Top prospect Amador will lead club into a new season at Dunkin Park
Switch-hitting second baseman Adael Amador, considered the top prospect in the Rockies organization, will headline the opening day roster as the Yard Goats launch the new minor league baseball season this week.
Amador, 20, a native of the Dominican Republic, has been in Colorado’s organization since 2021, when he signed for $1.5 million. Moved from shortstop to second base, he is envisioned as the doubleplay partner for Ezequiel Tovar, who came through Hartford in 2022 and has been the Rockies starter since the start of ’23.
Known for extraordinary plate discipline for a hitter his age, Amador has moved quickly through the minors, playing most of last season at Spokane, advanced Class A, where he hit .302 with a 3.91 on-base percentage and .514 slugging with nine homers, 35 RBI and 26 steals in 54 games. He was called up to Hartford to play the last 10 games in Double A, going 8-for-35. The way the Rockies usually operate, Amador will be considered for a promotion to Triple A if he has a good first half with the Yard Goats. He spent part of spring training in major league camp and is on the Rockies’ 40-man roster.
Hartford will have four of the Rockies’ top six prospects, as ranked by MLB Pipeline, to start the season, including outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez (No. 3) infielder/outfielder Sterlin Thompson and outfielders Zac Veen (No. 6). Veen, a first-round draft pick, is returning to Hartford as he works his way back from a season-ending wrist injury sustained last July.
Amador, Fernandez, who played 56 games for the Goats last season, and righthanded pitchers Angel Chivilli and Juan Mejia are all on the major-league roster. Other top prospects assigned to Hartford include outfielder Benny Montgomery, infielder Ryan Ritter, lefthanded pitchers Carson Palmquist and Mason Albright, third baseman Warming Bernabel, and righthanded pitchers Jaden Hill and Connor Van Scoyoc (No. 30) all starting in Hartford. Montgomery and Thompson, as well as Veen, are first-round draft picks.
Manager Bobby Meacham, in his first season in Hartford, will have 20 players with previous Double A experience.
The Yard Goats begin the season at Portland on Friday. They begin the home schedule at Dunkin Park Tuesday night with the first of six games against Bowie, managed by former New Britain High coach Roberto Mercado.