30,000 Feet Above the Colorado Rockies Farm System

sterlin thompson rockies afl — Sterlin Thompson, Arizona Fall League, November 1, 2023. Photo credit Scott Greene, @Scotty_Ballgame on Twitter.

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Heading into the 2024 campaign, the monumental and seemingly perennial question surrounding the Colorado Rockies farm system remains around the organization’s ability to acquire and develop frontline pitching. As we’ve rolled into May, there has been some encouraging progress on display by the arms in the Rox system. Among the everyday players in Colorado’s system, the bats are also proceeding along, with mixed results. Let’s take a glimpse around the horn in the Rockies farm system.

(Statistics and records as of 5/2)

Single-A Fresno, 13-10

The Grizzlies won 12 of their first 15 games before losing four in a row to the San Jose Giants 4/25-4/28. Fresno has posted winning seasons the last 3 years, and maintains a balanced roster, comprised of young international players, recent draft picks, mixed together with a handful of seasoned minor leaguers. Recently RHP Jack Mahoney was named the California League Player of the Week. The 22-year-old was selected by the Rockies in the 3rd round of the 2023 draft. Our #25 Rockies prospect, owns a statline of 3.98 ERA, 19 K, 5 BB, and a WHIP of 1.13. Outfielder Jake Snider currently owns a hefty OPS of 1.272. The former 20th round draft pick of the Pirates has shown a discerning eye at the plate thus far, drawing 24 walks.

Grizzlies Pitchers of Note

Collin Baumgartner, 13.2 IP, 22 K, 3 BB, 2 ER; 0.59 WHIP

Jace Kaminska (2023, 10th round selection), 2.55 ERA, 21 K, 3 BB

Brady Hill, 2 SV in 2 SVO’s; 0.96 ERA, 15 K, 3 BB

Bryan Perez, 2.45 ERA, 20 K, 7 BB

Stu Flesland III (2023 11th round selection), 3.38 ERA

Alberto Pacheco, 2.60 ERA, 20 K, 4 BB, 1.04 WHIP

Grizzlies at the Plate

Infield prospects Braylen Wimmer and Andy Perez are off to quick starts. Wimmer (8th round) is another member of Rockies draft class of ‘23, has belted 4 HRs while getting on base at a .386 clip. The 19-year-old Perez leads the team in hits (29) and RBIs (20). Perez had an 18-game hitting streak snapped on Sunday, April 28 vs Fresno. 2023 15th round draftee, catcher Darius Perry is also working his way on base to a healthy .467 rate.

High-A Spokane: 14-6

As the season began, many interested eyes were on 2023 first-round draft pick Chase Dollander. The Rockies have their proverbial fingers crossed that first-round draft pick from Tennessee will remain healthy, and develop into a frontline, top-of-the-rotation mainstay. Thus far in the Northwest League, the weather has been the 6-3 right-hander’s fiercest obstacle, as two of his starts have been pushed back. When Dollander has been on the bump for 4 outings, “Chase the Ace” has dazzled. In 19.1 innings, the 22-year old has punched out 33, while walking 8 batters. Currently Dollander maintains a 0.88 WHIP and a 2.33 ERA.

Expect Dollander to earn a call to Hartford this summer. If the former Volunteer keeps rolling along, he may move to the top spot in Colorado’s Midseason Prospect Rankings.

The Indians have a group of hurlers off to solid starts.

2023 2nd Round selection Sean Sullivan, 20.2 IP, 33 Ks, 1 BB, 1.16 WHIP, 2.61 ERA. The left-hander who started the season as our #16 prospect, could find himself in the Midseason Top 10.

Blake Adams (#49), 2-0, 0.53 ERA, 0.71 WHIP.

Closer Zach Agnos (#48), 3 Saves, 0.00 ERA, 14 Ks in 8.2 IP.

Mason Green, 10 IP, 1.42 ERA, 1.16 WHIP

Victor Juarez (#37), 18.1 IP, 11 Ks, 1.96 ERA, 0.87 WHIP

Carson Skipper, 2 SV in 2 SVO’s, 12 Ks, 1 BB in 8.2 IP. Skipper, a 2022 11th round draft pick from Auburn, may find himself moving up the prospect ranks.

