McKenry, Nelson among potential September callups
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Major-league rosters will expand to 40 players early next week, and with the recent spate of injuries in the Colorado Rockies bullpen, the team is certain to add a few players. Who might be among the September additions to the Rockies roster:
Mike McKenry, catcher: The 2006 seventh-round pick has moved steadily through the system and is now being pushed by Wilin Rosario and Jordan Pacheco. But McKenry is further along than either of the younger catchers and is having a solid first season at Triple-A Colorado Springs where he is hitting .269 with 10 home runs and 46 RBI. Having a third catcher around would give manager Jim Tracy some flexibility with pinch-hitters late in games and the Rockies might like to see if McKenry could serve as a backup major-league catcher.
Chris Nelson, infielder: The former first-round pick has been with the Rockies twice this season but didn’t play in his second stint, a three-game visit earlier this month when Aaron Cook was placed on the disabled list. His development has been slow since he was drafted in 2004, but he’s still young — he’ll turn 25 next month — and is having a good season for Colorado Springs where he has played second, shortstop and third. He’ll be in the mix for major-league job next season and the Rockies certainly will want another look in September.
Franklin Morales, pitcher: He started the season as the Rockies closer when Huston Street went on the disabled list, but promptly lost the job with a lack of command. He’s had an up-and-down season since returning to Colorado Springs, but has been dominating recently. He could join the bullpen as early as Friday if the Rockies place Manuel Corpas on the disabled list as expected.
Samuel Deduno, pitcher: After a breakout season in 2009, Deduno has battled injuries again this season. After years of promise and injuries, Deduno is now 27 and on the 40-man roster, so the Rockies need to know what, if anything, they can expect from him, which gives him a good shot at joining the bullpen in September. If he isn’t called up to pitch out of the bullpen, the Rockies may do for Deduno what they did for Ubaldo Jimenez in 2006 and Esmil Rogers in 2009 when the pitchers traveled with the team in September but were only activated when needed for spot appearances.
Edgmer Escalona, pitcher: The Rockies had planned to call him up earlier this season when they needed an emergency reliever, but the callup never happened as a series of rainouts in May eliminated the need. The 23-year-old reliever has had an up-and-down season, but he’s on the 40-man roster and has pitched much better in July and August than he did in the first half of the season. He could be an emergency reliever.
Greg Smith, pitcher: He started the season in the Rockies rotation when Jeff Francis was injured. After failing to gain a foothold, he was sent to Colorado Springs in May where he struggled and eventually landed on the disabled list with elbow soreness. He returned to the Sky Sox on Monday and could rejoin the Rockies as an extra arm later in September.
Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis, Matt Daley and Taylor Buchholz, injured major-league pitchers: If and when they’re healthy, they will rejoin the Rockies pitching staff. Cook is a candidate to come back earlier with the injuries to Corpas and Rafael Betancourt leaving the Rockies bullpen short going into this weekend’s series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. If Cook starts in Tulsa this weekend as scheduled and the Rockies need an extra reliever, Esmil Rogers could shift to the bullpen to delay that need a few days and give Betancourt a chance to get healthy without going to the disabled list.
Jay Payton, outfielder: After a year off from baseball, Payton returned to the Rockies in spring training as insurance, but has spent the entire season at Colorado Springs where he has hit .321 with four home runs and 13 stolen bases. He would need to be added to the 40-man roster, but he would give the Rockies a good bat off the bench.
Kaz Matsui, infielder: He rejoined the Rockies organization in May after his release from the Houston Astros. After a slow start, he’s had a solid August and could join the Rockies’ crowded infield as an extra bat off the bench and pinch-runner if they can find room on the 40-man roster.
Paul Phillips, catcher: The veteran has made appearances with the Rockies in each of the past two seasons, rejoining the team briefly this season when Chris Iannetta was sent to Colorado Springs. The Rockies are likely to add a third catcher, but Phillips isn’t on the 40-man roster and McKenry is.
Matt Miller, outfielder: A 13th-round pick in the 2004 draft, Miller has hit consistently in his minor-league career but hasn’t shown much power beyond his 2005 season in Asheville. The Rockies have never added Miller to the 40-man roster and despite being available in the Rule V draft the past two seasons, he has remained in the Rockies system. He will be a six-year min0r-league free agent after this season. If the Rockies want to give him a look, now might be their last chance. But they would have to add him to the 40-man roster to do so.
Cole Garner, outfielder: The 25-year-old former high school teammate of Ian Stewart has made a slow but steady march through the Rockies system. He’s hitting .291 with 12 home runs and 50 RBI in his first season at Colorado Springs and may yet factor into the Rockies’ plans as a fourth or fifth outfielder. But he would need to be added to the 40-man roster, something the Rockies might be reluctant to do if he isn’t going to see much time next month in an already crowded outfield.
Brad Eldred, first baseman: The Rockies called on Eldred earlier this year when Todd Helton went on the disabled list. He had a couple good games early, but struck out in nearly half is at-bats and was sent back to Colorado Springs after clearing waivers. The Rockies would have to make room on the 40-man roster for Eldred, who would be strictly an extra bat off the bench.
