Rockies prospect Elehuris Montero is having one heck of a July

The past week for the Rockies’ affiliates can best be described as ‘average’. The Isotopes were 3-3, splitting their final two games with Sugar Land (HOU) before doing the same in four games with El Paso (SD). Hartford produced the only losing record, going 2-4 against Bowie (BAL). The Spokane Indians split their six game season with Tri-City (LAA) while Fresno also went 3-3 in their matchup with Modesto (SEA).

While it has been a year to forget for Hartford, it has certainly been a July to remember for Elehuris Montero. For the month, Montero is hitting .420/.488/.826 with nine homers, 29 runs scored and 21 runs batted in. He has hit safely in 16 of his 21 games and a BB/K rate of 10/17 in that span after posting a 9/33 in his previous 30 games. If the patience and power can continue to be on display for Montero, there’s a very real chance he could be fighting for a major league spot in spring training next year.

Top 30 PuRPs

Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (3-3, 29-40 overall)

Taylor Motter was the biggest threat for the Isotopes, going 9 for 21 with six bombs and four walks. He scored and drove in eight runs during the week. Ryan Vilade (No. 3 PuRP) bounced back after an ugly 2 for 23 last week. Vilade went 9 for 21 this time, with three runs batted in. As Vilade moved forward, Greg Bird took a step back, going 2 for 20 with seven strikeouts.

Albuquerque’s starting staff was not overly impressive this week. Brandon Gold struck out 14 to just one walk in his 12 ²⁄₃ innings pitched, but he allowed four runs in each of his two starts and surrendered 16 hits for the week. Ryan Castellani surrendered six runs and couldn’t make it out of the third inning in his lone start. In the bullpen, Heath Holder threw 3 ¹⁄₃ scoreless innings.

Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats (2-4, 22-49 overall)

As previously mentioned, Elehuirs Montero continued to terrorize the Northeast league. In six games this week, Montero went 7 for 20 with four home runs and eight runs driven in. He also drew four walks while striking out five times.

Willie MacIver (No. 32 PuRP) showed signs he is acclimating to the Double-A level. His 5 for 21 this week may be modest on the surface, but it was good for a .836 OPS and he has now hit safely in five of his last seven games.

Karl Kauffman (No. 11 PuRP) and Ryan Feltner (No. 25 PuRP) both put up another strong showing this week. Kauffman started two games and picked up a win in his 9 ²⁄₃ innings. He flirted with disaster a bit in his starts — surrendering ten hits and issuing seven walks — but only allowed three earned runs and struck out ten. Feltner, on the other hand, allowed two runs in six innings while striking out nine in a tough-luck loss on Friday.

High-A: Spokane Indians (3-3, 33-39 overall)

In a reversal from last week, it was Spokane’s offense that struggled to find consistency this week. Michael Toglia (No. 4 PuRP) and Brenton Doyle (No. 12 PuRP) each up put a .250 average but posted an OPS over .820 and hit two long-balls. Isaac Collins had a rough time at the plate, striking out in ten of his 17 at-bats.

While the offensive production was moderate, the starting staff excellent. After taking a beating last week, Helcris Olivarez (No. 10 PuRP) had a solid bounce-back outing. In his five innings pitched, Olivarez allowed three hits and struck out nine while only walking one. Mitchell Kilkenny (No. 27 PuRP) also rebounded from a tough start, throwing seven innings of one-run ball. In his win, he allowed only four hits and did not issue a walk while recording five punch-outs. Breiling Eusebio rounded out the redemption tour, allowing one earned run over six innings this week after giving up seven in 2 ²⁄₃ last week.

Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (3-3, 48-24 overall)

The Zac Veen (No. 2 PuRP) party continued this week. While not as ridiculous as last week, Veen was still superb again, going 7 for 23 with two homers. Before going hitless on Sunday, Veen had put together an 11 game hit streak and he now has an absurd .325/.402/.713 slash line for July. Not to be forgotten, Ezequiel Tovar (No. 28 PuRP) kept adding to his strong season, putting up a .903 OPS with four doubles and a homer this week.

Sam Weatherly (No. 17 PuRP) had another Nuke Laloosh performance. The good was he struck out ten hitters in five innings while only giving one free pass. The bad was he allowed eight hits and eight runs in those five innings. Austin Kitchen, Juan Mejia and Anderson Pilar combined to throw 9 ²⁄₃ shutout innings out of the bullpen.

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Upcoming Schedule

Triple-A Albuquerque: 7/26-7/27 @ EL Paso (SD), 7/29-8/1 vs. Salt Lake (LAA)

Double-A Hartford: 7/27-8/1 vs. Binghamton (NYM)

High-A Spokane: 7/27-8/1 vs. Vancouver (TOR)

Low-A Fresno: 7/27-8/1 vs. Lake Elsinore (SD)