The Rockies Rookie ball team in Grand Junction got a couple of great offensive performances Saturday night.
Chad Spanberger, the Rockies sixth round pick in the most recent draft, went 2-for-4 with a home run and a walk thrown in. Due to trades, Spanberger rose to the number 30 spot in this year’s PuRPs polling. The 21-year-old out of Arkansas is now hitting .296/.364/.560 in Grand Junction. He’s mostly played first base there, and if he keeps up the hitting in full-season ball, he could turn into one of those rare birds: a true first base prospect.
Spanberger’s teammate Pedro González went 2-for-5 with a double and a triple on Saturday. The newly minted number 12 PuRP entered the organization as an amateur free agent in 2014 as a 6-foot-3 shortstop. He’s now a 6-foot-5 center fielder. It’s not too surprising for someone still growing into his body to struggle in his stateside debut—especially as an 18-year-old. And struggle González did in 2016, as he hit just .222/.300.296 in the Pioneer League. He’s turned it around this year though. After his two extra base hits on Saturday, González is hitting .288/.360/.442 at age 19. He’s positioned himself for a full season test at Asheville in 2018.
Round Rock 7, Albuquerque 3 | MiLB.com Box
Ryan McMahon (no. 2 PuRP): 0-for-4, 3 K
Tom Murphy (no. 9 PuRP): 0-for-3, K
Jordan Patterson (no. 15 PuRP): 0-for-4, 2K
Mike Tauchman: 1-for-4, HR
Noel Cuevas: 1-for-4 HR, K
Hartford 8, Erie 7 | MiLB.com Box
Dom Nuñez (no. 14 PuRP): 1-for-4, BB, 2 K
Brian Mundell (no. 17 PuRP): 3-for-5, K
Stephen Cardullo: 2-for-5, 2B, HR
Jack Wynkoop: 5 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 2 HRA
Rancho Cucamonga 6, Lancaster 4 | MiLB.com Box
Garrett Hampson (no. 13 PuRP): 2-for-5, 3B
Sam Hilliard (no. 26 PuRP): 0-for-4, K
Hamlet Marte: 2-for-4, 2B
Brandon Gold: 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HRA
Rome 2, Asheville 1 | MiLB.com Box
Tyler Nevin (no. 22 PuRP): 0-for-3, 2 K
Vince Fernandez (no. 25 PuRP): 1-for-4, 2B, K
Breiling Eusebio: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 7 K, HRA
Boise 7, Tri-City 5 | MiLB.com Box
Sean Bouchard (2017 9th round draft pick): 1-for-3, BB
Daniel Jipping (2017 22nd round draft pick): 0-for-3, BB, K
Tri-City 6, Boise 1 (Game2) | MiLB.com Box
Sean Bouchard: 0-for-3, 2 K
Grand Junction 12, Helena 6 | MiLB.com Box
Ryan Vilade (no. 8 PuRP): 0-for-4, BB, 2 K
Pedro González (no. 12 PuRP): 2-for-5, 2B, 3B, K
Chad Spanberger (no. 30 PuRP): 2-for-4, HR, BB, K
DSL Rockies 8, DSL Yankees 2 | MiLB.com Box
Daniel Montano (no. 19 PuRP): 1-for-4, 2B
Luis Noguera: 1 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, K
Today's pobables
Triple-A Albuquerque: Zach Jemiola
Double-A Hartford: Ryan Castellani (no. 6 PuRP)
Class A Advanced Lancaster: TBD
Class A Asheville: Matt Dennis
Class A Short-Season Boise: Nick Kennedy
Rookie Grand Junction: Jeffri Ocando (no. 27 PuRP)