Jun. 9—Things can change in a hurry for prospects in the minor leagues. For better or worse.
As the Albuquerque Isotopes open a six-game home series on Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Comets, consider the paths of two of the Colorado Rockies top 11 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline.
One calendar month ago (May 10), the Rockies' No. 11 prospect Ryan Ritter was hitting just .218 with 10 extra base hits over his first 34 games in Triple-A Albuquerque.
In the 24 games since, Ritter had 23 extra base hits and holds a 21-game hitting streak, including the past three games against the New York Mets after he was called up for the first time to the major leagues last week. He saw his average climb to .305 before departing Albuquerque.
The 24-year-old's first hit in the big leagues was a triple, the first time a Rockies player ever hit a triple for his first MLB hit.
Outfielder Zac Veen, the 23-year-old rated as Colorado's No. 6 prospect, started the season hot enough to get his first big league call-up on April 8 (he was actually informed a day prior).
He didn't fare as well as Ritter with the big league club, going just 4-for-34 (.118) in 12 games with the Rockies with one home run and one double before being sent back to Albuquerque on April 23. Since then, he's hit 17-of-76 (.237) with the Isotopes.
Last week, the Rockies sent Veen to the team's extended spring training facility in Arizona to try to get right, including taking care of an ankle injury.
"I got there (the majors) and I saw how big the stadiums were, how electric the fans were, and I wanted to perform so badly for them — put that energy into the stadium with one swing," Veen told MLB.com's Rockies beat writer Thomas Harding. "That caused me to get into some bad habits and do way too much."
Getting rid of those bad habits is now what stands between him and a second call-up.
In the meantime, the Isotopes have five of the Rockies' top 16 prospects on the roster, all hoping for the shot that Ritter and Veen have had: OF Yanquiel Fernandez (No. 5), C Drew Romo (9), RHP Gabriel Hughes (14), OF Sterlin Thompson (15) and RHP Jaden Hill (16).
Know the foe
The Albuquerque Isotopes (28-34, ninth in Pacific Coast League, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies) host the Oklahoma City Comets (37-26, second PCL, Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers) for a six-game series at Rio Grande Credit Union Field from Tuesday through Sunday.
Top, middle, bottom
The Isotopes' Nos. 1, 5 and 9 spots in the lineup have accounted for a combined 44 home runs this season (17, 16 and 11, respectively). The other six spots in the batting order? Just 37.
Close calls
The Isotopes have had 28 (of 62) games this season decided by two runs or fewer. They are 14-14 in those games.
Three up, three down
Look at that!
1. OF Sterlin Thompson slashed .400/.526/.867 (batting average/slugging percentage/on-base plus slugging) with two homers, a double and 13 total bases last week in El Paso.
2. The Isotopes' 82 home runs lead the PCL (34 at home, 48 on the road). This week's visitor, Oklahoma City, is second with 79.
3. 3B Julio Carrras, 25, hit his first career grand slam and tied a career high with five RBIs in last Friday's game at El Paso.
Look away!
1. Isotopes hitters were 1-for-8 (.125) with runners in scoring position in Sunday's loss and 11-for-56 (.196) in last week's series at El Paso. The team is hitting .260 on the season with RISP.
2. The Isotopes lost the series to El Paso (four games to two), the team's first series loss in more than a month. In the four previous series, the Isotopes won one and tied the other three.
3. Albuquerque ranks second to last in the PCL in opponent batting average (.281) and has issued the third most walks (280). Simply put, they're putting a lot of runners on base.
There better not be rain
Recently retired KOAT weatherman Joe Diaz is throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for Friday's game (weather permitting).
Heating up
The in-game chile races at Isotopes Park are heating up. Standings as of June 9 (29 races):
10 wins — Salsa Jar
9 wins — Taco
7 wins — Green Chile
3 wins — Red Chile
Homestand highlights
Wednesday: Day baseball; Gates open at 11 a.m. with first pitch scheduled for 12:05 p.m.
Friday: Hat giveaway to first 3,000 fans in gates; Un-Lucky Friday the 13th giveaways, including fans winning broken bats, used baseballs, bags of field dirt and some good stuff, too (autographed baseball cards, bobbleheads, jerseys, flags, etc.); Pregame player autographs inside third base gate (5:40-6 p.m.)
Saturday: Mariachis de Nuevo Mexico game; Dance performances by various groups; postgame fireworks
Sunday: Father's Day pregame catch on the field (5-5:30 p.m. for 6:05 p.m. first pitch); Juneteenth celebration (team will be out of town on June 19); Rally towel giveaway to first 1,000 fans.
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