Tuesday, June 24

DENVER -- Long before last Monday’s game at Coors Field, Ryan McMahon dug into the batter’s box and received instructions for a purifying hitting session with Rockies hitting coach Clint Hurdle: Hit the opposite way, toward left field.

McMahon’s second swing, a weak bouncer to the mound, was exactly the type he had been taking in games during a slump that would eventually reach a club-record 0-for-35. McMahon reacted with colorful commentary.

“None of this is [that bad],” Hurdle corrected, his celebrated deep voice toned with positivity. “Just getting information.”

McMahon’s session improved, with Hurdle keeping McMahon’s eyes in the right direction. Hurdle termed each drive to center and right that reached or cleared the fence a “happy accident.”

The hitless run continued through the three games at Coors against the Braves, but McMahon carried his purposeful swing into games. The night of the session (shared fellow veteran Kyle Farmer), McMahon drew three walks. The next night’s 0-for-4 included two fly balls to left field -- weak, yes, but also informative:

Finally, in the seventh inning on Thursday at San Francisco, McMahon’s purposeful swings provided the delightful happenstance -- a solo home run off Justin Verlander, crushed 400 feet. The 4-3 victory ended the Rockies’ road losing streak at 13 games, and gave them their first consecutive wins of the season.

For all the uplifting words of Hurdle and others, McMahon -- who said during the midst of the slump that one pitch could spark a turnaround -- needed a productive result.

“Honestly I wasn’t feeling pressure -- I was just feeling useless, man,” McMahon said. “Like, you know you’re going out there, you’re not playing well -- just do something to help the team. It’s a lonely feeling. You got all the guys in here telling you, ‘Hey man, it’s all right. You’re gonna get it, you’re gonna get it.’ 

“But at the end of the day you want to do something to help the team, so it’s not a fun place to be.”

The final two games at Oracle Park, the Rockies returned to losing ways but McMahon went 3-for-7 -- including another drive against Spencer Bivens just to the right of center that looked like a homer off the bat but resulted in a still-pleasing RBI triple.

The Rockies replaced Hensley Meulens with Hurdle in part because Hurdle had worked with Rockies hitters in the Minors in recent years. The early weeks have not yielded miracle cures, but Hurdle has a headstart on what can help those hitters. However, McMahon had never worked with him.

Problems went deeper than the swing. The Rockies’ spate of middle-infield injuries worked against McMahon. Farmer -- signed to spell him occasionally -- became an everyday player, so there was scant opportunity to sit McMahon either to work on his swing or for physical or mental rest. 

Manager Bud Black supports the approach of reminding McMahon of his usefulness.

“As a coach or a manager, you know which technique you have to use,” Black said. “‘Mac’ has taken a huge responsibility on this team. He wants to be one of the guys the team relies on. And when it doesn’t happen, he feels useless.

“A position player who hits in the middle of the lineup, the expectation is high to be a contributor. When you don't, any player worth his salt is going to be frustrated.”

Finally, whether on purpose or accidentally/on purpose, McMahon’s swing has begun producing happiness.

The Tigers-Rockies game scheduled for Tuesday night at Coors Field is a showdown between each team’s No. 1 prospect. Tigers righty Jackson Jobe ranks No. 3 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects list, while Rockies righty Chase Dollander checks in at No. 22.

• Game preview

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• Watch on ROCKIES.TV

The Rockies chose Double-A Hartford right-handed pitcher Gabriel Hughes and High-A Spokane outfielder Jared Thomas as their Pitcher and Player of the Month for April.

Here’s a look at Hughes’ statistics:

Hughes, 23, the Rockies’ top pick in 2022, reached Hartford in ‘23 but sustained a right elbow injury and underwent Tommy John surgery that summer. He missed last season but, starting with the Arizona Fall League and continuing this Spring Training and this month, Hughes is regaining his form.

The Rockies have held Hughes to per-start maximums of five innings and the mid 70s in pitches. Hughes is using the limits to expand his efficiency.

“Saying there’s a limit makes each pitch that I have all the more special, all the more precious,” Hughes said. “I’m going out and executing every single one.”

Coming out of Gonzaga, Hughes possessed an upper 90s fastball. Now he sits 92-94 mph, so there is another velocity level. But the key is using the natural cut on his fastball, and working on the slider and curve that he settled upon during the offseason. Another step is developing a changeup he can use to righties and lefties, and in any count -- a project that will either help him punch his eventual Major League ticket, or continue into his big league career.

Now, for Thomas’ numbers:

At the University of Texas last year, before the Rockies selected him in the second round, Thomas was tutored by former Rockies star and current Longhorns assistant coach Troy Tulowitzki on developing a swing that could do damage in professional ball.

Thomas, 21, has maintained such an approach in Spokane as the leadoff hitter.

“First and foremost, I’m definitely a hitter first -- a true hitter before the power,” Thomas said. “I got back to that this offseason, using my barrel accuracy to all parts of the field.

“The biggest part since moving to Spokane is just accepting my walks, focusing on trying to get on base any way I can.”

Texas often used Thomas at first base, but the Rockies are using him strictly in the outfield.

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