Saturday, July 05

DENVER -- Professional maturity arrived rapidly for Rockies No. 1/MLB Pipeline No. 23 prospect Charlie Condon, who will represent Colorado in the 26th All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta on July 12 (2 p.m. MT on MLB Network, MLB.TV, MLB.com and via the MLB app).

Selected third overall last year out of the University of Georgia, after winning the 2024 Golden Spikes Award and setting numerous records, Condon tried to play through a hand injury and batted .180 in 25 games at High-A Spokane. During Spring Training, he also sustained a left wrist fracture.

But since gaining his health, Condon has shown an advanced hitting approach. After a nine-game rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League, Condon blew through Spokane to the tune of a .312/.431/.420 slash line with three home runs and six doubles. He joined Double-A Hartford this week and is 2-for-8 with an RBI in three games.

Last year, Condon was so eager to begin his career that he ignored an injury that compromised his swing. This year, though, he has resisted the temptation to manufacture power to make up for lost time. It would have been understandable had he tried to match his collegiate performance -- specifically, his BBCOR-era record 37 home runs, and NCAA-leading .433 batting average, 1.009 slugging percentage and 1.565 OPS.

“He’s taking what they’re giving him,” said Chris Forbes, the Rockies’ player development director. “He was still showing that he’s got it, the power. His home runs were going to center. And you want to see that.”

Entering pro-ball, the 6-foot-6 Condon was considered a “corner bat,” with the idea that he would hit while finding a position. He played primarily third base and outfield at Georgia, but also saw action at first base in 42 games over his two seasons.

Injured while playing the outfield in the spring, Condon has played mostly first base while occasionally showing up at third base or in left field. 

“He really does seem natural at first base,” Forbes said.  “He’s a massive target. He’s got a little technique stuff to work on as he gets back into playing.”

Forbes said the organization is being careful with a couple of highly regarded pitchers.

Right-hander Gabriel Hughes (Rockies No. 14 prospect), who had nine strong starts at Hartford before moving to Triple-A Albuquerque, is out with right shoulder inflammation, following a 9.19 ERA in four starts.

Hughes underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023 and missed the 2024 Minor League season. The soreness is seen as a sign that Hughes needed a break.

“We’re looking at 100, 110 innings this year for him [Hughes is at 56 2/3 this year, not counting Spring Training], so we’re making sure we’re doing right by him,” Forbes said. “We rehabbed him in Vegas, then sent him down to Arizona, where he is right now.

“We’re going to build him back up and get him in the lab before he goes back into the Triple-A rotation.”

Forbes notes that Hughes' loss of command at Triple-A, and possibly the inflammation, came from Hughes' arm slot creeping higher. Rockies veteran starter Germán Márquez saw the same habit emerge after his return from Tommy John surgery, and arm slot variation is a common flaw -- which will be addressed at the performance lab in Scottsdale.

Right-hander Brody Brecht (No. 4), selected 38th overall in last year's Draft out of the University of Iowa, had a 3.26 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings at Single-A Fresno before going to the injured list with a back issue. 

Brecht is scheduled to make his fourth injury rehab start in the Arizona Complex League on Saturday before rejoining the Fresno rotation.

“After all those years of football [he was a wide receiver on the Iowa football team], he’s got a ‘maintenance back’ that we just have to keep an eye on,” Forbes said.

• Rockies Minor League Player of the Month for June: Aidan Longwell

• Rockies Pitcher of the Month: RHP McCade Brown

While converting a four-out save during Thursday afternoon’s 7-6 victory over the Astros, righty closer Seth Halvorsen fired a fastball at 103.3 mph -- the fastest for a Rockies pitcher since Statcast began tracking such events in 2015. Halvorsen owned the previous club record, 102.9 mph at Arizona on May 17.

More than lighting up the radar gun, Halvorsen is coming to life as the Rockies’ closer. He has seven saves and has converted five of his last six opportunities. Even a ninth-inning triple and a run from the Astros’ Jake Meyers didn’t faze Halvorsen.

“That’s how he’s built,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “It’s the same, every day, every situation, you would expect that out of him because that’s how he was raised.”

• The middle infield duo of Ezequiel Tovar and Thairo Estrada soon could be together as intended. More>>

• Tyler Freeman has grabbed a regular spot in the lineup. More>>

• Could MLB Draft Day be another Rockies Holliday? More>>

• Reviews of the previous contest in pregame hitters meetings have been fruitful. More>>

• Hunter Goodman shook off a hamstring injury and continued a march toward a possible All-Star Game invite. More>>

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