P Antonio Senzatela, SS Garrett Hampson
As the Rockies try to find their footing though the first half of 2018, there are plenty of reasons for optimism down on the farm in Triple-a Albuquerque. Here’s the latest minorleague update on top Colorado prospects:
Senzatela close to return. Since being optioned back to the Isotopes on May 3, Antonio Senzatela has posted a 2.70 ERA and 33 strikeouts and looks like the best immediate bet for a callup to help the Rockies’ struggling bullpen. Groin tightness caused the righthander to miss his last scheduled start, a holdout done mostly out of precaution considering it was a reinjury from earlier in the season.
“It wasn’t a major injury by any means, in fact, it was pretty minor, but as we talked through it more we decided to give him a little extra time just to make sure it was right,” Rockies director of player development Zach Wilson said. “I didn’t anticipate he was going to miss a start, and he’s actually going to pitch the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday.”
Hampson impresses: Since being called up to Albuquerque on May 17, shortstop Garrett Hampson is hitting .286 with a dozen RBIS. He continues to impress in the field with his athleticism and glove skills.
“He started slow and then went on an absolute rampage in Triple-a,” Wilson said. “He’s got almost a 1-to-1 ratio in terms of walks to strikeouts, he continues to hover around that .290 to .300 batting average no matter what (level) he’s at, and he continues to work counts and get on base.”
The 23-year-old was selected in the third round (No. 81 overall) of the 2016 draft by Colorado.
Footnotes. Left-hander Sam Howard, who was with the Rockies for four days this month when Harrison Musgrave went on the bereavement list, was blasted for five runs in four innings in his most recent start with the Isotopes.
But Wilson said Howard’s majorleague debut June 10, in which he tossed a scoreless ninth in a loss to the Diamondbacks, was a critical growth moment.
“What he proved when he did that was that he wasn’t scared,” Wilson said. “He came in there, he threw strikes, he attacked, he looked like he was in control of his emotions on the mound. That was an important step for him.”
Wilson also noted the performance of Isotopes closer D.J. Johnson (5.40 ERA in 31½ innings, 10 saves) has been solid despite the right-hander’s inflated ERA.
“This is a guy who, over the last two years with us, has come onto the scene,” Wilson said. “He’s 94 to 98 (mph), he’s got a hard breaking ball from 80 to 84 with slider velocity — but it’s really a hard curveball that he can use as an out pitch. This is a guy who I think is on the brink — he’s not on the roster as we sit here, but he’s a guy who’s begun to impress.”