Bevy of prospects doing well at Boise
With only about two weeks remaining in the Class A-short season, the Rockies have plenty of positive signs coming from the Boise Hawks.
Third baseman Aaron Schunk has been Boise’s biggest highlight, as Colorado’s second-round selection in the June draft out of the University of Georgia ranks fourth in the Northwest League with a .329 average. The 22-year-old also has a .928 OPS and six homers with 23 RBIS.
“He came to us, and right away you could tell that this kid had a good approach on and off the field,” first-year Hawks manager Steve Soliz said. “He can handle the fastball, has a good knowledge of the strike zone and he’s a plus defender.”
Schunk, the 2019 John Olerud Award winner for the top two-way player in college baseball, admitted “there’s definitely times where I’m thinking, ‘Man it would be great to be on the mound right now.'” Schunk posted a 2.79 ERA with 20 saves in his college career as Georgia’s closer, but he won’t be pitching professionally.
“It’s such a grind mentally and physically just because it’s a grueling thing to play eight innings and then try and close,” Schunk said. “But not pitching has helped me to focus on all the aspects of my (positional) game, and I’ve improved because of that.”
Meanwhile, Hawks outfielder Joe Aeilts is also putting up notable offensive numbers. The outfielder is sixth in the league with a .314 average after being drafted in June in the 14th round out of Illinois State, and Soliz notes he has “deceptive speed” on defense and the bases.
First baseman Michael Toglia, Colorado’s top draft selection this year, is hitting .248 with nine homers and 26 RBIS. The former UCLA star got off to a slow start in the box, but has come on strong lately with a .333 average in August.
“His overall average is a bit skewed, because he’s been hot as of late,” Soliz said. “His first game he turned on a 96mph fastball for a homer, and that was probably the last fastball he saw for about a three-week period. There was an adjustment period for him with the offspeed pitch.”
And pitching-wise, the Hawks have seen a number of arms called up this season. But Soliz remains high on the best pitchers that remain on the roster, including a rotation featuring righthander Jeffri Ocando, left-hander Zak Baayoun, right-hander Luke Chevalier and left-hander Breiling Eusebio.
In the bullpen, closer Jacob Wallace has also impressed. Colorado’s thirdround pick this year out of Uconn, the right-hander has a 1.65 ERA in 17 appearances while converting 10 of 11 save opportunities.