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Minor League baseball players who are putting up video game numbers

By Benjamin Chase

Mar 10, 2017; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Cleveland Indians catcher Francisco Mejia (73) gets ready for a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2017; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Cleveland Indians catcher Francisco Mejia (73) gets ready for a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /
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Brendan Rodgers, SS, Colorado Rockies

In the 2015 draft, there were multiple college shortstops who were well-regarded, and four collegiate shortstops were selected in the top 20 selections of that season’s first round.

Rodgers was the one high school shortstop that was considered on par with the college shortstops in that draft class, and he was a legit option for #1 overall before going 3rd overall to the Rockies.

Rodgers had a good showing in the Pioneer League in his draft year before going to the South Atlantic League in 2016 for his first full season in the minor leagues. He showed well, with a 35/98 BB/K ratio being the biggest concern offensively, as he hit .281/.342/.480 with 31 doubles, 19 home runs and 6 steals.

Rodgers did struggle some with shortstop, and there were questions raised about his future at the position. While he certainly had the natural range, he was filling out and didn’t quite have the instincts one would prefer at the position, so he played 24 games at second base last season as well.

In 2017, the shortstop question has been put to bed, at least for now, as he showed up to spring training trimmed up and ready for the season at short, and the team has seen his instincts play up as well.

What has shown up even more has been his bat. The leaner frame only seemed to allow him to access even more bat speed, where he already was loaded up as it was. He moved up to high-A Lancaster, and while that’s the Cal League, and the Cal League has a reputation as a hitter’s league, Rodgers’ line of .400/.419/.700 is plenty more than any league enhancement would provide. He’s added in 21 doubles, 3 triples, and 12 home runs as well.

Rodgers was recently promoted to AA.

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