SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Major League camp made the desired impression on center fielder and Colorado prospect Cole Carrigg. And he hopes that he and some of the other young Rockies left good vibes with the Major League team. Carrigg, the Rockies’ No. 3 prospect who will feature in their Spring Breakout game against the White Sox on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz., went 3-for-15 with two doubles in Cactus League play. Before the Rockies reassigned Carrigg to Minor League camp on March 5, manager Bud Black identified him as a player to watch because of his athletic ability. Black’s assessment was less a revelation than a confirmation. Before the Rockies drafted him 65th overall in 2023, Carrigg turned heads at the MLB Draft Combine with a 102 mph throw from the outfield. He also is a switch-hitter with such speed that the Rockies, like his amateur teams, moved him from his preferred position of catcher. |
Carrigg also posted an .833 OPS with 16 home runs and 51 stolen bases while helping High-A Spokane to the Northwest League championship last season. “I know I’ve got everything I need to be a big leaguer,” Carrigg said. “For me, it’s consistency -- taking those lows and making them as short as possible. It’s being more consistent with my play and how I carry myself, and not letting my emotions get the best of me. It’s kind of who I am -- I’m not going to be able to take it all away. But it’s being able to handle it a little better.” When games begin, Carrigg plays with an intense edge that should eventually help the Major League squad. But, like his Spokane teammate Kyle Karros (Rockies No. 21 prospect), Carrigg learned that experienced players dial down the intensity this time of year so it doesn’t get in the way of building the fundamental base that’s needed when games begin and everything is faster. “They’re getting their approach and their at-bats in, and the way they carry themselves really set in with me,” Carrigg said. “I like how they go about things. It’s not the end of the world if they get out. They stay calm and just go about their day.” |
But Carrigg hopes the younger players added a freshness. “Me, Karros, Ryan Ritter, Sterlin Thompson, Benny Montgomery all have come across each other a lot and have a really good camaraderie, we have a lot of fun, and I think that rubbed off on some of the other guys,” Carrigg said. “The way we go about things is more letting loose and enjoying yourself while you’re out there.” |
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Aaron Cook, part of the Rockies’ World Series starting rotation in 2007 and an All-Star in 2008, was invited for the second straight year to work with pitchers in camp and will be part of the Spring Breakout coaching staff. A member of the Rockies from 2002-11, Cook had a sinker-dominant style that was seen as a prototype for success at Coors. However, Cook does not believe that. “Everybody’s got different mechanics, different approaches,” Cook said. “The biggest thing that I’ve taken from my playing career is you’ve got to meet players where they are, what makes them tick, what mechanics they have and what pitches they have. Then I try to help them refine that.” Cook acknowledged that he's thrown himself into other interests since his career ended in 2012 with the Red Sox; he’s worked in the internet business and is now a fishing guide at Lake Texoma on the Oklahoma-Texas border. But now, the urge to pass on his baseball knowledge is increasing. After working with pitchers last spring, he made himself available via text or phone, and worked with Triple-A Albuquerque pitchers while the Isotopes were playing in Oklahoma City early in the season. His relationships went beyond baseball strategy. “They reach out to me about certain things, and not necessarily baseball stuff,” Cook said. “Sometimes it’s just getting something off their chest that they’re dealing with. It’s about being another set of eyes and ears. I like to be there to let them know I care about them, not just as a baseball player but as a human being, as well.” |
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Former catcher Michael McKenry, who was with the Rockies twice (2010, 2014-15), has been working with catchers and pitchers this week and will be part of the Spring Breakout staff. McKenry will still do pre- and postgame shows with the Pirates, for whom he played three seasons. McKenry is in camp at the invitation of special front-office assistant Clint Hurdle, his manager with the Rockies and Pirates, and Jerry Weinstein, a former special assistant with the Rockies who now is with the Cubs. |
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Three of the Rockies’ top 11 prospects -- outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez (No. 6), second baseman Adael Amador (No. 7) and catcher Drew Romo (No. 11) -- have been optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque this week. All three moves could be summed up in a simple statement: They need experience. Amador, 21, who was called up for 10 games last year but had minimal impact because of an oblique injury, made the biggest camp impression by posting an .805 OPS -- largely because of a .472 on-base percentage. Defensive questions arose last year after Amador switched from shortstop to second base, but he showed more comfort this spring. Fernandez, 21, is young for his position. At Double-A Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque, he faced just three pitchers who were younger than him. Romo, 23, was the second-youngest catcher to appear in a Major League game last year. |
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