Colorado Rockies: May 15 Minor League report and prospect update

AAA Albuquerque Isotopes (19-17, Second in PCL-Pacific Southern)

Over the past week, Albuquerque matched three losses with three wins and remain in a tie for second place in the PCL- Pacific Southern division. Deservedly so, outfielder Raimel Tapia was called up to the big club to provide hitting depth late last week. Tapia has seen little playing time since being called up, but his promotion comes after hitting for a .400 average in 25 games at Albuquerque. With his outstanding play at the plate, Tapia is definitely forcing the Rockies hand.

In that same vain, top prospect Jeff Hoffman was also called upon by the big club this week. In need of a spot start, Hoffman delivered for his first Major League win. It is extremely likely that Hoffman will be called upon again in Denver this season. Failing to make the club out of Spring Training, Hoffman badly needs 2017 to be the year he establishes himself as a permanent big league presence. At this point, it’s all about consistency.

In other Albuquerque news, Rockies Opening Day catcher Tony Wolters is rehabbing with the team. In three games, Wolters is 2-for-11 with a home run. Provided there are no setbacks, Wolters could be back in purple by end of this week. With Tapia away, Noel Cuevas is the ‘Topes hottest hitter. Cuevas is 15-for-38 (.395 AVG) with one dinger and 10 RBI over his last 10 games.

Lastly, former MLB All-Star Domonic Brown is hitting .209 in 15 games this season, and Cristhian Adames made his Isotopes debut this week.

Transactions:

5/13/17 – 1B Collin Ferguson assigned to Albuquerque Isotopes from Hartford Yard Goats.
5/12/17 – Colorado Rockies recalled Raimel Tapia from Albuquerque Isotopes.
5/12/17 – Colorado Rockies sent C Tony Wolters on a rehab assignment to Albuquerque Isotopes.
5/12/17 – RHP Thad Weber assigned to Albuquerque Isotopes.
5/12/17 – Albuquerque Isotopes placed RHP Zach Jemiola on the 7-day disabled list.
5/12/17 – Colorado Rockies optioned RHP Jeff Hoffman to Albuquerque Isotopes.
5/12/17 – Colorado Rockies recalled RHP Jeff Hoffman from Albuquerque Isotopes.
5/10/17 – San Antonio Missions traded RHP Barry Enright to Albuquerque Isotopes.
5/10/17 – Colorado Rockies optioned RHP Jeff Hoffman to Albuquerque Isotopes.
5/9/17 – Colorado Rockies recalled Jeff Hoffman from Albuquerque Isotopes.

AA Hartford Yard Goats (13-21, Fifth in Eastern League – Eastern)

Struggling to keep the season afloat, Hartford managed a .500 record over the last seven days. The best individual performance of the week came on the back of pitcher Jack Wynkoop. The lefty tossed eight shutout innings allowing just three hits in a 3-1 victory last Friday.

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The Yard Goats managed to score just 17 runs in a 3-3 week. Coming off of a month where he was named Double-A Player of the Month, Ryan McMahon has cooled off a little. In his last 10 contests, McMahon is 10-for-36 (.278 AVG) with one homer and three RBI.

It should be noted that pitcher Yency Almonte remains on the DL for Hartford. For a more detailed reading on Hartford, here is a great article by the Hartford Courant. The article offers great insight into how Double-A differs from life in the lower leagues. Mainly, the article speaks of how hitters and pitchers alike approach making adjustments in their game.

Transactions:

5/14/17 – Emerson Jimenez assigned to Grand Junction Rockies from Hartford Yard Goats.
5/14/17 – Correlle Prime assigned to Hartford Yard Goats from Grand Junction Rockies
5/14/17 – Anthony Phillips assigned to Hartford Yard Goats from Grand Junction Rockies.
5/13/17 -1B Collin Ferguson assigned to Albuquerque Isotopes from Hartford Yard Goats.
5/12/17 – RHP Luis Niebla assigned to Boise Hawks from Hartford Yard Goats.
5/11/17 – RHP Edison Frias assigned to Hartford Yard Goats.

Advanced-A Lancaster JetHawks (19-18, Second in California League – South)

Winners of five straight, Lancaster is the hottest team down on the farm. Thanks to the resurgence of MLB.com’s #13 overall prospect Brendan Rodgers, Lancaster is primed to make an early season surge. Over his last 10 games, Rodgers is batting an other-worldly .548 with three bombs, 13 runs, and 12 RBI. All of this offensive output is match with errorless defensive play at shortstop.

Starting pitchers Craig Schlitter and Trey Killian are tied for first place in the California League with five wins a piece. Schlitter is has been slightly more impressive thus far, as he sits third in the league with a 1.88 ERA.

Pitcher Jesus Tinoco also cashed an outstanding individual performance this week. Tinoco threw a career-high seven scoreless innings that included zero walks, four strikeouts and only one hit allowed. The performance was almost perfect as Jesus retired the first 20 batters he faced. Tinoco, a piece of the Tulowitzki trade, is 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA this season.

2015 second round draft pick Peter Lambert pitched 6.1 innings this week, yielding three earned runs while punching out six batters. Lambert is among the organization leaders in strikeouts.

As of Monday afternoon, it was announced that Rodgers and Tinoco were named California League Player and Pitcher of the week for their respective outstanding play.

Transactions:

No transactions occurred in the last seven days.

A Asheville Tourists (16-19, Fifth in South Atlantic League – Southern)

Call to the Pen

2016 round one draft choice Riley Pint has been outstanding in his first pro season. This past week was no different.

Pint logged four innings while surrendering one earned run. Pint is 1-4 on the year, which looks ugly, but Pint owns a 1.90 ERA in six starts.

In other news, last Wednesday got testy. In the fourth frame, Tourists’ first baseman Luis Castro was hit in the head with a fastball. Naturally, Castro had some choice words as he walked towards the mound. Benches then emptied and punches were thrown. But somehow, it appears that both sides avoided injuries.

Lastly, third baseman Colton Welker stayed hot this week. Over the last 10 games, Welker is 13-for-37, good enough for a .351 average. Welker possesses a .328/.370/.447 line so far in 2017.

Transactions:

5/11/17 – 1B Luis Castro roster status changed by Asheville Tourists.