In 2015, Jesus Tinoco arrived in Colorado as “the third prospect” in the Troy Tulowitzki trade. The 20-year-old pitched about a third of a season for the Asheville Tourists, and he made a huge impression. Tinoco posted a 1.80 ERA over 40 innings, and he struck out 8.3 batters per nine and walked 1.8 while doing so. That performance was enough to convince a big swath of the Purple Row community to add Tinoco to their PuRP lists. In his first round of eligibility, he ranked as the number 14 PuRP.
We got a little bit ahead of ourselves and focused on the great while ignoring the not so great. Tinoco began the 2016 season in Class A Advanced Modesto, and he was awful, as he allowed 23 runs in just 13.1 innings. The pitch speed he displayed the previous year had disappeared. That led to a demotion to Asheville, where he was better but not nearly as good as his 2015. He has missed all of the PuRP lists since then.
The Rockies saw enough to start Tinoco back in Class A Advanced, where he has pitched the entire 2017 season.. And he’s rehabilitated himself. In 1342⁄3 innings he has a 4.61 ERA. He’s struck out 6.8 batters per nine and walked 3.3. It’s not nearly as good as his 2015 but not nearly as bad as his 2016.
Tinoco had his best start of the year last night. He allowed four hits and one run in seven innings while striking out nine and walking just one batter. Tinoco’s capping off a nice return year. He should face a more difficult test in 2018 at Double-A. How Tinoco fares there will reveal whether or not he should be on future PuRP lists.
Salt Lake 6, Albuquerque 4 | MiLB.com Box
Ryan McMahon (no. 2 PuRP): 1-for-3, BB, K
Jordan Patterson (no. 15 PuRP): 1-for-4
Ryan Howard: 1-for-4, HR, K
New Hampshire 2, Hartford 0 | MiLB.com Box
Dom Nuñez (no. 14 PuRP): 1-for-3, 2 K
Jack Wynkoop: 8 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Lancaster 2, Lake Elsinore 1 | MiLB.com Box
Garrett Hampson (no. 13 PuRP): 1-for-4, K
Sam Hilliard (no. 26 PuRP): 2-for-5, 2B, 3 K
Jesus Tinoco: 7 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 9 K, HRA
Asheville 8, Lexington 5 | MiLB.com Box
Colton Welker (no. 7 PuRP): 2-for-4, 2K
Tyler Nevin: (no. 22 PuRP): 3-for-5, 2 2B, K
Vince Fernandez (no. 25 PuRP): 0-for-3, BB, K
Vancouver 3, Boise 2 | MiLB.com Box
Austin Bernard: 1-for-4, HR, 3K
Luis Castro: 1-for-4
Orem 20, Grand Junction 5 | MiLB.com Box
Jeffri Ocando (no. 27 PuRP): 4 IP, 7 H, 6 R (3 ER), BB, 3K
Chad Spanberger (no. 30 PuRP): 2-for-5, 2 K
DSL Rockies 6, DSL Phillies Red 3 | MiLB.com Box
Yeikel Blandin: 2-for-3
Carlos González: 3 IP, 2 H, R, 0 BB, 5 K
Today's probables
Triple-A Albuquerque: Sam Howard (no. 11 PuRP)
Double-A Hartford: Nick Additon
Class A Advanced Lancaster: Brandon Gold
Class A Asheville: Matt Dennis
Class A Short-Season Boise: Garrett Schilling
Rookie Grand Junction: Lucas Gilbreath