Rockies farm roundup: Matzek strikes out 13
Triple-A Colorado Springs (L, 12-10 vs. Tacoma, 11 innings, box)
Center fielder Ryan Spilborghs was 2-for-6 with a home run and three RBI. Left fielder Scott Beerer was 2-for-6 with home run and two RBI. Starting pitcher Greg Reynolds allowed eight runs (seven earned) in four innings.
Double-A Tulsa (W, 6-2 at Arkansas, box)
Starting pitcher Rob Scahill allowed one run on five hits, walked one and struck out four in seven innings. Shortstop Hector Gomez was 3-for-5 with two doubles, a run and a stolen base. Second baseman Thomas Field was 2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and a run.
High Class-A Modesto (L, 3-2 at Visalia, box)
First baseman Kiel Roling was 2-for-4 with a solo home run. Shortstop Josh Rutledge was 1-for-4 with a double. Starting pitcher Edwar Cabrera allowed three runs and struck out six in six innings.
Low Class-A Asheville (W, 7-1 vs. Hagerstown, box)
Tyler Matzek pitched his best game as a pro, allowing one run on two hits with two walks and 13 strikeouts. It was the third consecutive start and fourth in his past five that Matzek pitched seven innings. He is now 4-4 with a 4.89, 46 walks and 72 strikeouts in 57 innings at Asheville. In August, Matzek is 3-1 with a 2.65 ERA, 15 walks and 42 strikeouts in 34 innings. First baseman Mark Tracy was 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and a run. Shortstop Cristhian Adames was 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs.
Short-Season Class-A Tri-City (L, 2-0 at Vancouver, box)
Third baseman Jayson Langfels and left fielder Tyler Massey were each 3-for-4. Langfels doubled and Massey stolen a base. Starting pitcher Tyler Gagnon allowed two runs in five innings.
Rookie Casper (L, 11-3 at Billings, box)
Left fielder Francisco Sosa was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Third baseman Trevor Story doubled, scored and stole a base. Starting pitcher Geoff Parker allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings.
Tyler Matzek just walked seven in a game recently but outside of that, his last five games pitched have been outstanding – a 2.91 ERA, only 19 hits allowed in 34 innings and almost a 3/1 rate of K/BB. He looks very promising again. Whatever adjustments he’s made, they are working and that has to be doing great things for his confidence.
The ability is there. It’s just a matter of correcting the critical flaws he’s struggled with this season.
He’s certainly continued to believe and work at his craft.
Colorado Rockies Prospects Report
http://www.coloradorockiesprospects.com
Striking out 2 per inning over 7 innings is proof that the electric stuff is still there. Tyler Matzek, welcome back.
K can’t help but think that it is still Low A and he isn’t out of he woods at all, but I might just be being cynical.
I have to agree with Jaredean. His recent performances have looked promising and I hope he has another good one in his final start. But whether or not he’s truly turned the corner and is back to being an elite prospect won’t be determined until next year. Hopefully he’ll keep working over the winter, start off next year in Modesto (I don’t think they would jump him up to Tulsa after having demoted him to Asheville this year and given his recent performance probably would start with Modesto), show the dominance with the Nuts that he displayed in this start on a consistent basis and get promoted to Tulsa in the middle of the season.
Missed this post the other night in the fog of Balkamania.
On:
Matzek, this is probably the right level of competition for him given this is his 2nd year of competition. He bombed big time in Modesto, but more because of his changed pitching style. The fact he is dominating the last few starts is excellent news. Really, this is big. He was the #1 HS pitcher in 2009, some said the #1 in the draft at Stephen Strasburg. He has all of it inside of him. Next year he gets to exercise the demons at Modesto and then…let see. For his sake (dont know if the kid is a jerk or a saint, but his sake, I hope he puts it all together). Modesto next year will again be same age talent, so if he can dominate maybe Tulsa by summer and then….
I am also excited about Cabrera. Not sure what he will be as he moves up, but hey, right now he looks studly. As I wrote earlier this year, if the Rox are contending in late 2012, he might be able to help as a power arm in the pen at the end of the season. Another power lefty arm with a 210/40 K to W ration in A ball. Nice to have.
Remain very happy about the farm system and potential (which trully is the worst word to appear on your tombstone…because they only talk about potential if you never fulfill it).