Colorado Rockies: May 22 minor league report and prospect update

AAA Albuquerque Isotopes (23-20, Second in PCL-Pacific Southern)

Hanging steady in second place, the Albuquerque Isotopes had an up and down week. The most notable happening this week is that Rockies’ shortstop Trevor Story is currently on a rehab assignment with the club. Unable to find his stroke so far in 2017, Story is hoping to find some of the magic that made me a rookie sensation. In three games thus far, Story is 3-for-8 with a home run but committed two errors in Sunday night’s game. It looks like Story is going to be activated soon. 

With top prospects Jeff Hoffman and Raimel Tapia currently up with the big club, players are vying to be the next blip on the front office’s radar. Thus far, infielder Daniel Castro and starting pitcher Barry Enright have impressed. Enright masterfully spun a six-inning scoreless gem where he struck out five, walked none and allowed just two hits.

A new addition to the Rockies system, Enright is in the midst of an 11.2 scoreless inning streak. 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.

Putting together a streak of his own is Castro, who has hits in his last nine contests. Of particular note is a 3-for-4 game where Castro served as the catalyst for a 5-3 victory on Sunday night. During the current hitting streak, Castro raised his average from .236 to .296.

SAD NEWS ALERT: Stephan Cardullo was released this past Thursday. 

Transactions:

5/21/17 – RHP Nelson Gonzalez assigned to Albuquerque Isotopes from Boise Hawks.
5/21/17 –  Albuquerque Isotopes placed RHP Matt Flemer on the temporarily inactive list.
5/19/17 – Colorado Rockies optioned Carlos Estevez to Albuquerque Isotopes.
5/19/17 –  C Jan Vazquez assigned to Hartford Yard Goats from Albuquerque Isotopes.
5/19/17 – Colorado Rockies sent SS Trevor Story on a rehab assignment to Albuquerque Isotopes.
5/19/17 – Colorado Rockies optioned C Dustin Garneau to Albuquerque Isotopes.

AA Hartford Yard Goats (19-22, Fifth in Eastern League – Eastern)

Just as RoxPile hinted at a team chemistry issue in Hartford, the Yard Goats have rattled off an impressive five-game winning streak. As a keen observation, it appears that the Yard Goats have found that scoring more runs than the opposition is a lot more fun than when they don’t!

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It wouldn’t be a Yard Goats update without mentioning the progress of top farm system slugger Ryan McMahon. Surprisingly, McMahon hasn’t played as huge of a role in the team’s current winning streak as one might expect. He did, however, provide a clutch game-tying double with two outs in a recent contest. Since last Monday, McMahon is just 4-for-21, slipping from a .336 average to .315.

You should know that closer James Farris has come through in the clutch. Farris collected two saves this week while striking out five in 2.1 total innings. Farris struck out the side to earn the first save, and then miraculously escaped a bases-loaded, no outs jam to collect the other. All reports indicate that the Yard Goats new home in Hartford as been a big hit in the local community. Thanks to the winning streak and sold out crowds, it was a great week to be Yard Goat!

Transactions:

5/20/17 – Elvin Soto assigned to Grand Junction Rockies from Hartford Yard Goats.
5/17/17 – Huascar Brazoban assigned to Hartford Yard Goats from Lancaster JetHawks.
5/17/17 – David Holman assigned to Boise Hawks from Hartford Yard Goats.
5/16/17 – Steve Ascher assigned to Boise Hawks from Hartford Yard Goats.
5/16/17 – Luis Niebla assigned to Hartford Yard Goats from Boise Hawks.

A Asheville Tourists (18-23, Sixth in South Atlantic League – Southern)

Call to the Pen

With the winning streaks currently going on in Lancaster and Hartford, Asheville is now the Rockies farm club in the biggest rut. Asheville is just 3-7 over their last 10 games. There is some great individual performers though.

Infielder Colton Welker is getting it done at the plate. Welker ranks second in the SAL with a .353 average to accompany a .392 on-base percentage. On May 16, Welker delivered a 3-for-3 performance with a home run, a double and two RBI.

Alejandro Requena, who had one of the best ERAs in the SAL, has scuffled as late. Requena got lit up for eight earned runs on Saturday. The rough outing ballooned his ERA from 1.45 to 2.81 but he did register his first win of the season this week. It is surprising that it was his first win given the fact that Requena has posted a 1.45 ERA now in six starts this season.

2016 first round pick Riley Pint pitched once this week. Last Thursday, Pint turned in four innings pitched while surrendering five earned runs. Pint was charged for the loss and is now 1-5 on the year with a 3.25 ERA. Prior to Thursday start, Pint had a 12-inning scoreless streak going.

Transactions:

5/19/17 – Asheville Tourists activated SS Carlos Herrera.
5/19/17 – Cole Anderson assigned to Boise Hawks from Asheville Tourists.
5/18/17 – Jared Gesell assigned to Asheville Tourists from Boise Hawks.
5/18/17 – Asheville Tourists placed RHP Justin Lawrence on the 7-day disabled list.
5/18/17 – Asheville Tourists activated RF Manuel Melendez from the 7-day disabled list.
5/16/17 – Campbell Wear assigned to Boise Hawks from Asheville Tourists.
5/16/17 – Asheville Tourists activated C Joel Diaz from the 7-day disabled list.

Rockies Farm System Leaders:

Hitting (20 AB min.)
BA: Yonathan Daza .362; Brendan Rodgers .356; Colton Welker .353
OBP: Sam Hilliard.414; Collin Ferguson .409; Yonathan Daza .405
SLG: Brendan Rodgers .594; Sam Hilliard .574; Vince Fernandez .559
2B: Wes Rodgers 14; Four tied with 13
3B: Two tied with 4
HR: Brian Mundell 8; Two tied with 7
SB: Wes Rodgers 22; Garrett Hampson 15; Sam Hilliard 14

Next: Bud Black and the art of bullpen management

Pitching (10 IP min.)
W: Craig Schlitter 6; Trey Killian 5; 10 tied with 3
ERA: Barry Enright 0.00 (11.2 IP); Austin House 0.43 (21 IP);J.D. Hammer 0.93 (19.1 IP);
G: Two players with 16
SV: Matt Carasiti 11; Two tied with 6
IP: Peter Lambert 51.1; Craig Schlitter 49; Trey Killian 48.1
SO: Peter Lambert 56; Ryan Castellani 42; Two tied with 37
WHIP: Barry Enright 0.43; Sam Howard 0.71; J.D. Hammer 0.83