Posted on 23 January 2009
H/W: 6-1 170 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 1/7/88
This 20 year old Venezuelan broke out in a big way in 2008 dominating both Low-A Asheville and High-A Modesto to the tune of an 18-3 record with a 2.03 ERA and 42 BB/160 K's in 177.2 IP. His 90-92 MPH fastball can reach 94 MPH but it is the heavy sinking action that induced ground ball outs to the tune of a 2.83 per flyout rate. Mixed with an effective curveball and changeup, Chacin has exceptional command and a highly advanced feel for how to set hitters up. Those who have seen him pitch also state that he is a nimble athlete and that his frame has the room to add more muscle to it. Though he has good command of his three pitches, Jhoulys must continue to develop the depth of them as he progresses. The jet streamed air and spacious gaps of Coors Field have squashed the futures of many a young pitcher, but Chacin's ability to induce groundball outs, coupled with his advanced control of the strike zone may give him a realistic shot at bucking this trend.
2009 Projection: Chacin will be asked to continue his devlelopment at AA Tulsa this season. If he can continue to put away more advanced hitters, he could received a promotion to AAA Colorado Springs at some point. The challenge for Chacin will be to keep the ball down. The Rockies' several minor league stops are hitter-friendly environments (Colorado Springs especially) and the hitters will be much more advanced and patient. If Jhoulys can continue to locate his fastball down in the zone, his future as a key cog in the Rockies' young rotation could be realized by the start of the 2010 season.
Key Jhoulys Chacin Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2008 Bowman Sterling
- 2008 Donruss Threads Auto #/1999
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/821
- 2008 Playoff Prime Cuts Auto #/249
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Auto
Posted on 16 January 2009
H/W: 6-3 200 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 7/1/86
Drafted twice as a pitcher, the long, lean Georgia Tech alum found his future as a position player would be much more lucrative. After a successful 2008 campaign with the Yellow Jackets (.396 8 HR 45 RBI 25 SB and 66 runs scored), the Colorado Rockies made him their 2nd round selection. Blackmon continued to hammer pitching at short season Tri-Cities to the tune of a .338 BA with 2 HR 33 RBI and 13 SB as well. Blackmon has a lively, athletic frame that has room to build extra bulk. His lefty swing has good balance and potential gap power that could produce 15-20 HR per season. His speed plays well on the basepaths and in the OF where his range is good enough for CF and his arm strength plays well in RF. Blackmon doesn't strike out much, but he doesn't walk much either. This can be due to the fact that he is still quite inexperienced as a full time position player and has yet to establish a strong feel for the strike zone.
2009 Projection: His exceptional short season performance and advanced age may be cause for Blackmon to spend very little time at Low-A Ashville before earning a promotion to HIgh-A Modesto. There should be an increase in the HR totals this season as Blackmon smacked 21 doubles at Tri-Cities. As he gains more polish, he should also have an increased comfort in being more aggressive on balls in the inner portions of the plate. With Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez likely manning CF and LF in the near future, it will be crucial for Blackmon to increase his power output if he is to stick as an everyday Rockies RF. Brad Hawpe has a stranglehold on that position through at least 2010 (and a $10 million club option in 2011) which should provide Blackmon enough time to develop into a viable replacement for Hawpe.
Key Charlie Blackmon Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Playoff Prime Cuts Auto #/249
- 2008 Playoff Contenders Auto
- 2008 Bowman Sterling Auto
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1499
Posted on 24 November 2008
H/W: 6-4 175 lb. B/T: B/R DOB: 3/12/86
Fowler experienced the finest season of his blossoming career by hitting .335 with 9 HR 64 RBI 20 SB and 94 runs scored in just 108 games at AA Tulsa. Fowler took one month off to go play for Team USA in Beijing and, when he returned, he was promoted to the Rockies for his MLB debut. Fowler struggled in 26 late season AB's scratching out just four singles and scoring three runs. Fowler's athleticism is quite similar to Florida Marlins top prospect Cameron Maybin. While he is not as powerful as Maybin, his long and lean frame has sinewy strength and his 49 XBH lends credence to the belief that he should develop 15-20 HR power as he matures. Fowler's speed serves him quite well on the basepaths and in the OF, though his average arm will probably limit him to CF or LF as a pro. Fowler controls the strike zone very well for someone his age and his ability to grind out AB's would make him an excellent top of the order hitter. There is not much to dislike about Fowler's skill set. He has had injury struggles in the past and he needs to build strength, but all of the other tools are in place for Fowler to be a 5-tool top of the order hitter who should be a strong candidate for the 2009 N.L. R.O.Y. award.
