Colorado Rockies top prospect season review: The Depth

22) Victor Juarez, LHP, DSL/ACL: 2.21 ERA, 2.81 FIP, 0.85 WHIP, 33.1 K%, 4.9 BB%

One of the biggest risers in the system and frankly, one of the most talented pitchers, Victor Juarez made his presence known this year.

In 26.2 innings in the DSL, Juarez posted a robust 0.68 ERA — the second-best figure in DSL Rockies history behind Jeffri Ocando’s mark in 2016 — and allowed just 11 hits. He was quite untouchable.

While Ocando struggled after a stateside promotion, Juarez’s success translated in a short stint in the ACL. Unfortunately, he was nipped by a pair of home runs in his 3 appearances, leaving his ERA at 6.30. Still, he looked more than competent at a mere 18-years-old.

It’s possible Juarez jumps to Fresno to start next season, but he could use some more stateside seasoning before being presented with such a difficult assignment.

23) Hunter Goodman, C, ACL: .300/.419/.517, 145 wRC+, 12.2 BB%, 18.9 K%, 2 HR

The Rockies drafted Hunter Goodman in the 4th-round in 2021 and he came with the reputation of a masher, hitting 29 home runs over his last 73 games at the University of Memphis (a 162-game pace of 64).

While Goodman didn’t hit for crazy power in his pro-debut, he did something more encouraging; record excellent walk and strikeout rates. A .517 SLG serves as a cherry on top.

There’s quality potential in Goodman’s bat. He might not stick behind the plate defensively but he isn’t a lumbering player and could hold his own in a corner OF spot. The addition of an automatic strike zone could make Goodman’s future behind the plate a little more likely.

There’s a possibility Goodman gets dealt a level-skipping assignment to Spokane but it’s also likely he joins the star-studded group of hitters we’ve covered above and in the last article in Fresno.