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Despite an impressive list of graduates last year, the Colorado Rockies farm system is still considering one of the best in baseball. MLB Pipeline started their countdown of the ten best farm systems yesterday with the Tampa Bay Rays and Cincinnati Reds checking in at tenth and ninth respectively. They continued the countdown today, ranking the Rockies eighth.
While the Rockies do have one of the top prospects in baseball in shortstop Brendan Rodgers, the reason that the Rockies continue to be ranked as highly as they are is because of the tremendous depth that they have built throughout the system at all levels. That includes another group of MLB-ready talent that is hoping to have as much impact as last year’s impressive rookie class.
Colorado has another wave of rookies poised to contribute as it attempts to return to contention in 2017. Right-handers Jeff Hoffman and German Marquez and catcher Tom Murphy will press for starting jobs after getting some time with the Rockies last year. Lefty Kyle Freeland, outfielders Raimel Tapia and Jordan Patterson and relievers Rayan Gonzalez and Sam Moll also are ready if needed.
MLB Pipeline also released their new top 30 Rockies prospect list today. This includes fresh write-ups and tool ratings for all 30 of the prospects and also some new videos for those interested. Brendan Rodgers, Jeff Hoffman, Riley Pint, German Marquez, and Raimel Tapia lead the way.
Yency Almonte received the honor of biggest riser in the farm system as he jumped from not being rated at all last year to no. 16 on the new updated list.