Saturday, August 09

DENVER -- Rockies No. 2 prospect Cole Carrigg is known for stealing -- he has 40 of them this season for Double-A Hartford. On Aug. 1, he stole second, third and home in the space of six pitches.

Watching him steal an inning with his right arm, though, rivals watching him run, in terms of excitement.

During the July 10 game at Portland, Carrigg sprinted to the right of center to field Ahbram Liendo’s line drive. Portland runner Caden Rose tagged to go to third in a decision that was in all ways logical until Carrigg’s pinpoint throw reached third on the fly to allow Kyle Karros to make an easy tag.

Carrigg, 23, has multiple ways to affect a game. The switch-hitter is slashing .236/.327/.395 with 12 doubles and five triples and is tied for the Eastern League lead with 67 runs scored. He also has a healthy 49 RBIs from the leadoff spot. His 16 outfield assists (14 from center, two from right) demonstrate that he takes away runs defensively.

On offense or defense, Carrigg leaves opponents feeling robbed.

“Defensively, I’m trying to be super-aggressive,” Carrigg said. “I want to get any outs I can to help the pitcher. If I can make a play, maybe back-pick somebody at second, or get somebody trying to stretch a hit to third or to second, I’m going to try to do that.

“At the same time, you’ve got to be somewhat smart, because errors can really cost you. But you’ve got to work your butt off to cut balls in the gaps and put yourself in better spots to make plays happen.”

Selected 65th overall by the Rockies out of San Diego in 2023, Carrigg turned heads at the MLB Draft Combine with a 102 mph throw from the outfield. He raised eyebrows with his desire to be a catcher, which was his favorite position growing up. But Carrigg’s top-shelf athletic ability led him to adjust his dream.

Funny part is there’s still a catcher within. There’s also a shortstop deep down inside. He played the position a few times during a standout 2024 at High-A Spokane. 

“The biggest thing that catching has helped, whether it’s in center or at short -- which I played a little last year and in college -- is you’re in charge behind the plate,” Carrigg said. “You know where the ball is supposed to go at all times. I know where guys are when the ball is hit, where I need to go and what play needs to be made.”

Carrigg is showing that speed, defense and occasional power are enough to turn a game. Next for him is becoming a more complete hitter. His slash line is down from last year’s .283/.359/.491 split at two Minor League levels, and he has 118 strikeouts against 100 all of last year. It’s all logical, being in the Eastern League -- which is a jump from the Northwest League, and can tilt toward the pitchers. He is learning to meld the athlete with the technician.

“If you’re tight and things aren’t going well, it’s not a bad thing to just be free and let your athleticism take over in the box,” Carrigg said. “But hitting can be very technical at times. You’ve got to be disciplined. I’m trying to be as simple as possible with my moves, keep my shoulders square, drive the ball up the middle.”

Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer slammed the book shut on Thursday’s 20-1 beating and lopsided, record-smashing three-game sweep at the hands of the Blue Jays.

“It’s one game,” he said. “It’s one series. We played a really good series against the Pirates [winning two of three]. Don’t forget that -- that was, like, three days ago. It just doesn’t flip negatively like that.”

Schaeffer properly turned his eyes and club toward a road series against the Diamondbacks that starts tonight. But losses like that one and all three in the series and 18-0 at Baltimore overshadow the progress that has been made since the All-Star break. Moreover, the fear is that they may foreshadow more lopsided games -- mainly because the Rockies’ starting pitching is struggling.

The Rockies have the Major League's worst 6.46 starter ERA. The group posted a 14.45 ERA during the just-completed homestand. That includes the two wins, when the Rockies overcame deficits of nine and four runs. Usually -- and especially against contending clubs like the Jays -- awful starts lead to lopsided losses.

Still recovering from an illness that affected a start in Cleveland, Freeland lost energy and lasted just 4 2/3 innings Tuesday. Antonio Senzatela went to the injured list with a right middle finger blister after his struggles set the Rockies up for a rousing comeback win over the Pirates last Friday. Germán Márquez has steps to take in his comeback from right biceps tendinitis.

Of those who are well, Austin Gomber has outperformed the others -- and he has been dogged by missed location on key pitches. Rookies Tanner Gordon and Bradley Blalock, both of whom have had stints at Triple-A Albuquerque, have had strong starts and duds. Anthony Molina gave up five home runs in five innings against the Jays on Tuesday, after being called up from Albuquerque.

“We’ve got to do our job as starters -- pitching in the sixth, pitching in the seventh, giving that bullpen that break that they need,” Freeland said. “Unfortunately, it’s not going that way right now. We need to make the adjustment so we’re not farming out our bullpen constantly with transactions.”

The Rockies aren’t in a great position beyond the current rotation and the injured list. 

Rookie righty Chase Dollander is at Triple-A trying to find the strike zone more consistently. What was supposed to be righty Ryan Feltner’s step-forward season has been marred by setbacks, with back and (currently) right shoulder injuries keeping him either in Albuquerque or on the injured list.

The Rockies are being circumspect with two prospects. Righty Gabriel Hughes (No. 15) is being watched closely in his comeback season from Tommy John surgery. Lefty Sean Sullivan (No. 12) has been stellar at Double-A Hartford, but he had right hip surgery after last season and is being monitored to make sure he responds to the between-starts workload.

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