:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50663521/parker-french.0.0.png)
The Rockies 2015 fifth round draft pick (and PuRP No. 28) Parker French just finished up a strong season for the High-A Modesto Nuts. The 23 year-old threw 154.2 innings, and while his 6.3 strikeouts per nine don't stand out on his Baseball Reference page, he counters with a low 1.5 walks per nine rate. Like many other pitchers drafted in rounds five or later, French doesn't have standout velocity. A recent scouting report states that his two-seam fastball tops out at 93 mph. But like other pitchers in the Rockies' system, French has exhibited exceptional command of his pitches and is disinclined to walk batters.
That same scouting report, which was offered by Baseball Prospectus's Wilson Karaman, sees two paths of success for French. French complements his sinking fastball with a slider and a changeup, but neither generate many swings and misses. Still, Karaman suggests that improvement with his changeup could mean a career as a back-end innings eater. If not, his fastball could be good enough to land him in middle relief. Those are unsexy roles, but they are important and needed all the same.
Last night, in his final outing of the 2016 season, French displayed some of his promise. In five innings, he allowed zero runs and just one hit. He didn't walk a batter and struck out five. It was a fine end to a fine season. French will face a bigger challenge in Double-A next year.
Albuquerque 6, El Paso 2 | MiLB.com Box
Notables
No. 16 PuRP Jordan Patterson, 1-4, 2 K
No. 7 PuRP German Marquez, 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 5 K
(not) Hartford 3, Harrisburg 2 | MiLB.com Box (Game 1)
Notables
No. 6 PuRP Ryan MCMahon, 1-3, 2B
Jerry Vasto, 1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Harrisburg 3, (not) Hartford 0 | MiLB.com Box (Game 2)
Notables
No. 6 PuRP Ryan McMahon, 0-1
Modesto 7, Rancho Cucamonga 3 | MiLB.com Box
Notables
No. 13 PuRP Forrest Wall, 1-5, 2B, RBI, 2 K
No. 14 PuRP Dom Nunez, 1-3, BB, K
Josh Fuentes, 3-5, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI
No. 28 PuRP Parker French, 5 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
Asheville 5, Hagerstown 2 | MiLB.com Box
Notables
No. 27 PuRP Ben Bowden, 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Somebody named "Scott Burcham", 4-5, 4 singles, K
Boise 5, Salem-Keizer 4 | MiLB.com Box
Notables
Garrett Hampson, 1-2, RBI, 2 BB
Willie Abreu, 1-2, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Orem 4, Grand Junction 1 | MiLB.com Box
Notables
No. 21 PuRP Pedro Gonzalez, 0-4, K
Today's probables
Triple-A Albuquerque: Harrison Musgrave
Double-A Hartford: Zach Jemiola
High-A Modesto: Helmis Rodriguez
Low-A Asheville: Javier Palacios
Short Season-A Boise: Antonio Santos
Rookie Grand Junction: Ty Culbreth