Blake Street Banter Team | February 18, 2025

Welcome back to BSB Tools Week. We are now in the thick of position player tools. Today’s focus is defense as we consider total defensive ability, including arm strength and general reliability across positions.

With so many high-level athletes and defenders in the system, will the Rockies be able to produce their next Brenton Doyle or Ezequiel Tovar as a Gold Glove winner?

If you have missed any of the recent installments of BSB Tools Week, check out the links below:

Top 5 Command Pitchers
Top 10 Secondary Pitches
Top 5 Fastballs
Top 5 Catching Tools

Honorable Mentions

With Greg Jones’ defensive versatility across the infield and outfield, he’s one of the most valuable fielders in the system. Robert Calaz has great athleticism and natural instincts that makes him flash impressive leather in the outfield. Julio Carreras is another player with impressive versatility across multiple positions, he’s improved every season and shined brightly defensively for the Isotopes in 2024. Cole Messina and Ronaiker Palma are both very defensively sound catchers, doing everything right behind the plate, along with the other backstops mentioned in our top 5 catchers article. Other players in consideration were Ashly Andujar, Roynier Hernandez, Benny Montgomery, and Zac Veen.

#5 – C Drew Romo

Romo got his named called at the top of our catching tools rankings yesterday. It’s no secret defense will be his calling card in the big leagues after Romo was a rare first-round high school catcher selection back in 2020. Romo has plus arm strength and has proven his ability as a pitch framer and pitch blocker, checking all the major boxes for a catcher and doing so impressively at just 23 years old.

Romo will get plenty of big league time this year and will have a shot to prove himself as an above average MLB defensive catcher.

#4 – 3B Kyle Karros

Karros won a minor league Gold Glove this season over at third base. The last Rockies prospect to win an MiLB Gold Glove was none other than back-to-back MLB Gold Glover Brenton Doyle. Prior to being acknowledged for his defensive ability, Karros had a reputation for being more than capable but not necessarily a defensive force.

With his trophy cabinet starting to grow, Karros is becoming quite reminiscent of Nolan Arenado for his entire skillset but especially the unexpected polish on the defensive side. Will Karros be another impressive infield development for the Rockies and give the club a future Gold Glove option at the hot corner?

Kyle Karros Prospect Profile

#3 – OF Caleb Hobson

Hobson did it all defensively last year, picking up extra outs with his range and recording 6 assists. His elite speed and athleticism make him a rare defensive prospect and a true center fielder that the Rockies haven’t consistently had (even Brenton Doyle didn’t always play center in the minors).

Pitchers love having Hobson behind them with the potential of every play being an out. Here is one of his web gems last year. His arm is not elite like Doyle’s, but with 6 outfield assists in the California League, runners should be weary of trying to add an extra base. Hobson is an electric athlete who will get playing time as a speedy, defensive first player and has a shot to eventually crack a big league roster for his athletic contributions. 

#2 – SS/OF Cole Carrigg

It’s not an understatement to say that Carrigg is a rare 5-tool dude. Spoiler alert, Carrigg will appear on every category (besides catching), for a position player in this series. While he’s well above average on offense, the defensive side is where Carrigg makes the strongest impression. Carrigg has played a healthy dose of center field and shortstop and even picked up some catcher innings in 2023 after being announced on draft night as a backstop. While he could be an above-average defender at any of those positions, Carrigg’s best position will likely be in center though the club will keep him sharp at shortstop.

Carrigg’s plus-plus speed and quality defensive actions already make him a great defender, but no writeup on Carrigg would be complete without mentioning his legit cannon for an arm. He might have the strongest arm out of any position player in the system, and it plays extremely well in center field or on the left side of the infield.

#1 – SS Ryan Ritter

Ritter entered the pros with serious name value on the defensive side as one of college baseball’s best defensive players. There are shades of Carlos Correa here on the defensive side with Ritter not being the fastest nor quickest player at shortstop but one with supreme instincts and hands. Ritter also has an easy plus arm for the left side of the infield and should be an asset to the Rockies MLB roster based on his defensive ability alone. Ritter may start picking up time at 2B with Ezequiel Tovar set to soak up the opportunities at shortstop.

The Rockies have their hands full with a very athletic and defensively sound farm system. Rather than if the Rockies have a future Gold Glover in their farm system, the question should be focused on who will actually secure the honors.