Rex Brothers, pitcher: The 2009 draft pick has moved quickly through the Rockies system, starting this season at Modesto and moving to Tulsa in July. He’s pitched well after a couple rough outings in Tulsa and is in the picture for a bullpen spot with the Rockies in 2011. The team almost never moves prospects all way from Class-A to the majors in a single season, although there was some talk last season that Matt Reynolds, who started the 2009 season at Modesto, would do just that. So a major-league appearance for Brothers this season is a longshot, but possible if the Rockies want an early preview on what he might be able to contribute next season.
Steve, So many times I hear the Question “Who will be a Sept callup?” and it is rare for the answer to include a catcher. Yet, every team seems to recall one. Thanks for including them, it seems so obvious.
The extra catcher just gives a team added flexibility. In this specific case, I expect the Rockies to want a look at McKenry so they know what they can or should do in the offseason with Iannetta and Olivo.
Steve, thanks for a really comprehensive look at a very important issue. That’s the kind of in-depth analysis that makes this site so important to serious Rox fans.
An update: Samuel Deduno is reportedly coming up on Friday in place of Manuel Corpas. If that’s the case, it a little surprising but no less intriguing. He’s got swing-and-miss stuff with two pitches, but not a great third pitch. He’s been a starting pitcher in the minors, but his future is probably in the bullpen. Like Chris Nelson, the wait for Deduno has been a long one because of persistent injuries, and it will be interesting to see how he does.
Is Deduno out of options next year? I know hes a bit old for a prospect. It will be good to get a look at him, though, and see if he can be a usefull releiver next year.
Steve, the Deduno call up surprised me. Based on the fact they scratched him from starting today, I would say it’s a done deal and he will be up.
Caught me by surprise. Considering were the Rockies are right now, I really figured it would be Morales.
I was also surprised at the announcement Cook will start against Phillie. I guess the good thing is he would be here and not traveling with the team. That is a messed up couple of days they will have.
Just going by the transactions on the Rockies site and my own memory, I believe next season will be Deduno’s final option year, but I might be wrong about that. The Rockies would have been charged an option on Deduno in 2008 if he hadn’t missed the season with Tommy John surgery. I’m a little surprised by the move only because he has had elbow trouble this year and he was just getting settled back into the Springs. But if he’s healthy, it makes sense over Morales because he’s a right-hander who’s capable of multiple innings, the same role Corpas was occupying. Regardless of the option situation, it’s really now or never with Deduno. Because the rosters expand in five days he’ll have plenty of help in the pen before long.
The Cook start is for precisely what you describe — the one day back in Denver in the middle of a West Coast trip is brutal. Cook can be in Denver ready for the start and the rest of the Rockies rotation will work with an extra day of rest.
It appears that Chris Nelson has a fairly high number of errors. What do we know about him as a fielder?
Fairly early on it became clear Nelson was gong to change positions even though he was considered athletic enough to play shortstop. He has always been raw, prone to carelessness and throwing problems, largely because he was injured so often after being drafted that he never really had a chance to iron out his defensive issues. If he makes it as a major league starter, it probably will be at second base where he played for the first time this season — successfully, at least statistically compared to his work at short and third. He’ll be a work in progress defensively for a couple more years at least — remember that his career high in games played in a season is only 130 in 2008 and in only one other season did he even play as many as a 100. He’s still playing catchup, but he’s made a lot of progress this season after missing most of 2009 with Tommy John surgery.
Steve,great synopis of available talent etc. I don’t see anyone there worth putting on 40 man roster-especially w/winter moves likely.Thought Miller had earned a shot,but not if 40 man move required.Said they are done-BUT…there are some crazy scores popping up!Astros sweep Phils,Cards can’t win even w/Pujous on fire.MUST,MUST,MUST,sweep SF,and beat PHILLY-then can afford to lose one in SD[just like 2007]I’d rather be wrong and ragged on all winter,but they have really waited to long I fear…but hope springs eternal.
Note on the rotation front things could have been worse. For example we could of resigned marquis who is 0-8 with a plus 8 era. But seriously i would like to see how deduno works out maybe he could fill a bullpen spot for next year. Personally i want to see the kid brothers come up i know were pretty set with left handed relievers at the moment but if beimel leaves next year he would be an interesting option. Lastly it will be nice to see nelson maybe a preview to next season at 2nd base. Him and ey2 would form an interesting combination replacing barmes next season. Thanks for the great insight steve. Lets keep this momentum going and have rocktober volume 3!
I read this morning that Greg Smith has been taken off the 40 man roster. Does that mean he has been (effectively) released?
I read this morning that Morales will probably also be called up. I know most of us have seen enough of him I think the Rockies just don’t want to give up on him. He’s got tremendous talent and has periodically shown it in the majors. Remember it took Sandy Koulfax 5 or 6 years before he became the pitcher he became although I’m not trying to compare Morales to him, but some guys it just takes longer. Even Roy Halladay had to go back to A ball before he became the Halladay we know.
On a related subject many of us were calling for the Rockies to trade for Jorge Cantu at the trade deadline. Not sure what he did last night but through Wednesday night he had not driven in anybody in his first month with the Rangers. You just never know.