Colorado Rockies rookie Michael Toglia settling into routine

CHICAGO — As the morning sun kissed the freshly mowed outfield grass at Guaranteed Rate Field and the Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox began preparations for their series finale, one thing remained constant: It was another day resulting in another start for Rockies rookie Michael Toglia.

Since being called up to the Colorado Rockies to make his MLB debut against the Atlanta Braves on August 30, Toglia has started all 14 games in which he has played, including Wednesday’s matinee matchup on the South Side. The positions have been mixed, with the 24-year-old Toglia drawing starts in six games at first base and eight games in right field.

Michael Toglia setting into a routine with the Colorado Rockies

“I’m definitely in a routine now,” Toglia said before Wednesday’s game. “Things are feeling good.”

Things are also looking good at the plate for Toglia, who hit safely in seven of his first 13 games, pacing the Rockies with eight extra-base hits (six doubles and two home runs) over that span.

“He’s learning the difference between minor league baseball and big league baseball, and he’s got a good head on his shoulders,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “He’s learning at a pretty quick pace, which is great. He’s not a finished product and he has some things to do, but we’ve seen enough good things to lead us to believe that he can be a solid major league player.”

Toglia, ranked at number 14 among Colorado’s top prospects at the time of his call-up, said that one of the biggest lessons he has learned in his two-plus weeks as a member of the Rockies comes with slowing the game down.

“It’s not necessarily shocking, but it’s the same game. I’m seeing that it really is,” Toglia said. “You’re going to see a little more finish on the stuff from pitchers, but it’s the same game.”

Black said that adjusting to pitching at the MLB level is not only one of the biggest things for Toglia to accomplish, but any rookie as well.

“I don’t think there’s a bigger gap at any time than between Triple-A and the big leagues as far as talent on the mound,” Black said. “Seeing a guy like (Dylan) Cease, even (Michael) Kopech and some of the arms that our guys have faced over the last couple of weeks like (Jacob) deGrom and (Max) Scherzer, what a learning experience for these guys.

“We have a lot of rookies who getting an opportunity here, and it opens their eyes to what it’s going to take to stay and be a big league hitter,” Black added.