Future Colorado Rockies: New Britain Rock Cats August 5 Update

Sep 25, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; General view of Coors Field before the start of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Colorado Rockies. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Trending up (David Dahl): The #3 prospect and top outfielder is still playing well in New Britain after recovering from a spleen injury very quickly that he suffered earlier this year. Even in his last ten games, he’s hitting .289 with seven runs scored, two stolen bases, a homer, and 2 RBI — to give him 15 doubles, three triples, four home runs and 18 stolen bases across 66 minor league games this year.

If there’s a concern — and admittedly, it could be a big one — Dahl strikes out a ton, and doesn’t walk very much. This season in New Britain alone, he’s struck out 60 times and walked just 7. So even though his batting average in AA is a more-than-respectable .284, he’s still only getting on base at a .304 clip, which is unsustainable if he hopes to move up levels.

Considering his mix of a little power, good contact, and good speed, if Dahl can improve at seeing pitches, working deeper into counts, and pulling off more walks rather than striking out at such a prodigious rate, he really will be a force with which to reckon.

Trending down (Noel Cuevas): Noel Cuevas is an interesting comparison to Dahl — Cuevas is on the 40-man roster (Dahl soon will be). Cuevas is 23 (Dahl is just 21). Both are outfielders. Cuevas was acquired in the trade for Juan Nicasio, and yet Cuevas — two years Dahl’s senior — hasn’t had quite as much success as the Rockies’ former first round draft pick.

Cuevas is slashing .262/.299/.336 in New Britain, and he has ver very similar traits to Dahl — he strikes out a fair amount (67 in 301 at-bats), he doesn’t walk (just 11 — 11! — in those same at-bats), and he has similar raw numbers (15 doubles, 2 triples, one home run, and 24 stolen bases) to Dahl’s.

The only difference is that, again, Cuevas is two years older, with two more years pro experience. With the Rockies’ stacked outfield, and Dahl and Raimel Tapia coming, he may not have very many opportunities coming in Denver.

Oh, and in his last ten games, Cuevas is 8-for-38 with seven strikeouts, and just one walk, 6 RBIs, and eight runs.

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