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Colorado Rockies 2018 minor league awards

By Benjamin Chase

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 04: Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahhon (24) scoops up a ball during batting practice at Miller Park before the Rockies played the Milwaukee Brewers for the first game of the NLDS October 04, 2018. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 04: Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahhon (24) scoops up a ball during batting practice at Miller Park before the Rockies played the Milwaukee Brewers for the first game of the NLDS October 04, 2018. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /
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Colorado Rockies
PORTLAND, ME – APRIL 24: Josh Fuenntes of the Hartford Yard Goats looks for the out call, one he would get, after Anneury Tavares of the Portland Sea Dogs was caught stealing in the bottom of the sixth inning at Hadlock Field Monday, April 24, 2017. (Staff Photo by Gabe Souza/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images) /

Colorado Rockies Minor League Hitter of the Year: Josh Fuentes

Level(s): AAA Albuquerque
Stats: .327/.354/.517, 135 G, 586 PA, 39 2B, 12 3B, 14 HR, 21/103 BB/K

For an undrafted player, Josh Fuentes has made a very nice minor league career for himself. The 2018 season was the pinnacle of that work, as Fuentes scored 93 runs and drove in 95 as he may not have posted the best OPS, but he led the organization in multiple stats on the season.

Fuentes has a very simple hitting style, but he is very contact oriented, rarely walking, and also keeping his strikeout rate very reasonable (17.6%). He may be more of a line drive hitter than a home run guy, but he’s definitely got a bat that should make some noise for a bench role in Colorado for 2019.

Runners-up

Drafted in the 8th round out of the University of Texas, Bret Boswell played his way across both A-ball levels in 2018. He found the Cal League environment strongly to his liking to finish the year, combining to hit .296/.345/.529 with 25 doubles, 5 triples, 27 home runs, and 9 steals.

A 20th round pick in 2017 out of UNC-Wilmington, Casey Golden took advantage of his favorable home park in Asheville. He posted a .278/.359/.562 line with 23 doubles, 34 home runs, and 24 stolen bases, though his 38/180 BB/K ratio is of some concern going forward for the Colorado Rockies.

Slowly working his way up the Colorado Rockies system, Mike Tauchman has had two big seasons in AAA Albuquerque, but he has struggled in his big league time. Tauchman slashed .323/.408/.571 with 26 doubles, 7 triples, 20 home runs, and 12 stolen bases in the minors, but struggled to a .094/.194/.125 slash in 37 major league plate appearances.

One guy who could be leaned on heavily in 2019 is Garrett Hampson. Continuing the legacy of Long Beach State middle infielders, the 2016 3rd round pick worked his way to the Colorado Rockies in just his second full minor league season. He pushed through AA and AAA before showing well in the majors in limited time. Combined in the minors, he hit .311/.382/.462 with 25 doubles, 6 triples, 10 home runs, and 36 stolen bases. He spent 24 games in the majors, hitting .275/.396/.400 with 3 doubles, a triple, and 2 steals.

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