Colorado Rockies podcast: Interviews with Michael Toglia, Riley Pint, more

Spokane, Wash. — There is plenty of excitement surrounding the Spokane Indians, the High-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. And for good reason, as five of Colorado’s top 10 prospects are currently taking the field in the Inland Northwest.

During my trip to Spokane, I had the opportunity to sit down to a pair of those highly prized prospects (No. 3, first baseman Michael Toglia, and No. 8, pitcher Chris McMahon). I also had the opportunity to talk to 2020 fifth-round draft pick Jack Blomgren (an infielder who hit the first home run of the season for the Indians and became the first Rockies prospect to blast a homer in a Spokane uniform) and relief pitcher Riley Pint, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2016 MLB draft, but has seen injuries and control issues (he has walked 125 batters in 158 total innings in the minors) keep him from ever reaching above Class A.

Pint’s comments will certainly be of interest to Rockies fans as he discusses his mechanics and his views on baseball after the 2020 minor league season was lost because of COVID-19.

I also had the chance to sit down with Spokane manager Scott Little to get his view on the current Indians roster, as well as his role as a minor league manager in the overall scheme of Colorado’s plans for the future.

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• Colorado Rockies: Wynton Bernard finally receiving a callup to the majors

Some statistics in the podcast have already changed since its recording. Toglia hit another home run to help Spokane to its first win of the season on Saturday night. The former UCLA Bruin blasted his fourth homer of the early campaign and leads the High-A West in that category.

With that home run, Toglia’s OPS sat at 1.688 heading into Sunday’s series finale against Eugene (Ore.).

For additional background, you can read more about Colorado’s new relationship with the Spokane Indians and how both parties have embraced the “historic change” we saw in the offseason’s shifting minor league landscape by clicking here. You can also read about the three players who stood out to me when I watched the Indians in person by clicking here.

Click below to listen to my interviews with Toglia, Pint, McMahon, Blomgren, and Little.