The Minor League Baseball season got underway on Thursday for the Rockies affiliates. Just like the Rockies major league season, the minor leagues have been all over the place. Some prospects have shined, while others have struggled a bit. The most notable performances came from Albuquerque’s Roberto Ramos and Asheville’s Ryan Rolison. Here is how everyone is performing with four games under their belts.
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (3-1)
Albuquerque Isotopes first baseman Roberto Ramos (no. 26 PuRP) mashed three homers in three of the Isotopes’ first four games. He failed to homer in the 12 inning marathon on Sunday, when he struck out four times in five at bats. The 24-year-old split time began 2018 by repeating High-A Lancaster, but was promoted to Double-A Hartford in June. He hit .269/.368/.574 with 32 home runs in 121 games between the two clubs. Now, after five games, he leads the club with a .400/.500/1.067 line. Yes it’s early, but Ramos will be one to watch this season.
Brendan Rodgers (no. 1 PuRP): 4 G, 5-for-18, 4 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K
Peter Lambert (no. 2 PuRP): 1 GS, 4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 6.75 ERA (0-0)
Ryan Castellani (no. 10 PuRP): 1 GS, 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, HR, 4 BB, 4 K, 4.50 ERA (0-0)
Sam Hilliard (no. 11 PuRP): 4 G, 3-for-17, 4 R, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 6 K
Jesus Tinoco (no. 12 PuRP): 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 4.50 ERA (1-0)
Yonathan Daza (no. 14 PuRP): 4 G, 5-for-18, 3 R, 2B, RBI, 2 BB, 2 K
Justin Lawrence (no. 15 PuRP): 3.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 12.00 ERA (0-0)
Josh Fuentes (no. 16 PuRP): 2 G, 3-for-7, R, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB
Sam Howard (no. 24 PuRP): 2.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 2 K, 10.13 ERA (0-0)
Roberto Ramos (no. 26 PuRP): 4 G, 6-for-15, 4 R, 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 8 K
Brian Mundell (no. 29 PuRP): 2 G, 1-for-8, RBI, BB, 4 K
Dom Nuñez (no. 30 PuRP): 2 G, 1-for-7, 3 K
Yency Almonte: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 K, 0.00 ERA (0-0)
Jairo Diaz: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 HB, 1 BB, 3 K, 2.25 ERA (0-0)
Carlos Estévez: 3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 HR, 4 K, 5.40 ERA (0-0)
Jeff Hoffman: 1 GS, 3.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 HB, 4 BB, 3 K, 9.82 ERA (0-1)
Noel Cuevas: 4 G, 3-for-15, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K
Antonio Senzatela: 1 GS, 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 3.60 ERA (0-0)
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats (1-3)
The Yard Goats are off to a bit of a rough start, but Ben Bowden (no. 17 PuRP) has had two good outings that have yet to result in a run. He has one save in as many opportunities. The 2016 second rounder is flying through the minors, only spending six weeks in Low-A Asheville before being promoted to High-A Lancaster. After just one year in Lancaster, he was once again promoted to Double-A Hartford where he has been outstanding so far.
Colton Welker (no. 3 PuRP): 4 G, 0-for-12, RBI, 2 BB, 3 K
Tyler Nevin (no. 7 PuRP): 4 G, 2-for-11, R, 3 BB, 4 K
Ben Bowden (no. 17 PuRP): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 K, 0.00 ERA
Reid Humphreys (no. 18 PuRP): 1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, K, 9.00 ERA
Vince Fernandez (no. 21 PuRP): 4 G, 1-for-11, R, 2B, 3 BB, 4 K
Bret Boswell (no. 28 PuRP): 3 G, 2-for-10, BB, 4 K, SB
Willie Abreu (HM PuRP): 4 G, 2-for-10, 2 K
High-A: Lancaster JetHawks (0-4)
JetHawks shortstop Ryan Vilade (no. 9 PuRP) has been off to a hot start despite a cold four games for the JetHawks. He has recorded five hits in 15 at bats, including going 3-for-4 against the Modesto Nuts on Saturday. Not only does he have a .333/.389/.400 slash, but he also has three stolen bases! Last year he stole 17 in Asheville. Look for him to make an impact for the JetHawks this year.
Ryan Vilade (no. 9 PuRP): 4 G, 5-for-15, 5 R, 2B, RBI, 2 BB, 3 K, 3 SB
Tommy Doyle (no. 27 PuRP): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, K, 0.00 ERA (0-1)
Low-A: Asheville Tourists (2-2)
The big story for the Asheville Tourists was Ryan Rolison’s (no. 5 PuRP) debut on Friday. The 2018 first rounder came out and pounded the Augusta GreenJackets, recording four strikeouts in five perfect innings. In Rookie ball last year, he pitched nine games for the Grand Junction Rockies and finished with a 1.86 ERA in 29.0 innings. He gave up eight total runs (six earned) on 15 hits, and also only walked eight and struck out 34. If he keeps up this pace, Rolison could be something special.
Ryan Rolison (no. 5 PuRP): 1 GS, 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 0.00 ERA (1-0)
Grant Lavigne (no. 6 PuRP): 3 G, 2-for-9, 2 RBI, 5 K
Terrin Vavra (no. 13 PuRP): 4 G, 5-for-16, 3 R, 2B, 3 BB, 5 K, 2 SB
Ryan Feltner (no. 19 PuRP): 1 GS, 2.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 1 K, 13.50 ERA (0-1)
Daniel Montano (no. 22 PuRP): 4 G, 4-for-14, 2 R, 2B, RBI, 6 K, SB
Mike Nikorak (HM PuRP): 0.2 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 40.50 ERA (0-0)
Upcoming Schedule
Triple-A Albuquerque: 4/8 vs. Salt Lake, 4/9-4/11 @ Reno, 4/12-4/14 @ Tacoma
Double-A Hartford: 4/8-4/10 @ Harrisburg, 4/11-4/14 vs. New Hampshire
High-A Lancaster: 4/8-4/10 vs. Lake Elsinore, 4/11-4/14 @ Rancho Cucamonga
Low-A Asheville: 4/8-4/10 vs. Charleston, 4/11-4/14 @ Hagerstown