Purple Monday: Colorado Rockies Updates From the Farm

Happy Monday Everyone! After some ugly games last week against cellar dwellers, the Rays, the Colorado Rockies bounced back and swept the Braves. We will most likely have some trade rumors to discuss this week but I decided to devote this week to what is going on in the farm. I will point out some of the key prospects at each level starting with the Tourists. Also included will be the rankings each prospect garners from MLBpipeline.com and their position on the list of “prospects I am most excited about” which is filled with bias. Lets get into it:

Class A-Asheville Tourists:

Brendan Rodgers: MLB Pipeline’s No.10 best prospect, Rockies No. 1 Prospect

You can’t talk about the Tourists and not start with Brendan Rodgers. The Colorado Rockies drafted him third-overall last year, with many people considering him the player with the highest ceiling in the whole draft. He is currently sitting at .285/.352/.482 with 13 HR’s and 51 RBI’s. This is pretty good for a guy that is stacking up against competition an average of 2.4 years older than him. Perhaps the most important part for Rockies fans is that he has been able to play in 76 of the Tourists 94 games, missing time early in the year. He was hampered by some injuries last year and has never played such a rigorous full season so it is exciting to see some durability out of him. He is a long ways out still but will be manning the SS position at Coors Field in the future.

My rank: seven, only because we have a long time to wait before seeing him.

David Hill: MLB Pipeline Rockies No. 27 Prospect

Hill is a pitcher that the Rockies took in the fourth round in 2015. He is 22 and after impressing in Boise (3.09 ERA) last year was added to the rotation in Asheville this year. He has started 14 games compiling an ERA of 4.48 and averages a strikeout an inning, which is impressive. He will be a name to keep track of as he moves up the ranks.

My rank: 20

Peter Lambert: Rockies No.13 Prospect

Lambert is 19 years old, looks even younger and was drafted in the second-round last year by the Rockies. He started this year in Asheville, starting 18 games and has an ERA of 4.43 with a WHIP of 1.279. His numbers aren’t spectacular but are ballooned by a couple outings where he gave up 10 runs and 6 runs, respectively. He has shown he has the ability and just needs to improve in consistency.

My rank: 19, just like his age. I could see him being a solid mid-rotation starter behind Hoffman and Gray.

High Class A- The Modesto Nuts:

Jesus Tinoco: MLB Pipeline Rockies No.15

Tinoco is often an afterthought with the Rockies. He earned five wins with an ERA of 1.80 in seven starts for the Tourists last year. He was called up to Modesto after seven starts in Asheville to begin 2016. So far he hasn’t impressed for the Nuts. Through four starts Tinoco has an ERA of 14.85. It is too early to make a judgment and the important thing will be seeing how he responds to these struggles.

My Rank: 15, I am really pulling for this guy proving the Rockies won the Tulo trade.

Tyler Matzek: Not included

I guess Tyler does not really belong in this article but he is definitely a name we are all familiar with. After his well-documented struggles with performance anxiety Matzek has started to find himself again. Putting aside some tough outings early in the year, Matzek has pitched very well

and most importantly has supplied the Nuts with 18 IP out of the bullpen. His ERA is 4.91 but has only given up runs in seven of his last 10 outings, a definite improvement.

My ranking: 12, if he makes it back it will be one of the coolest stories ever

Ryan Castellani: Rockies No.16

Castellani was the second round pick of the Rockies in 2014 and although he has flown a little under the radar he has been extremely impressive so far. Through 18 starts he has an ERA of 4.05 with a K/9 of 8.3. The only problem is that he has been walking 3.3/9 innings leaving him with a slightly lackluster K/BB ratio of 2.82.

My Rank: 10, he is one of my favorites.

Jack Wynkoop: Not Ranked

Wynkoop was drafted last year by the Rockies in the fifth-round. He does not have the expectations and strong scouting report that some of the other guys do but he has been pitching brilliantly. His ERA currently sits at 3.03 with a WHIP of 0.94, through five starts at Modesto. He could be rising on prospect boards in the future.

My Rank: 18, too early to tell, but I think he could surprise some people.

Dom Nunez: Rockies No. 8

Nunez is very highly regarded ranking as the seventh-best catching prospect in baseball. His slashline is .237/.330/.304 this year which isn’t phenomenal but if he continues to show the defensive ability and baseball smarts throughout his progression he could be one of the Rockies best catchers in franchise history.

My Rank: 11, Nunez has a great second half last year after a slow start and will look to repeat this year.

Forrest Wall: Rockies No. 5

Wall is a 20-year-old second baseman. He has had some shoulder problems limiting arm strength so he is likely to stick at second in the majors. He is hitting .258/.320/.353 this year but has shown some streaky tendencies. After a slow start Wall hit .330 in June displaying an ability to adapt to the higher level of play in the California League.

My Rank: No. 1, Wall profiles as my favorite kind of player who plays up the middle with speed and an ability to get a lot of extra-base hits especially at Coors Field.

