Colorado Rockies: Brendan Rodgers Promoted to AAA
The Colorado Rockies are currently the hottest team in baseball with an 8-2 record over their last 10 games. Even though they have a very talented roster at the MLB level, they have more talented reinforcements moving their way up through the MiLB level.
https://t.co/SIUnV4Lz3y has learned that No. 6 overall prospect Brendan Rodgers of @Rockies is headed to the @ABQTopes from the @GoYardGoats. https://t.co/ME8ho7G2bk pic.twitter.com/8PSqWZU841
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) July 30, 2018
According to Michael Avallone on MiLB.com, the Colorado Rockies have promoted their top prospect, Brendan Rodgers to the Albuquerque Isotopes. Rodgers was originally selected by the team with the third overall pick in the 2015 draft. He turns 22 years old on August 9th and a call up to the MLB has the potential to be a late birthday present from the organization in September.
The current #6 overall prospect on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list has spent the entire season in Double-A with the Hartford Yard Goats, and he has performed very well. Through 94 games, he has compiled 398 plate appearances. In those appearances, he holds an .343 on-base percentage and a .497 slugging percentage.
Rodgers is currently tied for fourth place in the Eastern League in home runs with 17 on the season. He is tied for third place in runs batted in with 62 and tied for eighth place in hits with 98.
Rodgers performance in the first half of the season earned him a spot in the Eastern League All-Star Game. He started at shortstop for the Eastern Division All-Stars and went 1-5 with a double. He also made a fantastic defensive play:
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As Rodgers has excelled on the offensive and defensive sides in Double-A, the Rockies made the decision to move him up to the Triple-A level. Even though Rodgers plays shortstop the majority of the time, he has also spent time around the infield this season. Through his 96 games, 57 of were at shortstop, 21 were at second base, and 17 were at third base.
The Rockies currently have three All-Star caliber players at shortstop, second base, and third base. Those players are Trevor Story, DJ LeMahieu, and Nolan Arenado. Despite the talented Rockies infield, Rodgers is not necessarily a long shot to get called up to the MLB this season if he performs well in Albuquerque.
LeMahieu has only played in 72 games thus far this season as he is currently dealing with a left oblique strain. As we have seen with Gary Sanchez of the New York Yankees, this type of injury has the potential to derail a good amount of the season for a player.
The Rockies are currently using a mix of Pat Valaika and Garrett Hampson at second base, but they are not providing the type of offense the team is used to from the 2016 NL Batting Champion. Lemahieu’s return date is unknown at the moment, so it is possible Rodgers production may be needed at the MLB level this season.
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With the Rockies right in the middle of a tight division race in the NL West, it will be worth keeping an eye on the performance of Rodgers in Triple-A as he may be needed at the MLB level this season. The organization may also want to get a glimpse of how he could perform on the big stage as a backup plan if LeMahieu signs elsewhere in free agency following the season.