Colorado Rockies: June 20 minor league report and prospect update

AAA Albuquerque Isotopes (35-34, Second in PCL-Pacific Southern)

It came down the pipeline today that Ryan McMahon was named the Pacific Coast League Player of the Week for June 12-18. Pretty impressive for a guy that has been playing Triple-A ball for just two weeks. If you watch the highlight of McMahon’s most recent homer, you’ll see the opposition’s center fielder just collapse on the warning track as if to say “what do we have to do!?”. The gesture is pretty symbolic of how the league must feel about McMahon’s current play.

In 67 at-bats in the PCL, McMahon is 30-for-67. That is an outrageous .448 average to go along with five dingers and 19 RBIs. Just 22-years-old, McMahon is closing in on 2,000 ABs in his minor league career. To put that in comparison, Nolan Arenado had approximately 1,700 ABs at the time of his Big League promotion.

It is clear that McMahon is need of a new challenge. The Rockies have several options on how they could handle McMahon. The most likely being that McMahon will be part of trade deadline deal or be a September call-up that could contribute down the line. Either way, it will be interesting to see how the front office plays it.

In other recent Isotopes’ news, left-hander Tyler Anderson is attempting to work through health and effectiveness issues. In his lone start at Triple-A, Anderson took the loss but allowed just one earned run in five innings pitched. Also making a rehab start was Jon Gray, who allowed five hits and one earned run while striking out seven over 4.1 innings on Monday night.

Advanced-A Lancaster JetHawks (38-32, First in California League – South)

Much like Ryan McMahon above him, Rockies’ top prospect Brendan Rodgers is demanding the front office’s attention. Since beginning the season on the DL, Rodgers has carried his club into first place on the back of a .400 average (84-for-210) to go along with 21 doubles and 12 home runs. You can see the swing that has pushed him to that torrid pace by clicking here.

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The next test for Rodgers will be to see Double-A pitching, a promotion that could come at any moment. It’s in Double-A after all that prospects are separated from future big leaguers. Our best guess is that Rodgers gets 500 at-bats at Lancaster, and barring a huge slump, he’ll move up to Double-A before the end of the year.

Starting pitcher Jesus Tinoco, Peter Lambert, and Craig Schlitter highlight a slew of impressive starting pitchers that Lancaster has benefitted from this season. In the case of Schlitter, he leads the California League in Wins with nine, and is third with a 2.40 ERA. Lambert, a second-round draft pick a few years back, leads the club with 84 strikeouts with a 4.23 ERA. Lastly, Tinoco, who was a piece in the Tulo trade, is 5-1 with a 4.61 ERA. Keep in mind that the California League is a hitters paradise.

In a final note, the Cal League All-Star game is tonight, highlighted by Brendan Rodgers of course. Also making the All-Star game for Lancaster is outfielders Sam Hilliard, and Wes Rogers, as well as first baseman Brian Mundell and shortstop Garrett Hampson.

A Asheville Tourists (28-39, Sixth in South Atlantic League – Southern)

Call to the Pen

Just like Lancaster, the Asheville Tourists closed out there first half of the season. Despite a lackluster record, Asheville has placed six players on the SAL All-Star squad for tonight’s game in Columbia, South Carolina.

Colton Welker will get the starting spot in tonight’s game at third base. Welker leads the SAL with a .357 average. Also earning a starting spot is shortstop Jose Gomez. Gomez is sitting at the break with a .306 average.

Fellow Tourist Max George, who is also a Colorado native, will start in the DH slot. George is hitting .255 with six home runs. Rounding out the offensive All-Stars, Vince Fernandez makes the squad as a reserve outfielder and is hitting .325 on the year.

Asheville will send two pitchers to Columbia as well. Starter Alejandro Requena who owns a 2.66 ERA in ten starts is well deserving, but also reliever J.D. Hammer will represent Asheville. Hammer is another Colorado native who is doing work for Asheville. Hammer has collected six saves on the year while holding opponents to a .163 average.

Rockies Farm System Leaders:

Hitting (10 AB min.)
BA: Ryan McMahon .444 (AAA); Brendan Rodgers .400; Colton Welker .365
OBP: Ryan McMahon .475; Brendan Rodgers .419; Stephen Cardullo .419
SLG: Dustin Garneau .792; Ryan McMahon .778; Brendan Rodgers .700
2B: Brendan Rodgers 21; Vince Fernandez 17; Colton Welker 17
3B: Noel Cuevas 8; Mike Tauchman 6; Derrik Gibson 6
HR: Brian Mundell 12; Brendan Rodgers 12; Sam Hilliard/Vince Fernandez 11
SB: Wes Rodgers 36; Sam Hilliard 19; Garrett Hampson 19

Next: Bud Black and the Art of Bullpen Management

Pitching (4 IP min.)
W: Craig Schlitter 9, Trey Killian 6; Five tied with 5
ERA: J.D. Hammer 1.20 (30 IP) Matt Pierpont 1.25 (21.2 IP); Justin Lawrence 1.65 (16.1 IP)
G: Sam Moll 28; Austin House 26; Matt Carasiti 25
SV: Matt Carasiti 13; James Farris 9; J.D. Hammer 7
IP: Peter Lambert 83; Alejandro Requena 80; Jack Wynkoop 79
SO: Peter Lambert 84; Ryan Carpenter 68; Ryan Castellani 67
WHIP: Reid Humphreys 0.60; Matt Pierpont 0.65; J.D. Hammer 0.73