Weekly Pebble Report: The Growing Ranks (July 22nd-July 28th)

Colorado Rockies minor league report for Tuesday, July 30th, 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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After a successful draft highlighted by new faces like Charlie Condon and Brody Brecht, the Colorado Rockies have signed all 21 of their 2024 draft selections. With the Arizona Complex League drawing to an official close this week, it won’t be long before these new prospects begin to filter into the ranks of the Rockies’ minor league affiliates. In the meantime, the minor league season is still going strong!

As the trade deadline looms, the Rockies have added three prospects to their ranks during the last few days. In exchange for right-handed reliever Nick Mears, the Rockies received right-handed starting prospects Bradley Blalock and Yujanyer Herrera from the Milwaukee Brewers. MLB Pipeline ranks Blalock and Herrera at no. 20 and no. 29 respectively.

On Monday night the Rockies dealt left-handed reliever Jalen Beeks to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for left-handed reliever Luis Peralta. Peralta has an ERA of just 0.91 in 26 minor league appearances this year and slots in at no. 30 in the Rockies organization per MLB Pipeline.

Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (2-4, 38-64 Overall)

The Isotopes’ overall record continues to reflect that of their parent organization as they lost four games of six against the visiting Round Rock Express (Texas Rangers). Isotopes pitching gave up at least seven runs in five of the six games played, though the offense generally did their best to hang tough with their opponents.

Stock Up: Since being designated for assignment several weeks ago, Elehuris Montero has done nothing but prove Triple-A baseball isn’t a challenge for him. Playing almost exclusively third base—a surprise to be sure—Montero has a 1.176 OPS in 76 at-bats with eight doubles, a triple, and five home runs. During the series with the Express he went 13-for-25 with two doubles and two home runs, striking out just three times and drawing two walks.

Stock Up: Catcher Drew Romo (no. 7 PuRP) continues to enjoy offensive success in what’s looking like a breakout season. In five games against Round Rock the top catching prospect went 6-for-20 with a home run, a career high 13th on his young professional résumé.

Rehab Update: Mike Honcho is on the mend as he works his way back from a broken hand. Jordan Beck (no. 6 PuRP) played three games with the ACL Rockies, going 3-for-11 with one strikeout before having his rehab assignment moved to Triple-A Albuquerque. In two games with the Isotopes Beck went 2-for-7 with a walk and two strikeouts and playing some solid outfield defense.

Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats (5-1, 54-40 Overall)

It was a fun week for the Yard Goats as they took on the Harrisburg Senators (Washington Nationals) and won five of six while enjoying nights such as Bouncing Pickles sock night and the Whalers throwback weekend. The Yard Goats put forward a strong offensive effort backed up by stronger pitching, holding the Senators to three or fewer runs in four of six games—including a Sunday shutout.

Stock Up: Your MiLB Player of the Week is Yard Goats outfielder Braiden Ward, who had a stunning week against the Senators. Ward went 8-for-21 with two home runs and an OPS of 1.149 over the series. Ward is having a strong season since being promoted to Double-A Hartford, hitting .301/.396/.466 in 50 games.

Stock Up: Chase Dollander (no. 2 PuRP) made his long-awaited Double-A debut this week and did not disappoint. Though he struggled somewhat with his command early on—walking two batters in the first and one in the second—he only gave up one unearned run and ended up pitching four innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out five.

Ready for the Show: Carson Palmquist (no. 18 PuRP) just might be ready for a big league callup. The tricky lefty has been largely excellent in July after a difficult comeback from injury last month. Palmquist has given up just five earned runs in 23 innings over four starts in July, and struck out a total of 32 batters compared to just five walks. In his most recent outing he spun 7 ²⁄₃ innings on the mound with eight strikeouts. It’s unclear if the Rockies would subject Palmquist to the Triple-A Albuquerque meat grinder, but there just might be some open spots on the MLB rotation sooner rather than later.

High-A: Spokane Indians (4-2, 60-34 Overall)

The Indians took four games in their series against the Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants) once again due to their quality rotation and solid offense. The Indians were able to blow out the Ems twice, the biggest of which was a 13-5 victory on Friday.

Call Him Up: Left-handed pitcher Sean Sullivan (no. 12 PuRP) proved yet again that he’s ready for the next step up and should be joining his fellow 2023 draft pick Chase Dollander in Double-A Hartford. Sullivan made two starts at five shutout innings each against the Emeralds and struck out ten batters both nights. He was named the Northwest League’s Pitcher of the Week for his efforts.

Stock Up: Middle infielder Dyan Jorge (no. 9 PuRP) may not be known for his power, but the Emeralds may think twice when it comes to how they pitch to him. Jorge hit his first two High-A home runs—and first two home runs of the season—on Friday as part of a 9-for-26 week at the plate.

Stock Up: Kyle Karros didn’t have the best week in terms of average, going 5-for-21, but he hit another three home runs and drove in seven runs. Karros currently leads the Northwest League in doubles, home runs, RsBI, batting average, slugging percentage, and OPS.

Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (3-3, 49-46 Overall)

It was a week of blowouts in Stockton as the Grizzlies and Ports (Oakland Athletics) traded haymakers. The Ports took the first two games of the series 5-15 and 3-13 before the Grizzlies took the next three in a row with 16-2 and 10-5 blowouts of their own.

Stock Up: Jack Mahoney (no. 28 PuRP) had his best start of the month to finish up July. His 7 ²⁄₃ inning outing was his longest since his complete game shutout at the end of June. Mahoney gave up four earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out nine batters on his way to a Grizzlies victory.

Stock Up: Jason Hinchman continues to be a valuable member of the Grizzlies’ offense. The Tennessee Tech product went 6-for-22 against the Ports with two doubles, a triple, and a home run, while driving in seven runs and drawing four walks.

Stock Up: Outfielder Felix Tena had what might have been his breakout game on Friday in Stockton. Tena, just 20-years-old out of the Dominican Republic, went 5-for-6 with a double and drove in five of the Grizzlies’ runs as a key contributor to the blowout victory.

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