Every year the Rockies sign players to minor-league contracts. Sometimes they’re players who had major-league careers—your Roger Bernadinas of the world. They could also be former top prospects and MVP winners. Those are the Dominic Browns and Ryan Howards. Infrequently, they’re players signed with the intent of moving them on to the major league roster. That’s the Mark Reynolds category. And then there’s the nepotism signing. That’s what took place today. Thomas Harding tweeted that the Rockies inked Dante Bichette Jr. to a minor league contract. (Not to be confused with Bo Bichette, the younger of Dante Sr.’s sons, who is currently a top 10 prospect in the Blue Jays’ system.)
Bichette Jr., the son of original Blake Street Bomber Dante Bichette, also somewhat fits into the Dominic Brown category of minor-league signings. He was drafted 51st overall by the Yankees in 2011. Unlike Brown, however, Bichette Jr. never maintained his prospect shine. He was never a top 100 prospect, though Baseball America did rank him number 6 in the Yankees’ system after the 2011 season. But Bichette the younger didn’t exactly impress in his first try at full-season professional ball at age 19. Baseball America ranked him the Yankees’ 21st best prospect after the 2012 season. Another disappointing 2013 meant he left prospect lists for good.
Now 25, Bichette has never played above Double-A. He’s a right-handed corner infielder, and he’ll only play for the Rockies if something goes terribly, terribly wrong. If he does, he’d become the second son from the Rockies’ early days to don purple, joining Eric Young Jr. That makes me wonder if there are Little Cats out there the Rockies can bring on board.