Catching up with BA’s top Rockies prospects, 1-10
| July 22, 2009 | 1:21 PM
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To continue updating the in-season progress on the Rockies’ preseason Top 30 prospects from Baseball America we go back to the Prospect Handbook:
No. 10: Charlie Blackmon, outfielder
From BA: “With his defensive ability, he has what it takes to be a fourth outfielder, but with continued maturation offensively, he could be an everyday center fielder.”
Where he is now: Blackmon, a second-round pick in 2008, jumped to Modesto this season where he has played well, batting .301 with four home runs, 49 RBI and 19 stolen bases. The real test will come next season at Double-A, but he and 2009 first-round pick Tim Wheeler should be crowding into the Rockies outfield before too long.
No. 9: Michael McKenry, catcher
From BA: “If he becomes more disciplined at the plate, he has the potential to handle starting duties on a contender.”
Where he is now: McKenry got off to a slow start at Tulsa this season, but has since settled in. He’s now batting .259 with 10 home runs and 36 RBI and has kept his walks better in line with his strikeouts than last season (36 walks, 49 strikeouts and a .354 on-base percentage.) His advancement continues to move one level at a time for the 24-year-old, but there’s no immediate rush. However, the Rockies No. 4 prospect is starting to crowd McKenry a bit.
From BA: “He already has shown the awareness to handle the challenge of coming off the bench, and with the departure of Matt Holliday he’ll get his shot to lay claim to an everyday job.”
Where he is now: Smith, who struggled in May, looked as if he was about to be pushed aside in early June when the Rockies recalled Carlos Gonzalez. But after getting hot off the bench and in the clutch through June and early July, Smith forced his way back into the lineup and has been the regular left fielder since the All-Star break. He’s batting .297 with eight home runs and 27 RBI, and perhaps the only negative to seeing him in the starting lineup is that it means he’s not available to pinch hit.
From BA: “He is ready for the move to Double-A, and the Rockies believe he can be in their rotation by 2010.”
Where he is now: Rogers, a converted infielder, dominated at Tulsa (8-2, 2.48 ERA, 19 walks and 83 strikeouts in 94 1/3 innings) before being promoted to Triple-A Colorado Springs. In two starts, Rogers has been less dominant — 1-1, 5.73 ERA — but his progress likely has him on track to make his major league debut later this season as at least a September callup. Because he is already on the 40-man roster, Rogers is a candidate to be called up for bullpen help.
No. 6: Casey Weathers, pitcher
From BA: “He should return in 2010 without any problems and will be in the big leagues as soon as he shows there are no lingering concerns from his injury.”
Where he is now: Weathers, who had Tommy John surgery in the offseason, is working out this summer with the Rockies’ short-season Class A team in Tri-City. He was on the fast track to the majors before his injury, and the Rockies really could have used his arm in the seventh or eighth inning right about now.
No. 5: Hector Gomez, shortstop
From BA: “With youth on his side, Gomez has plenty of time has plenty of time to regain his stature as a premier shortstop prospect.”
Where he is now: Gomez, who missed most of last season with a stress fracture in his shin, rejoined Modesto in May and is batting .264 with four home runs and 27 RBI in 45 games. Never a patient hitter to begin with, the absence perhaps has made him even more anxious, as he has walked just six times against 32 strikeouts.
From BA: “Rosario will make the move to a full-season team this year, and the low Class A South Atlantic League should prove a good test for his endurance.”
Where he is now: Rosario, just 20 years old, made a bigger jump than expected and opened the season at high Class A Modesto, where he has held his own. He’s batting .266 with four home runs and 31 RBI, but like Gomez, is swinging at pretty much everything. He has just eight walks against 49 strikeouts. In his past 10 games, he is batting .364 with two home runs and eight RBI. More importantly, he was struck out just three times in 33 at-bats during that span.
No. 3: Christian Friedrich, pitcher
From BA: “He could move quickly, akin to Jeff Francis’ rapid rise, and while this year figures to begin at high Class A Modesto, it’s not out of the question he could earn a midseason promotion.”
Where he is now: Friedrich has been slowed this season by inflammation in his pitching shoulder. He started the season at Asheville rather than Modesto, but was promoted after going 3-3 with a 2.18 ERA for the Rockies’ low Class A team. He’s 2-0 with a 2.01 ERA in five starts for Modesto, but missed nearly a month with the injury, likely putting to rest any hopes of a 2009 major league debut.
No. 2: Jhoulys Chacin, pitcher
From BA: “Chacin will step into the middle of a big league rotation, and if his curveball develops into a plus pitch, he can be a top-of-the-rotation starter.”
Where he is now: Chacin has been temporarily passed by Rogers in the system, but is still pitching well at Tulsa. He’s 8-6 with a 3.17 ERA in 17 starts. His last start was one his best this season: eight innings, three hits, three walks and six strikeouts. There’s a chance he could see the major leagues this season, either as a starter or a reliever, but he’s a pretty safe bet — along with Rogers — to join the team at some point in 2010 at the latest.
No. 1: Dexter Fowler, outfielder
From BA: “Natural progression will have him open this season at Triple-A Colorado Springs, but with his raw abilities, Fowler has the ability to push up the development plan.”
Where he is now: Fowler jumped straight to Rockies starting lineup out of spring training without spending a day at Colorado Springs. While he did not exactly explode onto the scene, he has played steady baseball all season. He’s .257 with 23 stolen bases. He has shown some pop, but so far is doing more with his speed — both offensively and defensively — than his bat. Most impressive has been his unflappability in the batter’s box. He’s struck out 79 times in 296 at-bats this season, but he rarely does so on three pitches and has a respectable 49 walks.
Journals, Sports, Steve Foster
casey weathers, charlie blackmon, christian friedrich, colorado rockies, dexter fowler, esmil rogers, hector gomez, jhoulys chacin, michael mckenry, prospects, seth smith, wilin rosario
