Colorado Rockies: Where are the top 10 prospects starting 2022?

As the Colorado Rockies prepare for Opening Day on Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field, Colorado’s minor league affiliates are also in the final stages of planning for their individual Opening Day activities as well.

Here are the Opening Day schedules for the Colorado Rockies minor league affiliates, as well as where the top 10 Rockies prospects will open the 2022 season

Colorado Rockies farm system Opening Day games:

Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes at Oklahoma City Dodgers on Tuesday, April 5

Double-A Hartford Yard Goats vs. Binghamton (N.Y.) on Friday, April 8

High-A Spokane Indians vs. Vancouver (Wash.) on Friday, April 8

Low-A Fresno Grizzlies vs. Stockton (Calif.) on Friday, April 8

Where Colorado’s top 10 prospects (per MLB.com) will open the season:

Zac Veen (OF) — High-A Spokane Indians

Drew Romo (C) — High-A Spokane Indians

Benny Montgomery (OF) — Low-A Fresno Grizzlies

Elehuris Montero (1B/3B) — Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes

Ryan Rolison (P) — 60-day injured list (left shoulder strain)

Ezequiel Tovar (SS) — Double-A Hartford Yard Goats

Brenton Doyle (OF) — Double-A Hartford Yard Goats

Michael Toglia (1B) — Double-A Hartford Yard Goats

Ryan Vilade (OF) — Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes

Adael Amador (SS) — Low-A Fresno Grizzlies

Who could be the first to Coors Field?

The top 10 prospect who could have the fastest path to Coors Field could well be Montero, acquired by the Colorado Rockies as a part of the Nolan Arenado trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. If he can show that he can continue to hit at the Triple-A level as he did last season (.278/.355/.546 in 108 at-bats after being promoted from Double-A), he could well make his MLB debut. However, it could also come as the team’s designated hitter since first base (where he played 49 games last season between Hartford and Albuquerque) is occupied by C.J. Cron and third base (where he played 61 games last season) is being held down by Ryan McMahon.

Who is the prospect to watch?

Keep an eye on Hartford this year with all three prospects listed above (Doyle, Toglia, and Tovar). Doyle is someone who has shot up the prospect rankings (check out our exclusive interview with him here) and could be a part of Colorado’s outfield of the future, while Toglia and Tovar are very much expected to be a part of Colorado’s near-future infield.

How quickly will they each move up in the organization? We could get an idea on that from how they start the season in Hartford.