Weekly Pebble Report: Movin’ On Up (July 29th-August 4th)

Colorado Rockies minor league report for Tuesday, August 6th, 2024

This is the new home of the Weekly Pebble Report here on Purple Row, your weekly Colorado Rockies minor league update. We have decided to make the Pebble Report a stand-alone article for ease of access and to better even out our content for our readers. Starting today, the Pebble Report will go up on Tuesday mornings.

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With the MLB Draft well in the rearview, the Arizona Complex League officially over—with the ACL Dodgers winning the affair—and the trade deadline complete, there has been a lot of movement in the Colorado Rockies farm system.

The Rockies’ top four 2024 draft picks—Charlie Condon, Brody Brecht, Jared Thomas, and Cole Messina were all assigned to the ACL Rockies for some seasoning in the bridge league before further minor league assignments. Meanwhile, Jack Mahoney has been promoted to High-A Spokane, both Sean Sullivan and Chase Dollander have been promoted to Double-A Hartford while Carson Palmquist, Jaden Hill, and Yanquiel Fernandez have all moved up to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Don’t forget polling for our mid-season PuRPs rankings is now live!

Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (2-4, 40-68 Overall)

The Isotopes traveled to Sin City to play the Las Vegas Aviators (Oakland Athletics) in a series that ended with back-to-back losses in different brutal fashion. The first came after the Isotopes came surging back from an 8-0 deficit and tie the game late… only to get walked off on in extra innings. Then Albuquerque capped off the series by getting utterly demolished in a 21-5 blowout. But hey, at least there were multiple Triple-A debuts?

Welcome to the PCL, Kids: Three Rockies prospect pitchers made their Triple-A debuts against the Aviators to… mixed results at best.

Tricky left-handed starter Carson Palmquist (no. 18 PuRP) got hit hard and struggled with command in his PCL debut on Saturday. Palmquist lasted just 3 ²⁄₃ innings against Las Vegas and walked five batters while giving up seven hits to the tune of six earned runs. He did strike out three batters but there was a lot to improve on.

Right-handed reliever Seth Halvorsen also made his debut on Saturday, giving up a home run on just the second pitch of his outing. He also gave up an additional hit and walked a batter. However, the fast-rising prospect turned things around to limit the damage while striking out the last two batters he faced.

Right-handed reliever Jaden Hill (no. 19 PuRP) made his Isotopes debut on Sunday in the seventh inning of a blowout. Hill gave up a single and a home run to his first two batters before locking things down with the stuff that gives him such promise. He struck out three of the next four batters he faced to end the inning on a high note.

Beck and Call (Him Back Up)—Rehab Update: Outfielder Jordan Beck (no. 6 PuRP) completed his rehab assignment after a 5-for-20 series against the Aviators where he hit one home run and struck out ten times while drawing one walk. He has been optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque to continue working his way back from a broken hand while getting consistent at-bats.

Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats (4-2, 58-42 Overall)

The Hartford Yard Goats visited the Reading Fightin’ Phils (Philadelphia Phillies) and took four-of-six off the backs of strong pitching performances while the offense hummed along smoothly.

Finding His Rhythm: 2023 first round pick Chase Dollander (no. 2 PuRP) now has three Double-A starts in the books after two starts against the Reading Fightin’ Phils. In his first start of the week he lasted 4 ¹⁄₂ innings while struggling to reign in the wildness. He only gave up one walk but hit three batters. He gave up three earned runs on five hits, including a home run. However, Dollander ended the series looking much more like an ace in the making. He rung up six batters on strikeouts over five innings of work and allowed just one earned run on three hits and two walks.

Double-A Debut: Left-handed starter Sean Sullivan (no. 12 PuRP) made his first start after being promoted to Hartford and pitched three strong innings and struck out two batters before running into trouble in the fourth inning, appearing to hit a bit of a wall. Sullivan loaded the bases with a single, a double, and a walk with no outs before a baffling triple play allowed him to exit the game with zero earned runs allowed.

Slamming the Door: Since being promoted to Double-A, right-handed closer Zach Agnos has continued to do what he does best. In 12 innings of work he’s allowed just one earned run with 14 strikeouts and earned four saves. Agnos made another two scoreless outings in Reading at an inning a piece, striking out three total batters without allowing a hit.

High-A: Spokane Indians (3-3, 63-37 Overall)

The Indians hosted the Hops from Hillsboro (Arizona Diamondbacks) for a series split. Spokane continues to roll this season thanks to both strong pitching and offense as they own the best record of any Rockies affiliate and have a dominant 11.5 game overall lead in the Northwest League.

Mahoney, I’m Home: 22-year-old righty Jack Mahoney (no. 28 PuRP) continues to be one of the best surprises of the season after making his High-A debut against the Hops. Mahoney notched a Quality Start in his belt after holding Hillsboro to just three earned runs despite giving up seven hits—including one home run—and a walk. He also struck out three batters.

Strong First Impression: 20-year-old right-handed starter Yujanyer Herrera was acquired in the trade that sent Nick Mears to the Milwaukee Brewers before the deadline and made his debut with the Indians on Sunday to close out the series. Herrera pitched a strong five innings, giving up just three earned runs on five hits and striking out seven batters. Four of those hits and all three runs came in the third inning.

Running Up That Hill: Glenallen “GJ” Hill Jr. has continued to make the most of his playing time since joining the Rockies organization this offseason. Since being promoted to Spokane he is hitting .273/.385/.511 with six home runs and seven stolen bases. In Sunday’s finale against the Hops he went 2-for-3 with both hits being home runs.

Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (5-1, 54-47 Overall)

The Grizzlies dominated the Lake Elsinore Storm (San Diego Padres) at Chukchansi Park, holding their opponents to three or fewer runs in four of six and improving their overall record to 54-47.

Pitcher of the Week: Ohio State lefty Isaiah Coupet was utterly dominant in five shutout innings of work against the Storm on Sunday, striking out eight batters without giving up a hit. The only baserunner he allowed came via his only walk of the day. Coupet struck out ten batters in his last start and now has nine total starts where he has thrown seven or more strikeouts. Coupet was named the California League Pitcher of the Week.

Not-Raggedy Andy: Grizzlies middle infielder Andy Perez went 8-for-27 in the series against the storm while hitting a double, a triple, a home run, and stealing three bases. Perez is hitting .288/.325/.447 this season with Fresno and leads the team in both doubles (22) and triples (7).

Keeping Up With the Jones—Rehab Update: Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones spent the week in Fresno as he rehabbed a lower back strain that’s kept him sidelined for much of the season. Jones looked healthy and confident this week, making some solid defensive plays and finding a groove at the plate. He went 5-for-16, drew five walks, and hit two home runs.

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