Asheville’s sputtering start might direct some people to think that the Rockies farm system lacks depth in the lower levels of the system. Most of the Rockies top prospects do find themselves in AA Hartford or in the California League, but Chad Spanberger spent last night giving his best case to become a notable prospect in the system.
The 2017 sixth round pick hit two home runs and provided six RBI in the Tourists 14-10 win over Greensboro. Spanberger went 3-for-4 total, scoring four runs and even added a walk for good measure. The first baseman was a menace every single at-bat for Asheville, racking up three extra base hits.
The home runs were Chad’s sixth and seventh of the season. Last year in the hitter friendly Pioneer League, Chad hit 19 home runs, this year’s seven make it look like Chad’s power was more than just the elevated Pioneer league stadiums and Spanberger is asserting himself as one of the more interesting bats of the Rockies lower levels.
The 14-10 win improved Asheville to 11-19 on the season, other news and notes from the affiliates are below:
Triple-A: Reno Aces 6, Albuquerque Isotopes 3
Raimel Tapia: 1-for-4
Josh Fuentes: 4-for-5, 2 R
Nelson Gonzalez: 2 IP, 3 K
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats 7, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 3
Garrett Hampson (No. 9 PuRP): 2-for-5, HR
Sam Hilliard (No.17 PuRP): 1-for-2, 2 R
Brian Mundell (No. 13 PuRP): 1-for-3, R
Class A Advanced: Inland Empire 66ers 9, Lancaster JetHawks 8
Forrest Wall: 3-for-4, 2B
Colton Welker (No.5 PuRP): 2-for-3, 2 R
Vince Fernandez (No.28 PuRP): 2-for-4
Class-A: Asheville Tourists 14, Greensboro Grasshoppers 10
Chad Spanberger (No.29 PuRP): 3-for-4, 2 HR, 2B
Casey Golden: 4-for-5, 2B
Ryan Vilade (No.7 PuRP): 1-for-2, 2 BB, RBI
★ ★ ★
Thursday Probables:
Triple-A Albuquerque: Antonio Senzatela (0-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. Reno
Double-A Hartford: Ryan Castellani (2-1, 2.30 ERA) vs. Bowie
Class-A Advanced Lancaster: Brandon Gold (3-1, 5.50 ERA) vs. Inland Empire
Class-A Asheville: Will Gaddis (1-1, 5.11 ERA) vs. Greensboro