Forrest Wall might lag a bit behind top prospect and Little League teammate Brendan Rodgers, but he’s making his way up the Rockies’ ladder | The Athletic ($)
Brendan Rodgers and Forrest Wall, both currently prospects in the Colorado Rockies organization, have been friends for over a decade. In fact, they played on the same Little League team together— the Florida Cats, where Rodgers was a catcher and Wall played shortstop. Just like the old days, the two now hit one and two in the lineup for the Hartford Yard Goats, the Double-A affiliate of the Rockies. Rodgers has solidified himself as a middle infielder, the consensus top Rockies’ farmhand, and one of the best overall prospects in baseball. Wall’s ride has been bumpier. After a league-leading 32 errors at shortstop in 2016 for the Modesto Nuts, which was the Rockies’ Class-A affiliate at the time, Wall was transitioned to center field in 2017, but missed much of the year after suffering a dislocated shoulder in late-May. Wall began 2018 with the Lancaster JetHawks, the Rockies’ Class-A advanced team, but has since accrued 170 plate appearances for the Yard Goats, over which he has only batted .220/.312/.373. Regardless of the numbers, Hartford manager Warren Schaeffer has nothing but glowing reviews for Wall’s work ethic and potential.
2018 Top 125 Midseason Prospect Rankings | 2080 Baseball
In 2080 Baseball’s Top 125 Midseason Prospect Rankings, we see a few Rockies crack the list. Rodgers comes in at No. 9, while Garrett Hampson ranks 88 and Colton Welker takes the 93rd spot. Via Ryan Schoppe, this is Hampson’s first ranking within the top 100 of a national prospect list.
Post-Manny deals to look for in the NL West | MLB.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers got trading season off to a hot start, acquiring Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles for five prospects. MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell spoke to various front office members and scouts, and looks at what could be next for all five National League West teams leading up to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. The Arizona Diamondbacks appear to be focused on pitching, the Dodgers will turn to bullpen help, the San Francisco Giants will struggle to make their club better while maintaining ownership’s requirement of staying under the luxury tax threshold, the San Diego Padres (the only clear seller in the division) may look to trade Tyson Ross in a trade for a hitting prospect, and the Rox might make moves for a hitter or pitching.
What the Brad Hand trade means for the Colorado Rockies and NL West | Rox Pile
The Rockies can be thankful for a move already made by the Padres- the trade of Brad Hand and Adam Cimber to the Cleveland Indians. The return for the Friars was Francisco Mejia, ranked as the top catching prospect in the game by MLB.com. We can worry about Mejia when the time comes, but Hand has been a strikeout artist for the past three seasons, saving some of his best outings for when he has faced the Rockies (1.71 ERA against the Rox since 2016). The Rockies could also use their share of bullpen help, and Noah Yingling of Rox Pile lists the teams with which the Rox could strike a deal.
Rockies Insider: Road to first National League West division title in franchise history just got steeper | The Denver Post ($)
With the Machado deal, the Rockies will face another obstacle in their quest to win the NL West for the first time in franchise history. The Rox face the Dodgers for ten occasions over the rest of the season.
BSN Rockies Podcast: Important first series looms as the trade deadline approaches | BSN Denver
In the latest episode of the BSN Rockies podcast, Drew Creasman focuses on the Rockies’ current series and trade deadline rumors, including taking on the conversation that has recently arose about the Rockies trading Nolan Arenado. Creasman also discusses recent “appalling” comments made by Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred about marketing Mike Trout.
Colorado Rockies: Six facts to know after the All-Star break | Rox Pile
Rox Pile’s Kevin Henry also discusses the current series with the D-Backs, and six facts to know about the Rockies coming out of the All-Star break.
The Heart of a Fan: an open letter to the Rockies | Mile High Sports
Nate Lundy of Mile High Sports writes an open love letter of sorts to the Colorado Rockies, begging the team not to break his heart again after a wild ride in 2017 that culminated with a one-game postseason loss.