Colorado Rockies prospects: Colton Welker homers, Greg Bird surging

Let’s take a look at some of the news coming out of the Colorado Rockies minor league system, including some power on display in Spokane and Albuquerque.

Here are some news and notes about Colorado Rockies prospects and their farm teams.

We’ll start in High-A Spokane where the Indians claimed a 9-1 victory over Everett on Tuesday night. Spokane started the evening strong with three home runs in the first inning, including Colton Welker’s first blast in a Spokane uniform. Welker was sent to the Pacific Northwest as part of a rehab assignment on July 28 as he works to return to form following a suspension earlier in the season stemming from a positive test for Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (DHCMT), a performance-enhancing substance.

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Rockies manager Bud Black has left the door cracked open that Welker could potentially still make his MLB debut this season if everything falls into place.

Also in Spokane, shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and first baseman Grant Lavigne have been promoted from Low-A Fresno. Tovar, who just turned 20, has drawn praise from Rockies brass and Lavigne, the 42nd overall pick in the 2018 draft, was among the Fresno players we interviewed for this podcast focusing on all of the positives happening with Colorado’s Low-A affiliate.

And, speaking of Fresno, the Grizzlies came back from a 5-0 deficit in the fourth inning to walk off San Jose 8-7 on Tuesday night. Rockies top prospect Zac Veen hit an RBI triple with one out in the bottom of the ninth to tie the contest, then came home to score the winning run on a fielder’s choice.

Let’s move up to Triple-A and check in with Greg Bird, who was signed to a minor league contract by the Rockies this offseason. After hitting .239 in May and .244 in June, the former New York Yankee has been on fire to end July and start August.

Speaking of Albuquerque, Taylor Motter has been named as the Triple-A West Player of the Week for the period of July 26 through August 1. During that week, Motter slashed .450/.538/1.100 and totaled four home runs and 14 RBI. It was part of a July that saw the MLB veteran lead MiLB in total bases (79), home runs (15), RBI (35), and OPS (1.578).

We caught up with Motter and asked him about his recent hot streak and his hopes for making it back to MLB in this podcast.