Missing in Action: Colorado Rockies left off the September roster

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PHOENIX, AZ – SEPTEMBER 22: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies reacts after striking out against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the sixth inning of an MLB game at Chase Field on September 22, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) /

Josh Fuentes

You would think the Pacific Coast League’s Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year — who also happens to be Nolan Arenado’s cousin — would be a shoe-in for the 40-man roster. But instead, Fuentes has a date with the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League.

Fuentes tore apart PCL pitchers for a slash line of 327/.354/.517, good for an OPS of .871. He led the league in hits (171), while accumulating 14 home runs, 12 triples, and 39 doubles. He committed just 10 errors in 107 games played, and led the PCL with a .965 fielding percentage.

Fuentes didn’t get a cup of coffee with the Rockies this season, but his performance certainly merited consideration for the 40-man roster. In fact, Patrick Karraker of the MLB Daily Dish added Fuentes as one of his “10 players who got snubbed for a September call-up.”

"“It would’ve been justifiable for the Rockies to add Fuentes rather than acquiring Drew Butera from the Royals,” Karraker writes. “Or after acquiring Butera, they could’ve DFA’d fourth catcher Tom Murphy, who is out of options after this season.”"

After a few weeks with Butera, it’s hard to argue with that.

It’s also hard to understand why Pat Valaika is a better infielder option than Fuentes. But hopefully the Fall League will help Fuentes’ development more than being a body in the Rockies dugout.