2009 Projection: Fowler was given the winter to rest and prepare for spring training. He is the front runner of a talented field of Colorado Rockies prospects that will be looking to fill the OF vacancies left by Matt Holliday and Willy Taveras. Fowler seems to be the ideal candidate to fill Tavaras' spot leaving the floatilla of Carlos Gonzalez, Seth Smith, Ryan Spilborghs, and Eric Young Jr. to battle for LF playing time.
Key Dexter Fowler Baseball Cards:
- 2004 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/623
- 2006 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2006 Bowman Sterling
- 2006 Bowman Originals
- 2006 Bowman Heritage Auto
Posted on 22 November 2008
H/W: 5-10 180 lb. B/T: S/R DOB: 5/25/85
Young's 2008 campaign got off to a slow start as he missed most of the first month of the season recovering from surgery that removed the hammate bone from his left hand. Upon returning, Young tore up the basepaths at AA Tulsa, stealing 46 bases in 62 attempts while hitting .290 with 3 HR 33 RBI and 74 runs scored. Young has elite, top of the order speed much like his father Eric Young Sr. Junior has swiped 206 bases over the past three years. Originally a 2B, the Rockies decided to move him to the outfield where he could utilize his elite speed tracking down flyballs instead of bobbling ones on the ground. Young does not profile to have much power, though his Arizona Fall League performance (.430 5 HR 20 RBI) gives much optimism that, perhaps, Young can develop 8-12 HR power to compliment his game breaking speed. One area of Young's game that has improved significantly is his BB/K ratio which went from 46/105 in 2007 to 61/77 this season. Young is a high energy, max-effort player whose ability to get on base with frequency makes him an increasingly intriguing lead-off candidate for the Rockies.
2009 Projection: Young's MVP-like AFL performance has opened the eyes of Rockies' team officials and should give him ample opportunities in spring training to build on his successful performances. The Rockies are loaded with talented OF throughout their organization even after the trade of All-Star Matt Holliday. Young will have to contend with the likes of Dexter Fowler, Seth Smith, Ryan Spilborghs, and newly acquired Carlos Gonzalez for AB's at Coors Field.
Key Eric Young Jr. Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2007 Bowman Sterling
- 2007 Bowman Heritage
- 2007 Bowman's Best
Posted on 10 November 2008
H/W: 6-1 160 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 3/5/88
When healthy, Gomez is one of the best fielding infield prospects in all of baseball with an arm that rivals Rafael Furcal's cannon. Offensively, Gomez is still quite raw, though his frame and wiry strength should produce at least average power down the road. Gomez has a tendency to pull too many balls and chases several pitches out of the strike zone. He struck out 120 times in 2007 while walking a mere 29 times. The Rockies have the luxury of being patient with Gomez as Read the full story
Posted on 08 November 2008
H/W: 6-3 180 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 12/13/87
Rodriguez is a projectible young pitcher who signed with the Rockies as a 17 year old free agent out of the Dominican Republic. Long-limbed and wiry, it is thought that Rodriguez may not yet be done growing and that his 89-94 MPH fastball could gain a few ticks over the next season or two. Aneury had a solid season in the unforgiving California League this year improving on his ERA and BA allowed. Much of this is due to Read the full story
H/W: 6-1 170 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 1/7/88
