Future Colorado Rockies: Albuquerque Isotopes July 29 Update

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.

More from Colorado Rockies Prospects

• Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023?
• Colorado Rockies: Ezequiel Tovar to make his debut today
• Colorado Rockies: Potential players for September call-ups
• Colorado Rockies call up no. 14 prospect Michael Toglia
• MLB Pipeline: The Colorado Rockies’ farm system has strengthened … a lot

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