Road To The Colorado Rockies: August 28 Minor League Updates

Modesto Nuts logo [Image via Twitter/Colorado Rockies]

Modesto Nuts — A+

Last week (2-5), Overall (64-65): The Modesto Nuts have lost 9 of their last 11 games, are now under .500 overall on the season, and have faded to third place in their division in the California League as the playoffs approach.

They had a shot to win the second half of their division this summer, but the bad stretch lately has pushed them likely out of playoff contention with just a week’s worth of games to go (though they haven’t been mathematically eliminated just yet).

That’s a disappointment for a club that is statistically in the top third of the California League in both hitting and pitching, and it’s doubly disappointing considering most of the roster this year made up the Asheville Tourists last year — the club that won the South Atlantic League Championship. That playoff experience isn’t working in the California League, unfortunately.

Trending up: Konner Wade. The seventh round draft pick in 2013 from the University of Arizona has had a great year in the starting rotation facing a very hitter-friendly situation in the Cal League. In his last ten starts, Wade is 5-2 with a 2.71 ERA. His last game was a loss to Stockton, but he threw a complete game seven-hitter, allowing just one run and no walks… and lost.

On the year, he’s 7-8, with a 3.78 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and .255 average against in 24 starts, with two complete games, and only 152 hits allowed in 157.1 innings.

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Trending down: Kyle Freeland. Freeland is a big prospect, of course, but after dealing with an injury early this year, he’s struggled in Modesto in five starts as he tries to get back on track for 2016. In 25.2 innings in Modesto, Freeland has allowed 34 hits (.330 batting average against) and given up four home runs while striking out just 13 hitters.

Next year, when he’s hopefully finally healthy and right, will be an interesting time for Freeland and the Rockies, as they try to figure out if he’s still got the prospect good when he likely starts again in Modesto.

One to watch: Matt Carasiti. Carasiti took over the Nuts’ closer role when Carlos Estevez was promoted to AA New Britain, and in his last ten games, he’s thrown 10.1 scoreless innings while striking out nine and recording eight saves.

On the year, he’s 19 of 21 in save opportunities, and he’s struck out 54 in 54.1 innings. All in all, a nice year for the sixth round drat pick from 2012, who was first converted to a reliever last year in Asheville.

Next: Asheville Tourists (A)