Future Colorado Rockies: Asheville Tourists July 31 Update
By Bobby DeMuro
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 (Dom Nunez): The Rockies’ 6th round pick in 2013, Dom Nunez is a big-hitting catching prospect that finds himself hotter than hell in the last ten games, going 15-for-34 with three home runs, four walks, 8 RBIs, and just three strikeouts since July 18.
He was an All-Star in the South Atlantic League this season, and considering he’s a catcher with a strong bat (he slashed .313/.384/.517 in Grand Junction last season), Nunez could be something special for a club that is looking for a future catcher well beyond when Nick Hundley will move on from Denver.
Noteworthy are Nunez’s power numbers (13 doubles, 8 home runs in 248 at-bats), but also his eye at the plate; he’s walked 37 times while striking out just 38 times this season, which more than anything is a sign of maturity and a good approach at the plate that will serve him well beyond 2015.
Quick hits: Third baseman Shane Hoelscher leads the Tourists with 8 home runs. Despite being 100 games into the season, no one has yet hit double digit homers … On the mound, Jerry Vasto is still throwing very well, with a 2.81 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 34 games. He has 50 strikeouts against just 17 walks and 31 hits in 41.2 innings … Josh Michalec is racking up saves for the Tourists, with 22 of the team’s 31, but has been doing so with a little bit of luck; he’s allowed 48 hits and 16 walks (1.42 WHIP) in 45 innings of 3-3, 4.60 ball … Lefty Sam Howard hasn’t allowed a run in his last two starts, spanning 15 innings and including a complete game shutout of the Rome Braves on July 27 … Carlos Polanco (88) and Howard (83) are each in the top ten in the South Atlantic League in strikeouts.
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