Another season is upon us, and with that means 162 opportunities to see a new player in purple pinstripes. It’s always a special moment when you see a player who fought for the chance at the big leagues for years finally get that opportunity. For many of these players, we are witnessing their biggest achievement up to that moment. These things always get swept under the rug, but these are special moments for everyone involved. I’m sure you have heard about Chase Dollander, Zac Veen and Jordan Beck, but here are some players who have a good chance to see some big league playing time that people aren’t talking about.
Willie MacIver
When I saw we signed Jacob Stallings it made me sick, not because of the quality of player he is, but because MacIver deserves that opportunity to be this team’s backup catcher. He was drafted in 2019 in the ninth round out of Washington and has scrapped his way all the way to becoming the starting backstop in Albuquerque. His game can be summed up as a “jack of all traits, master of none”, that’s not an insult he is a fine well-rounded player. He wasn’t ever the best hitter on his team, or the best fielder, or the best runner, but you can rely on him to do everything and not let you down.
This is a dude who played nearly every position in college before realizing his potential is best suited for the catcher position. He just loves the game of baseball and hopefully, he gets to live out his dream this season. Willie Mac Banter Session.
Nick Bush
A name that even the most diehard of Rockies fans might have forgotten about. Nick Bush did not pitch a single inning last season, but in 2022 he pitched 100 innings in Hartford to the tune of an ERA of 3.68. A 2018 draft pick from LSU, Nick Bush has been around this organization for a long time and I think that his time is coming. Another player who isn’t going to wow anybody when they look at strikeout numbers, but he gets the job done. He is very much a “pitch to contact” pitcher who avoids walking players and makes sure his defense stays busy.
His numbers aren’t world beating, but he has a vast amount of experience and will most likely start off in Albuquerque. Last season saw the Rockies use 34 pitchers, if this season is anything like the last, Nick Bush will make his debut.
Hunter Stovall
Hunter Stovall is unique in the sense he is positionless, which is a good thing because I can’t think of anything Bud Black loves more than utility players. He can play any position in the infield as well as the corner outfield spots and at a quality level. He will provide pitchers with tough at bats, constantly fighting off pitches to keep himself alive. This has translated to a respectable 14% K rate in Albuquerque last season. Pair this with his speed on base, and he could become a solid utility player in the future.
Stovall is perfect for the summer months of the season where everyone is tired, and you are just hanging on. He is versatile enough to play a good number of games, letting key players get the much-needed rest. Hunter Stovall Banter Session
Ryan Ritter
Definitely not an unfamiliar name, Ryan Ritter was a fourth round pick just a couple of years ago. I was super excited because he was an elite defender at the college level, even winning the D1 Gold Glove Award.
I saw him as a player who doesn’t need an immense amount of offensive growth to be a serviceable player because of his middle infield defensive capability. I conceded that Ritter will never be a world-class hitter, that ship has more than likely failed, but that doesn’t mean he can’t contribute. When I checked what Ryan Ritter’s final season tallies looked like on his way to California League MVP, I was shocked at the offensive output. In Fresno, he had over 1.000 OPS and had 18 dingers to go along with that. He ended the season in Hartford, where he struggled a little bit. If he can continue and have a good offense in Hartford and hopefully Albuquerque, he could be a late call-up which could see playing time.
Who is your dark horse pick to make their debut?
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