Future Colorado Rockies: Boise Hawks August 8 Update

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 (Eric Toole): We profiled Toole much earlier in the summer, and he’s going to end up having a pretty decent year in Boise if everything goes as it has been through the first 60% of their season.

The 22nd round pick in 2015, and former outfielder for the University of Iowa, is 12-for-35 (.343) in his last ten games, scoring seven runs and driving in four more wile stealing five bases, walking three times, and striking out just five times.

He’s actually even hotter than that in the short-term: in his last five games entering Friday night, Toole is 11-for-20 (.550) with four RBI, six runs, four stolen bases, and just two strikeouts.

The 6’0″ left handed hitting, right handed throwing outfielder may be able to develop some speed as he progresses in the minor leagues, too; he’s stolen nine bases in 23 games in Boise after stealing seventy bases in his four seasons for the Hawkeyes.

Trending down (Richard Prigatano): Drafted in the 11th round out of Long Beach State in 2014, Prigatano has had two rough seasons in the Rockies’ organization, both in the Northwest League. This year, he’s hitting just 3-for-30 with 16 strikeouts in 10 games in Boise.

Last year, in Tri-City, he slashed just .172/.260/.229 in 157 at-bats (with 54 total strikeouts) for the Dirt Devils in 47 games.

All told, any 22 year old (who will turn 23 in six weeks) who isn’t hitting above .200 in low-A ball after two cracks at the whip may not have too much longer of a future in a professional organization.

But, considering his size (6’3″, 195 lbs.) and draft place (11th round last season), clearly the Rockies see something in him, especially considering he hit nearly .300 in 150 college games against very, very tough competition.

Next: Notes And A Player To Watch