Rockies Prospects: David Dahl and Correlle Prime stay hot, Kyle Parker called up, and Grand Junction begins with a bang

Grand Junction Rockies 11, Ogden Raptors 7

The middle of the order really did some damage in this one, but it took Ogden jumping out to a 7-0 lead for the bats to awaken.

I was lucky enough to catch up with some of the rookie-ballers recently and first baseman Henry Garcia was recieving rave reviews from teammate Dom Nunez, especially with regards to his raw power. As if on cue, in the first game of the season, Garcia -- batting out of the cleanup spot -- went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a three-run home run.

Batting fifth, third baseman Luis Castro also hit to reach base on three of his five at-bats and scored two runs.

Dom Nunez hit sixth in the order and with his added muscle went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored, and two walks all while playing his favorite position: catcher.

We talked a lot last season about Dom's incredible eye and patience at the plate/pitch selection. He couldn't match that with other results last year but seeing him drive the ball and take walks, however early, is a good sign.

Both Wesley Jones and Luis Jean went 2-for-4 with a run scored and Yonathan Daza had a three-RBI hit.

Javier Palacios was tagged for five earned runs in four innings (though he did strike out five) but Yoely Bello, Taylor Black, and Marc Magliaro allowed no further earned runs.

I will be in Grand Junction for the team's opening home series so be on the lookout for much more in-depth coverage soon.

Colorado Springs Sky Sox 5, Salt Lake Bees 7

The biggest news from this game was not who contributed at the plate, but who didn't. Before being able to take his first at-bat, Kyle Parker was removed from the game in favor of shipping him up to the big leagues for yet another rookie debut this season for the Rockies.

In the absence of their best run producer, catcher Jackson Williams provided a 3 RBI day on 2-for-4 hitting but it would not be enough to win the ballgame as starting pitcher Brett Tomko (yes, that Brett Tomko) failed to get out of the first inning.

Tomko gave up three runs, though only one earned and Wilton Lopez also gave up three runs in relief.

Tulsa Drillers 3, Springfield Cardinals 8

It was an ugly game for Tulsa, which didn't have any players record more than one hit for a grand total of five for the team. Tyler Massey was 1-for-4 with two of the runs. His hit was a double, as was that of Christian Adames, who grabbed an RBI and brought his season average to .295.

Starter Carlos Hernandez was decent, pitching six innings and giving up only two earned runs but Dan Houston, who came on in relief of Hernandez, gave up five runs (four earned) in just two innings.

Massey, Adames and Jose Gonzalez were all guilty of errors in this one.

Modesto Nuts 4, Bakersfield Blaze 7

It was a tough day for prospect watchers in Modesto as Will Swanner, Rosell Herrera, and Patrick Valaika went a combined 0-for-11, though Hererra did get a walk and an RBI.

First baseman Jordan Ribera provided the only solidly landed punch in this match with a three-run home run, leaving him and Herrera as the only Nuts to drive in runs.

Designated hitter Dean Espy did secure two hits, a double, and a run scored.

Pitcher Ryan Carpenter was knocked around for six runs on nine hits in just four innings. He walked four and struck out only one batter. Alving Mejias and Peter Tago allowed no hits for the next three innings until the Blaze managed to grab a hit and an unearned run off of Raul Fernandez in the ninth.

Asheville Tourists 5, Rome Braves 3

David Dahl, Correlle Prime, Zach Osborne, and a rejuvenated Jordan Patterson powered the Tourists though Rome and to victory!

Each had two hits on the day and Dahl and Prime both doubled. Dahl scored two runs out of the leadoff spot and added an RBI while Prime had one of each.

Optimus Prime's added power this season is incredibly promising and it's nice to see that even after being named an All-Star and being moved up into the cleanup spot, he is still producing. His slash line sits at .271/.310/.518.

Speaking of slashes, since struggling mightily to start the season, outfielder (and nicest dude on the planet) Jordan Patterson is hitting .351/.442/.622, good for a 1.063 OPS over his last ten games. He blasted a decisive two-run home run in this game bringing his total to six on the year.

Micahel Benjamin and Wilfredo Rodriguez both picked up hits to continue nice stretches with the bat. They are hitting .329 and .356 on the season, respectively.

Ryan McMahon did not play in this game meaning that Raimel Tapia's 0-for-4, two-strikeout performance was the only bad news.