Aaron McBride | @radioofam | November 28, 2023
The off-season breeds a sense of hope. There is a crop of players that left their team to find greener pastures with another club and vice versa. But we’re talking the Rockies, not the Cubs, not the Dodgers, the Rockies. Yes our beloved “draft and develop” franchise that has worked its way to a state described as “not a rebuild rebuild.”
Last week, Tyler looked at some utility player and catchers the Rockies could add off the free agent market. Names like Adalberto Mondesi and Tom Murphy are on the list that the Rockies could actually sign. Maybe the Rockies surprise us and trade with the Rays for Tyler Glasnow, who knows. Ha. We know. That won’t happen. DRAFT AND DEVELOP!
This is a rebuttal to Tyler’s article. If the Rockies are truly a draft and develop organization and aren’t bringing back Hittin’ Harold, who are some of the in-house names that could get the nod and fill the utility role and backup catcher void?
Utility Options:
The utility guy is an important dude on the 26-man roster. He needs to be a Swiss army knife defensively and needs the mental toughness to step into the batter’s box in late inning situations.
Last year, Hittin’ Harold kept the utility player job with atrocious numbers. There are many factors that go into that; Bud likes his veterans, Coco or Trejo didn’t out perform him, his sweet spot % was nice. But Castro and the Rockies have moved on from each other.
There are the names to be considered in the system:
Going on what Tyler said in his post, speed and the ability to play multiple up the middle positions are critical to the utility role and each of these guys present a solid case in those areas.
One thing Castro brought to the table was the ability to play a competent centerfield. None of these guys have OF listed as a position, but there is one that has outfield experience.
Hunter Stovall gets lost in the prospect shuffle. He was traded away in 2019 for James Pazos before returning to the Rockies in the 2020 off-season after the Phillies released him. Clearly, the Rockies see something in Hunter, and this may be his time to shine.
He played 14 games in left-field last year while also playing double digit games at 2B (53), 3B (21) and SS (52). Not only that, Hunter was voted by his teammates as the Best Defensive Player for the Isotopes last year. Stovall could be inserted into any MLB defense and hold his own. (You must be doing something right if the mom of a Gold Glove winner is taking notice).
Montes and Trejo are the only two of the group that have MLB experience, which we know Bud loves, but neither were able to take the job away from Castro. Both are defensively capable to play anywhere across the infield, giving a slight nod to Trejo at 3B but I’d argue that Coco is the second best 2B in the system behind B-Rod. Looking at their 2023 stats, Coco had a little more power in his 18 games while Trejo showed a veteran presence in his 82.
| Rk | Name | Year | Age | HR% | SO% | BB% | XBH% | AB/SO | AB/HR | AB/RBI | GB/FB | LD% | HR/FB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coco Montes | 2023 | 26 | 2.4% | 29.3% | 4.9% | 7.3% | 3.2 | 38.0 | 12.7 | 0.44 | 23% | 6.3% |
| 2 | Alan Trejo | 2023 | 27 | 1.8% | 22.5% | 7.1% | 6.6% | 4.1 | 51.8 | 8.0 | 0.71 | 27% | 4.8% |
For a utility bat, I’d like to see a low strikeout rate with some power; not something either showed at the MLB level. Coco was voted as MVP and Power Hitter of the Year by his Isotopes teammates in 2023. That is nothing to ignore.
Fellow Isotope Aaron Schunk comes with a similar profile as the two players above, minus the MLB experience. The fact that he hasn’t been protected from the Rule 5 draft two years running means the Rockies aren’t setting the red carpet out for him to play a role, but he’s certainly earned an opportunity.
Then there is 40-man roster spot holder, Julio Carreras. Now 23, Julio is set to fight for an opening day roster spot. He’s in an unlucky position as he sits behind Tovar and Amador, who are both clearly the future up the middle, but Julio could carve a nice spot as the utility infielder for Bud Black.
Last year, Julio played 103 games, all at SS. He has a low K%, 23% last season, which is a plus, but his lack of experience at other defensive positions is a minus as is his unusual streakiness (Carreras had just two months with an OPS over .678).
Verdict: There is a nice mix of in house options. The “grizzled vet” in Trejo, the organizaitonal future in Carreras and the some grinders with Coco, Hunter, and Schunk. My nod would go to Hunter. His ability to steal bases, 25, 10, 15 the last 3 seasons, respectively, and the ability to play OF is something I’d want coming off of the bench.
Catchers:
There’s not a lot to discuss here. There were 4 players to play the catching position for the Rockies last year — Elias Diaz (126), Austin Wynns (45), Brian Serven (10) and Jorge Alfaro (2). With Wynns a free agent and Drew Romo likely heading to AAA to start the year, backup catcher may be the second biggest need the Rockies have as we head into the Winter Meetings.
Possible in-house options:
Daniel Cope Braxton Fulford Willie MacIver Drew Romo Brian Serven
There was one guy that I was excited about, Kody Huff, who recently traded for Cal Quantrill. Huff’s ceiling is probably backup catcher, but he has the ability to be an above average defensive catcher that can hold his own with the bat. The system will miss him.
With that said, there really is only one clear answer for in-house backup catcher. Willie MacIver.
Before I give you the why, let’s give the why not. Daniel Cope, one of my favorite guys in the system, does everything right but nothing outstanding. He has posted a wRC+ higher than 100 at every stop in his career. However, he hasn’t played over 50 games in any of those seasons and his K% has progressed from 20% to 27%, over the last 4 seasons.
Brian Serven had his shot and wasn’t able to hold down the backup position. His offensive ability is very limited (52 wRC+ in 2022, and -42 wRC+ in 2023.) Unfortunately, he didn’t find his stroke in AAA last year either, posting a 31% K-rate while his SLG sat at just .331 in the hitter friendly PCL.
Drew Romo and Braxton Fulford are not the answer simply because they aren’t ready. I am on record a few times that these two are the future 1-2 combo behind the plate starting in 2025. Both can handle their own behind the plate, both know how to work with pitchers, and both have proven they can come back from a slump.
Fulford started last season in Spokane and ended up in Albuquerque, showing the Rockies like what he brings to the table. Fulford did struggle in Hartford, but in 11 games after his injury, he came back and OPS’ed .875. Still some work to do with the bat but the defense is there.
Romo on the other hand struggled mightly in April, May and June, but the 2nd half of the season saw Romo post a .950 OPS with a 20% strikeout rate. Last year was a huge season of growth for Romo. He clearly is the future for the Rockies but I’m not sure they want to give him the Tovar treatment. I expect him to spend some time at AAA to start 2024 but should join the big league club later in the summer.
Verdict: Willie MacIver. MacIver was poised to breakout in 2023 camp but suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for most of the season. He did play 53 games for the Isotopes where he saw some success. A .252/.383/.393 line with a 16% BB rate certainly was a step in the right direction. MacIver has sneaky pop, hitting at least 15 homers the 3 seasons before last and limits stolen bases, as indicated by his career 32% caught stealing.
The Rockies will more than likely make a trade to add some pitching, but will more than likely add catching help and a utility player though free agency or in-house, even if they’re minor league free agents. I, for one, hope they look within. Considering the Rockies will likely lose 90+ games in 2024, why not give these young guys a chance and prove that you really are a “draft and develop” franchise.
After Tyler posts his free agent pitching options, I will look at the systems arms that could add depth and hope.
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