Note: Jeremy Rakes contributed to this week's Rockies newsletter alongside beat reporter Thomas Harding. DENVER -- The recent highlights for Double-A Hartford first baseman Charlie Condon, the Rockies' No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline's No. 59 overall, are better enjoyed than studied. In 11 games from Aug. 10-23, Condon, chosen third overall in last year’s MLB Draft, sizzled to a .324/.468/.919 slash line with six home runs – including four in a three-game stretch. Condon, 22, sustained a broken right wrist this spring and missed all of April, and played in the Arizona Complex League and at High-A Spokane before joining Hartford on July 2. The surge was reminiscent of his production in college -- 37 home runs last year at the University of Georgia. He tried to play through a left hand injury last year at Class-A Spokane before shutting down late in the season, finishing with 35 games. To find his power, Condon said he consulted hitting coach Zack Blonder with Prime Prospects in Marietta, Ga. -- where he trains in the offseason -- and with Hartford hitting coach Zach Osborne, making a barely detectable adjustment that made all the difference. “I’ve got a little squat – a little lower to the ground,” Condon said this week. “From a video perspective, it's probably hardly noticeable. But for me in the box, it feels like I'm really down there. “It looks more like my swing when it's at its best. It feels really good, and it feels like my recognition is good. Even when I’m getting out right now, it feels like it should.” |
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Expectations for a pick as high as Condon's are microwaved. Nick Kurtz (Athletics), Cam Smith (Astros), Christian Moore (Angels), Chase Burns (Reds) and Jac Caglianone (Royals) have already debuted. But in perspective, Condon being in Double-A making adjustments after recovering from injury in his first full pro season is not cause for anyone with the Rockies to panic about the timeline. "Expectations were put down because of the strength of the wrist,” Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt said. “It takes a while to overcome the injury. The farther we get removed from it, he’s feeling stronger, and the power is starting to show up.” Condon is not concerned with keeping up with the Caglianones. "I'm always going to be a big believer in myself,” Condon said. “Regardless of what anybody out there has to say, you know, I'm always believing in what I'm doing. At same time, I know that this isn't a complete project. There are going to be ruts. I understand that that's part of the game. You've got to be able to stick with it. You’ve got to have some mental fortitude.“ |
The Rockies want playing meaningful games to be part of building fortitude. Hartford is battling for an Eastern League playoff spot – it was a half-game out with 16 games left heading into Thursday. “You’ve got to want to be a good player, be a good teammate and that comes when you’re in a winning environment – I think those things go hand in hand,” Schmidt said. “Bobby Meacham [Hartford’s manager] does a good job reinforcing the team aspect.” Condon said, “I play my best baseball when it's going toward something that's bigger than me. That's when the best comes out of everybody, or the best comes out of some people. And I think it's definitely the case for me.” |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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Righty Gabriel Hughes (Rockies' No. 16), who missed the Minor League season last year recovering from 2023 Tommy John right elbow surgery, on Tuesday logged the best of his 10 starts at Triple-A Albuquerque – a season-high six innings, with five strikeouts and one run on three hits at Sugar Land. Hughes, who turned 24 on Aug. 22, was drafted 10th overall in 2022. He was left out of the Albuquerque rotation for five weeks in July and August because of shoulder inflammation and the need to correct a higher-than-ideal release point – often a problem as a pitcher returns from elbow surgery. Healthy now, Hughes has kept his four-seam and two-seam fastballs in the 91-93 mph range, and he has learned to use his changeup and curveball, and curb over reliance on the slider. Hughes was happy with the pitch-mixing strategy he and catcher Drew Romo (Rockies' No. 15) concocted for his last start. “I'm just getting a better idea for how to read swings, how to see how a hitter reacts to a certain pitch and then base the next pitch I throw off that, instead of just relying on a fastball by guys and trying to go slider or curveball in the dirt for a chase,” Hughes said. “I've become a much more complete pitcher instead of just a thrower.” Hughes has been tested by “20-21 months of just straight throwing” – a period that has included rehab, the Arizona Fall League last year, his first Major League camp this year and a strong start at Hartford before his promotion to Albuquerque. If all goes well the rest of the year, he’ll head into 2026 after a normal offseason. “My goal is taking a longer time to build up before Spring Training and seeing where that gets me,” he said. “Instead of chasing, ‘I want to sit 96 to 98,’ I'm going to chase, ‘I want to have a good, strong, slow, consistent buildup and wherever that takes me, that's where it takes me.’” |
SPEAKING OF PITCHING PROSPECTS ... |
In nine starts since returning from a back problem, Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht has struck out 13.1 batters per nine innings and held opponents to a .188 batting average for Single-A Fresno. On Wednesday, Brecht struck out eight in 4 2/3 innings of a 4-3, 10-inning victory over Inland Empire. |
Rockies rookie Yanquiel Fernández was always a big fan of Astros star and fellow Cuban Yordan Alvarez. Fernández experienced a thrill with his second career home run in Houston during the Rockies’ 4-3 loss on Thursday. "Honestly, it feels great hitting a home run in front of one of your favorite players, so it’s extra special to do that,” Fernández said, with Edwin Perez interpreting. “But for me, it’s all about just doing the job, so to be able to deliver for my team there is more important to me.” |
Hunter Goodman, whose 26 homers are two shy of the club record for a catcher (28 by Wilin Rosario in 2012) is the Rockies’ 2025 winner of the Heart and Hustle Award, presented by the MLB Players Alumni Association annually to “active players who exemplify a true passion for the game and who best embody the values, spirit, and traditions of the game.” It’s the only MLB award voted on by former players. |
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