Colorado Rockies minor leagues: Early September recap of all levels

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March 13, 2020; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Jacob Saunders (white jersey) from Denver and his family stand outside Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Saunders and family members drove from Colorado to attend a Colorado Rockies game today but Major League Baseball suspended the 2020 spring training season last night in response to the COVID-19 virus health emergency. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher/The Republic via USA Today Network /

The latest from Colorado Rockies prospects competing in the Arizona Complex League

Unfortunately, the Rockies Arizona Complex League team has faced a handful of COVID cancellations recently, making samples small across the board. Still, there were some impressive performances. The ACL season is set to wrap up on Saturday so this is close to the last bit of action we will see from 2021 draftees until next year.

Hitters:
Benny Montgomery: 23 PAs, .500/.609/.500, 210 wRC+, 5 BB, 2 K 🔥
Zach Kokoska: 22 PAs, .400/.455/.450, 147 wRC+, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K 🔥
Hunter Goodman: 31 PAs, .292/.452/.500, 155 wRC+, 2 2B, 1 HR, 5 BB, 4 K 🔥
Adael Amador: 38 PAs, .452/.500/.516, 169 wRC+, 2 2B, 5 BB, 3 K 🔥
Braiden Ward: 15 PAs, .400/.600/.400, 195 wRC+, 3 BB, 2 K 🔥
Juan Brito: 16 PAs, .357/.438/.643, 174 wRC+, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 BB, 4 K 🔥

Rockies first-rounder Benny Montgomery has been amazing, plain and simple. He’s defied all expectations set for him as a draft prospect, deploying a hit-first approach though he hasn’t tapped into much power yet.

Zach Kokoska, a 10th-round selection, has gotten the better of pitchers with consistency this year as his season average creeps close to .400. 4th rounder Hunter Goodman joins Kokoska as a standout college bat from this class.

Prized international signing Adael Amador got back on his high horse recently following a bumpy stretch. His supreme hit tool warrants consideration as a top-10 organizational prospect and his full-season debut should be watched with diligence.

Braiden Ward’s recent success is quite intriguing. One of the fastest players in the organization, if he can simply produce close to league average, he’ll be quite the offensive commodity.

Finally, advanced 19-year-old Juan Brito returned to action with a bang, getting on base at a solid rate and clicking his second long ball of the season.

Pitchers:
Cullen Kafka: 4.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2.95 FIP, 0 BB, 3 K
Joe Rock: 4.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.25 WHIP, 1.45 FIP, 0 BB, 6 K 🔥
Tyler Ras: 1.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 4 K
McCade Brown: 3.0 IP, 9.00 ERA, 11.78 FIP, 2 BB, 5 K
Evan Shawver: 3.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2.45 FIP, 0 BB, 3 K
Victor Juarez: 6.0 IP, 7.50 ERA, 4.45 FIP, 0 BB, 8 K
Evan Justice: 2.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2 BB, 2 K

The 2021 pitching draft class loves zeros. With the exception of 3rd rounder McCade Brown, the ACL pitching staff has been absolutely electric recently and looks to be one of the Rockies best draft crops in a long time.

In particular, Joe Rock dazzled and should emerge as a top prospect next season.

Victor Juarez received the rare in-season promotion from the Dominican Summer League to the United States. The Mexican pitcher turned 18 just a couple of months ago but pitches well beyond his years.

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