Rockies with 4 in MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects

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These last few weeks we have been going over MLB Pipelines positional rankings. The Rockies have done a good job at identifying talent and developing that talent. The Rockies were able to land recent first round pick, Chase Dollander, on the top right-handed pitchers list (at number eight), they were also able to land top prospect, Adael Amador who checked in at number eight as well. There were some surprising omissions like Hunter Goodman being excluded from the top 10 first baseman and Sterlin Thompson missing out on the top 10 third baseman.

Today MLB Pipeline released their top 100 prospects in the game, a list that fans clamor over to see how people view their prospects. It seems like a list that will dictate future success but there is so much that can happen over the next few years that can change a lot of things, it is still fun to analyze and talk about how many guys made the cut.

The Rockies ended up with 4 on MLB Pipelines Top 100 Prospects

No. 28 Adael Amador

The number one ranked prospect in the Rockies system was a lock to make the list. Amador also made the top 10 shortstop prospects, coming in at number eight. Last year he checked in at number 21 and put together a really solid season making his way to double-A Hartford. He spent 54 of his 69 games at high-A Spokane and put up an incredible 144 wRC+.

Amador is currently more hit over power but showed in 2023 that he might be starting to work into some of that power. He hit 9 home runs in 259 plate appearances demonstrating that he may have the ability to be a 20-home run guy. Pipeline has his ETA in 2025, which the Rockies should probably stick to. The Rockies should let Brendan Rodgers get a good chunk of the at-bats at the keystone this year, but if he gets hurt, or they trade him at the deadline, Amador could be in for some at-bats later in 2024.

No. 52 Chase Dollander

The Rockies have had a history of finding really good offensive players. They have really developed some solid bats throughout their history. They have struggled mightily to develop and retain starting pitchers. How do you fix that? Draft and acquire as much solid pitching as you possibly can.

That's what the Rockies did when they drafted him in the 2023 MLB draft. Coming into the 2023 college seaon, there was a legitimate chance that Dollander would be the number one overall pick. He struggled with some control issues, but he has all of the tools to become a number one or number two pitcher one day.

Dollander didn't get a chance to pitch in 2023, but he possesses a truly elite stuff. He was drafted one pick behind Rhett Lowder (number 34 in MLB Pipeline's Top 100) and if Dollander can go out and have a solid year and put the control issues behind him, we could see him skyrocket into the top 25 prospects in the game.

No. 72 Yanquiel Fernandez

Fernandez may have the highest ceiling of any Rockies prospect. He has the potential to be a legit, middle of the order bat for a long time. He is also an average defender with a plus arm, profiling well for right field.

Fernandez dominated high-A Spokane in 58 games, slashing .319/.355/.605 with 17 home runs in just 268 plate appearances. He put up a solid strikeout rate at Spokane (17.91%), but didn't walk that much, though that is not part of his game and probably never will be. When he jumped up to double-A, the league sort of caught up to him and he struggled, slashing .206/.262/.362 but still posting 8 home runs in 237 plate appearances.

Fernandez is a free swinger, his strikeout rate at Spokane jumped to 32.91%, which is incredibly high. I don't think there is a lot to worry about with this as Fernandez has never had a very big strikeout problem before. Sure, he will post a strikeout rate in the 20's, but he has the potential be a 30+ home run right fielder. Fernandez was also nearly four years younger than the average double-A player, so there is a little forgiveness. Fernandez will most likely start the year at double-A where he will have a chance to prove the strikeouts aren't cause for concern, and if he can do that while hitting 25 home runs again, we could see him jump back up into the top 50 or 60.

No. 81 Jordan Beck

Speaking of tooled-up, high upside outfielders, the Rockies were able to land one of the most athletic outfielders in the 2022 draft. The Tennessee Volunteer product was signed just over-slot, getting $2.2 million, and in just 26 games after being drafted, gave Rockies fans just a taste of what he could become.

In his 26 games between rookie ball and single-A Fresno, he put up a very solid slash line of .296/.431/.477 with three home runs and more walks than strikeouts. He really broke out in 2023, slashing .271/.364/.503 with 25 home runs and 20 stolen bases in 126 games between high-A Spokane and double-A Hartford. His strikeout rate did creep up to 25.18%, but that is manageable for a potential 30 home run, 20 stolen base outfielder. He was also able to put up a solid walk rate at 12.94%.

MLB Pipeline gives Beck some solid grades defensively with a 60-grade arm and 55-grade field. Beck will most likely be moved to a corner outfield spot, but in the largest outfield in baseball, he will be one of the most athletic corner outfielders in the game, potentially a gold glove level defender. That's not to say that he can't play centerfield either, he could be a solid to above average centerfielder if the team ever needs to give gold glove centerfielder, Brenton Doyle, a day off.

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