Omar Carrizales: Not Ranked

Also left off of most Rockies prospect lists, Carrizales has shown to be able to hit wherever he goes. He is a left-handed speed type guy that won’t provide a lot of power but will always be a nightmare on the bases. He is hitting .302 with 12 SB’s so far this year for the Nuts.

My Rank: 17, the Rockies could always use some speed on the bases.

Double A: Hartford Yard Goats: #EatItUp

German Marquez: Rockies No.12

Marquez is quickly becoming the best part of the return for Corey Dickerson. He has done nothing but impress since joining the Rockies organization. While he is only 21 he has been able to pitch

his way into a 2.88 ERA in 18 starts against competition an average of 3.6 years older than him. He has a WHIP of 1.198 and 8.2 K/9.

My Rank: nine, another good chance for the Rockies to win the trade.

Antonio Senzatela: Rockies No. 10

Senzatela was signed by the Rockies in 2011 out of Venezuela. He is currently 21 and has been unable to play very much this year secondary to injuries. When he has pitched he has been lights out with an ERA 1.82 through seven games. He was garnering a lot of respect in spring training proving the ability to leave major league hitters shaking their heads.

My Rank: eight, he should be fun to watch if he can stay healthy.

Jerry Vasto: Not Ranked

The Rockies 24th-round pick in 2014 has been absolutely lights out from the bullpen this year. He has spent time in Modesto and Hartford. He had a 1.38 ERA with 10 saves and a K/9 of 12.5 in Modesto and has improved that to 12.8 through 13 games for the Goats. With the recent promotion of Matt Carasiti, Vasto will likely fill the closer role for the Goats. He could be next year’s Carlos Estevez and take over as a high leverage left-handed bullpen arm for the Rockies.

My Rank: 13, always exciting to see a dominant reliever, especially as a Rockies fan.

Raimel Tapia: Rockies No. 6

Tapia is quickly turning into one of the Rockies better-known prospects. He got invited to play in the futures game a couple of weeks ago and has put up some unreasonable numbers this season. He has a line of .328/.371/.451, I could see him jumping up to AAA anytime now.

My Rank: three, I think he will be at Coors next year.

Ryan McMahon: Rockies No. 3

McMahon has been struggling compared to some of our prospects for Hartford. He is hitting only .232 with 7 HR’s and 53 RBI’s. He has been able to make adjustments so far this season in Hartford so it will be crucial for him to continue doing this. He has been splitting time at third and first for Hartford and could be our answer at first base if we are able to extend Nolan Arenado’s contract.

More from Rox Pile

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: What if Todd Helton had played football instead?
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023?

My Rank: five, a lot of raw power, will fit nicely in the middle of the order if he can figure some things out first.

Triple A: Albuquerque Isotopes

Kyle Freeland: Rockies No. 7

Freeland was the Rockies first-round pick , eighth-overall, in the 2014 draft. After receiving a spring training invite this year he started the season in Hartford where he was 5-7 with a 3.89 ERA. He recently got called up to the Isotopes where he has struggled a bit more. He is currently 1-2

with a 5.10 ERA in five starts. His most recent start was very promising as he went 5.2 innings giving up only two runs and striking out seven.

My Rank: six, still has some learning to do in the minors, especially improving his ability to miss bats.

Jordan Patterson: Rockies No. 19

Patterson was the Rockies fourth-round pick in 2013. He has been a solid hitter at every level. So far in AAA this year he is hitting .313/.403/.480. He has six HR’s which is a little low for the player he profiles to be. I could see him getting time at first and in a corner outfield position for the Rockies. He will need to hit better against lefties as he is hitting only .183 against left-handed pitchers.

My Rank: 16, we have some outfield talent I am more excited for.

Tom Murphy: Rockies No. 9

Murphy has been the heir-apparent catcher for the Rockies for a couple of years now. He played in multiple games last year and many thought he would break camp in the majors, Tony Wolters took that spot instead. Murphy was having a rough start to the season but has made up for it in a big way recently. In his last 10 games he is hitting .483 with five home runs. He also achieved a cycle during this time.

My Rank: four, if he can keep up this hot streak he could be at Coors this fall.

Jeff Hoffman: Rockies No. 4

Hoffman is someone everyone knows the name of. He was the major piece the Rockies got for Troy Tulowitzki. He has had his ups and downs with the Isotopes and shows flashes of being ready for the majors. The Rockies illustrated to me that they knew what they were doing with Jon Gray’s development so I will just wait patiently for Hoffman.

My Rank: No. 2

Next: Dahl and the Future of the Colorado Rockies

Initially I was planning to feature David Dahl in this article but as I am sure everyone has noticed he got called up to the show. The expectation is that he will start in LF for tonight’s game. Let’s see how his MLB debut compares to his old roommate, Trevor Story’s. The Rockies continue to flirt with contention with a huge sweep of the Braves. Now they face a crucial road trip against the Orioles and Mets.