‘Did you hear about Tim?’ From barbecue back to baseball, longshot Tim Melville pitched the game of his life | The Athletic ($)
Wednesday marked an incredible Colorado Rockies debut for starting pitcher Tim Melville. It was anything but a typical trajectory to a big league return for Melville who found himself working at a barbecue joint in Phoenix after being unable to find a team willing to sign him. He later joined the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League before being picked up by the Rockies on a minor league deal. Nick Groke of The Athletic has more.
Rockies toe line between competing, evaluating | Rockies.com
Relievers Yency Almonte and DJ Johnson were utilized in high-leverage situations in the late innings of Thursday night’s game. If the Rockies were in contention, they may not have been the ones entrusted with such roles. But as manager Bud Black told Thomas Harding of MLB.com, the rest of the season is going to represent an opportunity for younger, less experienced players to show what they have to offer.
Colorado Rockies: Bad luck has haunted the Ian Desmond draft pick | Rox Pile
A lot is made of the five-year, $70 million contract that the Rockies gave to first baseman-turned center fielder-turned left fielder Ian Desmond. What isn’t talked about as much is another factor of the signing. As Desmond rejected a qualifying offer from the Texas Rangers after the 2016 campaign, the Rockies were required to surrender their first-round draft pick in 2017.
Kevin Henry of Rox Pile looked into the trajectory of the young farmhand. The Rangers selected high school shortstop Chris Seise who has produced up-and-down numbers but has mostly been plagued by injuries.
On the Farm
Vince Fernandez is back and hitting bombs! He hit his 14th home run in 65 games for the Yard Goats.
Triple-A: Fresno Grizzlies 8, Albuquerque Isotopes 2
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats 6, Reading Fightin Phils 2
High-A: Lake Elsinore Storm 12, Lancaster JetHawks 4
Single-A: Greenville Drive 11, Asheville Tourists 1
Short-Season A: Tri-City Dust Devils 8, Boise Hawks 2
Rookie: Grand Junction Rockies 4, Ogden Raptors 3