Rockies farm roundup: Arenado clubs two homers
Triple-A Colorado Springs (W, 9-4 vs. Tacoma, box)
Second baseman Chris Nelson was 2-for-2 with three walks, a triple, two RBI and three runs scored. Designated hitter Mike Jacobs was 2-for-4 with home run, four RBI and a run scored. Third baseman Ian Stewart was 2-for-4. Starting pitcher Edgar Gonzalez allowed four runs in six innings. Left-handed reliever Keith Weiser, a third-round pick in 2006, struck out the only batter he faced in his first appearance with the Sky Sox after being promoted from Double-A.
Double-A Tulsa (L, 6-5 vs. San Antonio, box)
Starting pitcher Christian Friedrich allowed three runs on seven hits, walked no one and struck out three in seven innings. Shortstop Thomas Field was 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and two runs scored. Third baseman Darin Holcomb was 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run. First baseman Ben Paulsen was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run.
High Class-A Modesto (W, 12-3 at San Jose, box)
Third baseman Nolan Arenado was 3-for-6 with two home runs, five RBI and three runs scored. In his past 10 games, Arenado is hitting .410 (16-for-39) with three home runs, four doubles and 18 RBI. Shortstop Josh Rutledge was 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBI and a run scored. Designated hitter David Christensen was 4-for-6 with a double, two RBI and three runs. Starting pitcher Parker Frazier allowed three runs in eight innings.
Low Class-A Asheville (L, 7-3 vs. Greeneville, box)
First baseman Bryce Massanari was 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, two RBI and a run scored. Center fielder Chandler Laurent was 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base. Left fielder Corey Dickerson was 1-for-4 with a solo home run. Starting pitcher Juan Gonzalez allowed four runs (three earned in five innings.)
Short-Season Class-A Tri-City (L, 6-4 at Spokane, box)
First baseman Jordan Ribera was 1-for-4 with a two-run home run, his fourth. Left fielder Tyler Massey was 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run. Starting pitcher Ricardo Ferrer allowed five runs (one earned) in 4 1/3 innings.
Rookie Casper (W, 13-12 vs. Orem, 15 innings, box)
Catcher Will Swanner was 4-for-7 with three home runs — including a 15th-inning walkoff — and five RBI. Right fielder Carl Thomore, the Rockies’ second-round pick in June, was 2-for-5 with an RBI after and 0-for-4 debut Sunday. Designated hitter Robert De La Cruz was 2-for-8 with a solo home run — his third in four games — and three runs scored. Third baseman Samuel Mende was 3-for-7 with a double and a two-run home run — his third straight game with a homer. Starting pitcher Alex Gillingham allowed three runs in seven innings.
Will Arenado get moved up to Tulsa soon? I know that Holcomb is the 3B at Tulsa, but Arenado is the better major league prospect, and his development shouldn’t be slowed by Holcomb, particularly considering Holcomb’s health issues.
Field at Tulsa also has hit well in the last 10 games (.382). Does he have the potential to be a major league 2B and to fill the void on the Rockies at that position (although if Ellis keeps hitting, he may fill the void for a bit).
What does anyone know about how Friedrich is pitching other than what can be gleaned from a box score? Is he looking like a guy who could be inserted into a shaky Rockies starting rotation later this season?
Julian, I second that — anyone actually seen Friedrich pitch lately? The numbers look decent (but not exceptional) the last couple months. It would be great to finally develop a draft pick as a starting pitcher, even if he is a #4 starter type.
Arenado is now up to an .834 OPS. He just turned 20 at the start of the season. Compare Mike Zuanich, one of the league leaders in hitting — he’ll turn 25 next week.
We’ve seen several guys emerge or reestablish themselves as serious prospects this year: Wheeler’s breakout season, Friedrich’s return to consistency, Brothers’ growing mastery of the strike zone, Arenado’s continuing impressive performance given his age/level, Bettis, Houston, and Cabrera as starter prospects, and Blackmon as a major leaguer (although the jury’s still out on whether that’s as a regular contributor or a 4th/5th outfielder at best). Plus Rosario has been a minor disappointment, but is still on track to be a big league starter. I think that’s the distinction between a thin system (which is what we have; not much depth out there), and a weak system (that is, one with few or no potential big league starters or stars — thankfully, we’re not in that situation). Building depth is essential, but I do see some very nice prospects developing into potential key contributors (Friedrich, Bettis) or even potentially stars (Wheeler, Rosario, Arenado) by 2013 or 2014. So things aren’t as bleak as some of the minor league system rankings would have it.