Who’s on first? Two good prospects
Two months into the season, some players in the Rockies’ farm system might think they’re still in spring training.
The player-development staff has some top prospects playing different positions.
Cases in point are right fielder Jordan Patterson with Triple-A Albuquerque and third baseman Ryan McMahon with Double-A Hartford. Both are also getting playing time at first base.
Ron Gideon, the Rockies’ development supervisor in Double-A, believes the extra duty in both cases is to add flexibility and value for each player.
“He still is considered a third baseman,” Gideon said of McMahon. “But we’re shooting for him to be playing half the time at third and half the time at first by the end of the season.”
McMahon’s switch to the opposite side of the field marks his first time away from the hot corner. But Patterson played some first base at South Alabama.
Patterson doesn’t have a preference.
“Either position, it is still baseball,” he said. “It’s the same game. I’ll play wherever they need me and do whatever it takes to be in the lineup.”
Patterson is finding his first season in Triple-A to be interesting.
“A lot of the players here have been in the big leagues, and they’re fun to be around,” he said. “The higher you go, you get a little smarter and a little wiser about the game.”
Zach Wilson, the Rockies’ player development chief, says the additional duty for Patterson and McMahon is beyond experimenting.
“Playing multiple positions only adds to a player’s value,” Wilson said. “Jordan has played first base before, and it made sense to continue the process. Anyone who has watched McMahon play third base would see that he has the same actions needed to play first base.”
With Nolan Arenado an all-star at third base in the Rockies’ infield, first base is an easier path to Coors Field. But according to Wilson, McMahon was getting playing time at first base regardless of where Arenado plays.
Coming up: Left-hander Tyler Anderson is on a fast track to possibly making his first appearance in a Rockies uniform. Anderson’s fourth start was for Albuquerque after two starts for Hartford and one at Single-A Modesto. Lefty Tyler Matzek is advancing more slowly. Matzek has pitched 1L innings in eight appearances with Modesto.