABQTopes
FB.com/ABQIsotopes

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