Colorado Rockies: May 8 Minor League Report and Prospect Update

AAA Albuquerque Isotopes (16-14, First in PCL-Pacific Southern)

Winners of five of their last seven games, the Isotopes now find themselves in first place in their division after hovering near the cellar for the first month of the season. Averaging 6.5 runs a game over a week usually translates into good things.

Top pitching prospect Jeff Hoffman threw his second straight good outing this week. In a game against El Paso, Hoffman tossed six innings, yielding two earned runs. As a reward for the quality start, Hoffman secured his second victory of the year. Hoffman is now 2-2 with a respectable 3.71 ERA in the hitter-friendly PCL. If he can put together a few more consistent outings, expect Hoffman to land in Colorado early this summer.

As the engine to the Isotopes offense, Raimel Tapia is unstoppable. After another great week at the plate, Tapia is now 39-for-102 in 22 games for Albuquerque. Tapia’s .382 average is second in the PCL. Currently, the Rockies have too many outfielders, but Tapia’s play is too loud to ignore much longer.

Transactions:

5/7/17 – RHP Luis Niebla assigned to Rockies Ext. Spring Training from Albuquerque Isotopes.
5/6/17 – RHP Luis Niebla assigned to Albuquerque Isotopes from Hartford Yard Goats.
5/6/17 – Albuquerque Isotopes placed 1B Stephen Cardullo on the 7-day disabled list.
5/5/17 – Colorado Rockies sent SS Cristhian Adames outright to Albuquerque Isotopes.
5/4/17 – Albuquerque Isotopes placed OF Chris Denorfia on the 7-day disabled list.
5/4/17 – C Brian Serven assigned to Grand Junction Rockies from Albuquerque Isotopes.
5/4/17 – C Jan Vazquez assigned to Albuquerque Isotopes from Hartford Yard Goats.
5/3/17 –  Albuquerque Isotopes activated LHP Jerry Vasto from the 7-day disabled list.
5/3/17 – Colorado Rockies selected the contract of C Ryan Hanigan from Albuquerque Isotopes.
5/3/17 – Colorado Rockies optioned RHP Carlos Estevez to Albuquerque Isotopes.
5/3/17 – C Brian Serven assigned to Albuquerque Isotopes from Grand Junction Rockies.
5/3/17 – Albuquerque Isotopes placed LHP Harrison Musgrave on the 7-day disabled list.

AA Hartford Yard Goats (10-17, Fifth in Eastern League – Eastern)

Team chemistry in Hartford hasn’t yet come to fruition as the Yard Goats are only 3-7 over their last 10 games. Although, they have won two in a row. Some would call that a winning streak. There are two big pieces of news coming out of Hartford.

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The first is that raising star Yency Almonte who owns a sub-2.00 ERA was placed on the disabled list. In his last start, Almonte was pulled in the early innings due to shoulder stiffness. Hopefully, a few weeks rest does the trick.

The other big news is that top prospect Ryan McMahon was named Double-A Player of the Month for April. McMahon led the Eastern League in hits, and RBI while maintaining a .375 average. McMahon is 22 years old.

Transactions:

5/8/17 – RHP David Holman assigned to Hartford Yard Goats from Boise Hawks.
5/8/17 – RHP Luis Niebla assigned to Hartford Yard Goats from Rockies Ext. Spring Training.
5/6/17 – RHP Luis Niebla assigned to Albuquerque Isotopes from Hartford Yard Goats.
5/5/17 – Hartford Yard Goats placed RHP Yency Almonte on the 7-day disabled list.
5/4/17 – RHP Matt Pierpont assigned to Hartford Yard Goats from Rockies Ext. Spring Training.
5/4/17 – C Jan Vazquez assigned to Albuquerque Isotopes from Hartford Yard Goats.

Advanced-A Lancaster JetHawks (14-17, Second in California League – South)

Lancaster posted a 3-5 record over the last week. The Rockies’ top prospect and MLB.com’s #13 overall prospect Brendan Rodgers, is tearing up Advanced-A since starting the season the DL. Rodgers mashed his first bomb of the year this week and in 13 total games, Rodgers sports a .352 average with five doubles and nine RBIs.

Starting pitcher Craig Schlitter continues to dominate the California League. Schlitter got two wins this week and tossed seven innings with one earned run in his last start. Schlitter is leading with California League with a 4-0 record on the year. He sports a 1.95 ERA.

Right fielder Sam Hilliard collect 10 hits over the last week and is hitting .389 over his last 10 games. 2015 second round draft pick Peter Lambert pitched five innings and yielded five earned runs in his lone start this week.

Transactions:

5/3/17 – Wilson Soriano assigned to Lancaster JetHawks from Grand Junction Rockies
5/3/17 – Lancaster JetHawks activated RHP Heath Holder from the temporarily inactive list.
5/3/17 – Lancaster JetHawks placed 2B Forrest Wall on the 7-day disabled list.
5/3/17 – Sam Thoele assigned to Grand Junction Rockies from Lancaster JetHawks.
5/1/17 – Lancaster JetHawks placed RHP Heath Holder on the temporarily inactive list.

Rockies Farm System Leaders:

Hitting (10 AB min.)
BA: Raimel Tapia .382; Sam Hilliard .369; Brendan Rodgers .352
OBP: Sam Hilliard .441; Stephen Cardullo .419; Raimel Tapia .417
SLG: Ryan McMahon .592; Sam Hilliard .573; Raimel Tapia .559
2B: Raimel Tapia 12; Two players tied with 9
3B: Four players tied with 3
HR: Brian Mundell 6; Two players tied with 5
SB: Wes Rodgers14; Two tied with 10

Next: Bud Black and bullpen management

Pitching (4 IP min.)
W: Two players with 4
ERA: Austin House 0.56 (16 IP); J.D. Hammer 0.59 (15.1 IP); Matt Carasiti 0.82 (11 IP)
G: Two players with 12
SV: Matt Carasiti 7; Two players with 4
IP: Trey Killian 38.1; Alejandro Requena 37.1; Craig Schlitter 37
SO: Peter Lambert 35; Antonio Santos 32; Ryan Castellani 31
WHIP: Shane Broyles 0.58, Justin Lawrence 0.69, J.D. Hammer 0.85