Indians at the plate

Infielder Braiden Ward and Kyle Karros are sporting OPS’s over 1.000, while top prospects #7 Dyan Jorge (.776) and #12 Cole Carrigg (.814) look to steadily improve. The speedy Carrigg has 12 stolen bases, while Ward and Jorge have also been running successfully, each with 8 steals.

Double-A Hartford, 14-8

Hartford has a plethora of top Rockies prospects, including consensus top prospect middle infielder Adael Amador. Like the weather, the switch-hitting Amador, and many of his highly ranked teammates have yet to warm up. On the pitching side, highly-regarded Jaden Hill appears to be steadily finding his way, while lefty Carson Palmquist, a 3rd round pick out of Miami in 2022, is off to a fine start. Durable, right handed starter Andrew Quezada has pitched 100 plus innings the last two seasons.

Yard Goats Pitchers of Note

Preseason #14 Palmquist, 27 IP, 38 K, 2.00 ERA; 1.15 WHIP

Hill (#27), 4 for 4 in saves, 3.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP

Angel Chivilli (#46); 1-0, 1 SV, 2.35 ERA

Quezada, 4 starts, 2.25 ERA

Jarrod Cande (#35), 5 starts, 23.1 IP, 25 K, 3.86 ERA

Evan Shawyer and Blake Goldsberry currently with WHIPs under 1.00.

Hartford at the plate

First baseman Zach Kokoska (#38)-know as a hitter-has belted 3 HRs (.536 SLG) to go along with an .824 OPS and 18 RBI; Preseason #6 Zac Veen seems to have found a groove, with a 1.053 OPS, including an OBP of .437 with 7 stolen bases. Number nine prospect Benny Montgomery was holding his own, with a .813 OPS before being placed on the 7-Day Injured List April 26. Along with Amador, the Rockies are counting on top 10 prospects Yanquiel Fernandez (#2) and Sterlin Thompson (#3) to heat up at the plate (Thompson collected 4 hits, including a 2B and HR on 4/28). All 3 are off to cool starts facing AA pitching.

Triple-A Albuquerque: 9-21

Our #8 Rockies Prospect Hunter Goodman recently earned a call up to Colorado. Goodman clubbed 7 HR and carried a 1.042 OPS prior to his promotion. Outfielder Jordan Beck (#5) just recently got the #MLBCallUp to Colorado, and catcher Drew Romo (#10) is knocking on the MLB door. The 23-year-old Beck had 5 HR and 5 stolen bases to go along with a .999 OPS when the Rockies promoted recently promoted him.

The Isotopes roster is filled with position players who are veteran minor leaguers with some solid career MiLB numbers. Players such as Coco Montes, Jimmy Herron, Aaron Schunk, Grant Lavigne, Hunter Stovall (5 for 5 on 4/25!) along with newly acquired Greg Jones. All have plenty of professional experience under their belt. Catcher Willie MacIver, a converted college third basemen, who played in the Futures Game at Coors Field in the Summer of ‘21, is also a candidate for an opportunity with the parent club. Platooning with Romo, MacIver possesses a .426 AAA OBP.

On the pitching side of things in Albuquerque, well, it’s a tough place to pitch. The Isotopes currently have an ERA above 8.00. Former 2016 1st round pick Riley Pint is holding a respectable 3.86 ERA. The right-hander has struck out 26 in 14 IP. Former independent league pitcher Dugan Darnell was called up from Hartford on 4/16. The 27-year-old Darnell is an intriguing prospect, who has a career MiLB ERA under 4.00, and a notable SO9 (Strikeouts per 9 innings) of 12.1. Southpaw Austin Kitchen, also 27, with a sub 4.00 MiLB ERA was moved up to AAA on 4/26.

With the struggles of the AAA staff, it might lead one to the think the Rockies will once again be selecting a pitcher, when their turns comes on the clock at #3 in the July MLB Draft.

Brian Fonseca

Brian is in his second year covering the Colorado Rockies. A lifelong sports enthusiast, Brian grew up in Northern California a fan of the great Oakland A’s teams of the early 1970’s. From 1998-2014 Brian coached the Men’s Basketball team at Reedley (Community) College, a short drive away from the home of the Rockies Single-A club, the Fresno Grizzlies. Recently Brian was named Athletic Director at Parlier High School (#100percentParlierPanthers!). Brian and his wife LeAnn were married in 2001, and have two children; son Noah and daughter Eleanor who attends San Diego State. Follow Brian on Twitter @100percent3G.