’Tope Cuevas: All-Star nod is ‘honor’
Outfielder has improved dramatically from 2016, leads Albuquerque in hits, RBIs
Noel Cuevas didn’t care much for his debut season with the Albuquerque Isotopes. The sequel has been a dramatic improvement. Cuevas, a 25-year-old outfielder, will wrap up an outstanding “first half” today when the ’Topes conclude a three-game series against the visiting Las Vegas 51s. Then he’ll be off to Tacoma for Wednesday’s Triple-A All-Star Game, pitting the Pacific Coast League against the International League.
There’s no denying that Cuevas has earned the trip. Cuevas went 1-for-4 in the Isotopes’ 4-1 win over visiting Las Vegas on Saturday night, and he’s hitting .314 with 11 home runs and a team-best 57 RBIs. He has a team-leading 96 hits and has stolen 15 bases in 18 tries.
And Cuevas won’t pretend that Wednesday’s nationally televised all-star contest is just another game.
“It’s a difficult all-star game to make,” Cuevas said.
“With two leagues represented, it’s an honor to be there, man. I’m really looking forward to the Triple-A game.”
Cuevas, who came to the Colorado Rockies organization as a “player to be named later” in a 2014 trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitcher Juan Nicasio, did not look much like an all-star in 44 games with the Isotopes last season.
He hit .234 with one homer and eight RBIs before being sent to Double-A Hartford on July 4.
Turns out Cuevas was not 100-percent healthy. He was recovering from a hamstring injury that sapped his speed and eventually his confidence.
Cuevas returned to Albuquerque healthy this year, and he’s put on a show. Few episodes were more all-star worthy than Friday’s 6-4 win over Las Vegas, in which Cuevas blistered a goahead three-run homer and made a racing grab in left-center field that ended with a full-speed somersault.
He made it look good, rolling to his feet without even slowing down.
“I haven’t practiced that one,” Cuevas said with a laugh. “I’m glad it came out all right — and that I held onto the ball.”
Isotopes manager Glenallen Hill enjoyed watching Cuevas’ catch but liked his ensuing tapemeasure home run even more. That line shot to left was still carrying when it bounced off a large billboard beyond the Isotopes Park picnic area.
“He needed that like we all did,” Hill said. “I don’t think he was thinking about the all-star game as much as he just liked the feeling of hitting a ball that far. That was a shot. I hope it carries over past the all-star game.”
Wednesday’s game will be Cuevas’ second all-star appearance. He played in the (Class A-advanced) California League All-Star Game in 2013.
But Cuevas realizes this sequel is considerably more meaningful.
“The next level is the big leagues,” he said. “(And) I actually got to tell my family (in Camuy, Puerto Rico) that I’m going to be on MLB Network, so that’s going to be pretty cool.”
NOTE: While Cuevas plans to play in today’s series finale, ’Topes infielder Ryan McMahon has missed the entire Las Vegas series. McMahon is set to play in today’s All-Star Futures Game in Miami.
McMahon is hitting .380 with eight homers and 28 RBIs in 32 games with Albuquerque this season.