Colorado Rockies news and links for Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Following a fairly uneventful trade deadline for the Colorado Rockies, there isn’t a whole lot to look forward to if you’re a fan of the team for the rest of the season. You will likely see Jake Cave play more than he ever has in his career, Elias Díaz hobble his way down the first base line on a routine double-play ball, and you’ll wait with bated breath to see when Kris Bryant goes on the injured list again.
Still, as Evan Lang pointed out on Monday, the Rockies will need to move on from some of the veterans and make room for prospects deserving of a spot. My purpose today is just to highlight some of the youngsters I’d like to see make an appearance over these final two months of the season.
Bullpen boys
The bullpen has been a major flaw for the Rockies all season and will be a major focus going forward and there are a few options on the horizon.
In his first season since transitioning to a relief role, Jaden Hill has shown some solid potential in Double-A Hartford. As a Yard Goat, he recorded a 3.52 ERA in 38 1⁄3 innings of relief going 5-2 with six saves and 56 strikeouts against 11 walks. His fastball is still blazing and the secondaries have improved as well and he’ll get a bit more of a challenge pitching in Triple-A-Albuquerque. The 2021 second-round pick is knocking on the door of the big leagues and there is a chance he could debut before the season is over and become a major piece of the 2025 bullpen.
2023 seventh-round pick Seth Halvorsen has also ascended to Triple-A after a solid year down in Double-A. In 35 1⁄3 innings in Hartford, he posted a 4.84 ERA, but that’s mainly due to a couple of bad outings in April and May. Since June he’s been much better and while he did have 19 walks he countered with 41 strikeouts. Much like Hill, he’s got a blazing fastball and a solid slider to go with it and after finishing the 2023 season in Double-A, he’s on the fast track to the big leagues as he’s in Triple-A right now.
I’ll also add Dugan Darnell into the mix as the right-hander has spent the entire year in Triple-A with a 4.05 ERA in 33 1⁄3 innings with 38 strikeouts and 15 walks. Since signing with the Rockies in 2021, Darnell has proven himself plenty worthy of a shot at the big leagues.
FOMO with Romo
Had they been able to, it would have behooved the Rockies to move at least one of their veteran catches on the roster. Unfortunately, nothing came to fruition so it’s prudent the Rockies get a head start on who could be the starting catcher in 2025.
Drew Romo is the likeliest candidate to crack through before the season ends. The 22-year-old has enjoyed a successful season offensively with excellent splits as a switch-hitter. There is a lot to like offensively with some things to improve on but it’s been his defensive growth that is getting him closer. Spending the whole year in Triple-A has been beneficial to Romo as it’s helping him gain the confidence behind the plate needed to work with veteran pitchers. His defensive work has been excellent and steadily improving and the next step is getting a taste of calling big-league games.
The same goes for his catching partner Willie MacIver who is also enjoying an excellent year offensively in Triple-A. Although Romo is viewed as the catcher of the future MacIver should also be in the mix and a look at either of them would be insightful.
Starting hopeful
While the depth of starters on the way has been better than it has in a while one arm that needs to make a debut this season before it’s over is none other than Carson Palmquist.
The lefty was excellent in Double-A Hartford where he pitched to a 3.20 ERA in 17 starts. He tallied 111 strikeouts against 33 walks in 81 2⁄3 innings to earn a promotion to Triple-A. His first outing for Albuquerque was not pretty where he allowed six runs on seven hits in 3 2⁄3 innings. He mainly struggled with an uncharacteristic five walks allowed against just three strikeouts. If he can right the ship and get back to what he was doing before in Hartford, Palmquist could likely get a start or two before the season’s over. Tanner Gordon has shown some excellence this season and the Rockies need more of that from the new blood.
Play for the future
There are plenty of others that could be discussed and talked about but these are a few of the immediate reinforcements for the 2025 season. The Rockies cannot afford to just focus on winning the game in front of them but rather need to start playing for the future. They can get a leg up on the 2025 roster construction over the next several weeks as they begin to assess what players can start making debuts and contributing.
Who would you like to see make a debut in these final months of the season? Are there any dark horse candidates that could sneak in?
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LISTEN: Affected by Altitude Episode 124 “What Trade Deadline?”| FansFirstSports.com
The Affected by Altitude podcast will no longer have an article post here on Purple Row but you will be able to find it over at FansFirstSports.com as well as on all your favorite podcasting platforms. This week, Evan Lang and I are joined by Patrick Lyons to talk about the Rockies’ lack of activity at the deadline and name our July Players of the Month, (spoiler, Brenton Doyle is featured heavily).
No. 9 prospect leading beyond his years in Triple-A | MLB.com
Thomas Harding caught up with Drew Romo to talk about his progress in Triple-A.
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On the Farm
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 11, Sacramento River Cats 7
The Isotopes had 16 hits, including three home runs, as they won big at home to kick off the week. Elehuris Montero, fresh off being named the July player of the month, hit his eighth home run as part of a two-hit evening. Jordan Beck threw out four hits while Drew Romo added three hits. Karl Kauffmann started on the mound and allowed four runs in four innings of work before giving way to the bullpen that did well outside of Geoff Hartlieb’s three runs in the eighth. In his Triple-A debut, Yanquiel Fernandez went hitless.
Double-A: Richmond Flying Squirrels 10, Hartford Yard Goats 7
Adael Amador had four hits at the top of the Yard Goats lineup to lead the 11 hits they had as a team, but the offense fell short of scoring enough runs. Mason Albright struggled in his 2 2⁄3 innings of work, giving up nine runs on nine hits. The bullpen allowed just one run the rest of the game but the three-run rally in the eighth wasn’t enough to close the gap.
High-A: Tri-City Dust Devils 2, Spokane Indians 0
Charlie Condon made his professional debut in Spokane, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and flyout to left field. The rest of the Spokane lineup didn’t fare much better as they scattered four singles on the night. Victor Juarez started on the mound and battled through six innings, giving up just two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts.
Low-A: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 9, Fresno Grizzlies 3
Jared Thomas made his pro debut with the Grizzlies, going 1-for-2 with two walks on the night. Fresno scattered six hits with Caleb Hobson hitting an RBI double and Tevin Tucker hitting an RBI triple. Alberto Pacheco started the mound, giving up two runs on five hits over five innings of work, while also getting seven strikeouts and issuing five walks.
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