Parker, Matzek ranked among top South Atlantic prospects
Two Colorado Rockies prospects are among Baseball America’s top 20 prospects from the South Atlantic League.
Outfielder Kyle Parker, the Rockies’ top pick in the 2010 draft who made his professional debut in 2011 at Asheville, ranked 12th on the list following a season in which he hit .285 with 21 home runs and 95 RBI. BA writes: “Asheville’s cozy McCormick Field helped Parker’s numbers, but he has legitimate plus power thanks to his strength and bat speed.”
Starting pitcher Tyler Matzek, who ranked 17th on the list, started the season with a disastrous stint at high Class-A Modesto in the California League and eventually returned to Asheville. After time off in July during which he returned to California to work with his youth coach, Matzek seemed to find his delivery again, going 5-2 with a 2.78 ERA, 35 walks and 64 strikeouts in 55 innings. From BA: “The Rockies tried to simplify his complicated delivery, and he still had trouble finding the zone after reverting to his high school mechanics.”
The Rockies obviously were worried about Matzek being able to repeat his delivery but that delivery is what he feels comfortable with and what worked to get him to be a highly-sought draftee.
He was terrible for most of the season but his final six starts showed just how very good he can be when he’s “right.” He has big, big talent.
Parker may have played in a shoebox but he had an outstanding debut season, showing power and run production. His average was even solid. The strikeouts, the GIDP need to improve but he sure has the look of a prospect who should move through the system. Hopefully his confidence is even higher now that he’s had pro success.
Colorado Rockies Prospects Report