Rockies make unique trade with Guardians and add six players to the 40-man roster

It’s that time of year again for another crop of Colorado Rockies’ prospects to take one step closer towards their Major League debut.

On Tuesday, five minor leaguers were added to the 40-man roster to bring the total up to 38: right-handed pitchers Riley Pint and Blair Calvo, outfielder Brenton Doyle and infielders Warming Bernabel and Julio Carreras.

Soon after this announcement, Colorado agree to a trade with the Cleveland Guardians, acquiring infielder/outfielder Nolan Jones for minor league infielder Juan Brito.

Jones, a second round pick in the 2016 MLB Draft out of Holy Ghost Prep (PA), quickly turned heads at the lower levels of the minors. He began the 2019 season as the 96th-best prospect in the game and reaching as high as 45th-best in 2021, according to Baseball America.

The 24-year-old made his Major League debut in 2022 with the Guardians, slugging two home runs and driving in 13 RBI across 86 at-bats.

A left-handed hitter who has transitioned from third base to the outfield, Jones may be an interesting option for the Rockies at the top of the lineup thanks to a career .394 on-base percentage in the minors.

Pint, 25, is the most notable name on the list as many will remember his as the fourth overall pick out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School (KS) in the 2016 MLB Draft.

The Kansas native put together a 5.11 ERA through his first four professional seasons, mostly as a starting pitcher. A move to the bullpen in 2021 produced similar results before he announced his retirement in June.

Pint returned rejuvenated in 2022 after spending some time away from the game, appearing in 38 games for Double-A Hartford and three for Triple-A Albuquerque. His 4.53 ERA (45.2 IP, 23 ER) as a reliever showed improvement, especially with an 11.4 strikeouts-per-nine (54 strikeouts).

Doyle, 24, is another intriguing prospect for Colorado following a late call-up to Triple-A where he mashed three home runs with nine runs batted in over the final nine games of his season. 

Originally a third-round pick in 2019 out of Division II Shepherd University (WV), Doyle has athleticism to play all three outfield positions. He was awarded a Minor League Gold Glove Award Winner following his play in center and right field with High-A Spokane in 2021.

With 50 home runs and 61 stolen bases in his three seasons in the Rockies’ farm system, Doyle has all the tools required for making an impact in the big leagues. 

Bernabel, 21, is the youngest of the group. Originally signed as a non-drafted international free agent for $900,000 out of the Dominican Republic, he spent time with both Low-A Fresno and High-A Spokane in 2022 for his first full season in the U.S.

The third baseman slashed .313/.370/.499 with 26 doubles, 14 home runs, 71 RBI and 23 stolen bases during his two stops, earning a place as an MiLB.com Organizational All-Star for Colorado.

Calvo, 26, had a breakout campaign in 2022, posting a 2.92 ERA with Hartford and Albuquerque. Drafted in 2019 out of Division II Flagler Coller (FL) in the 23rd round, Calvo is a relief pitcher with a wipe out slider that could prove useful for the Rockies’ bullpen next season.

Carreras, 22, was signed at the age of 18 out of the Dominican Republic and came stateside in 2019. It all came together for him this season with Spokane and Hartford, combining power (11 home runs) and speed (19 stolen bases) at the shortstop position.

His 37 doubles lead all of MiLB and helped earn him a spot as a 2022 Northwest League All-Star.

For some players within the Rockies’ organization, being left off the 40-man roster today means another team could select them in the Rule 5 Draft, held December 7 during the Winter Meetings.

Players become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft when signed at age 18 or younger and spending five seasons or more with the club. Those signed at 19 or older and spending four seasons or more with the club are also eligible.

Diamond Details

A total of 21 different Rockies, including LHP Ty Blach, RHP Ashton Goudeau and OF Wynton Bernard, elected to become minor league free agents earlier in the week.

The list also includes: RHP Logan Cozart, RHP Matt Dennis, RHP Frank Duncan, RHP Nate Hadley, RHP JD Hammer, RHP Zach Lee, RHP Alexander Martinez, RHP Corey Oswalt, RHP Joel Peguero, RHP Riley Smith, LHP Breiling Eusebio, C Carlos Pérez, 2B Tim Lopes, 2B Bret Boswell, SS Taylor Snyder and OF Tyler Hill.

Four former Colorado players were designated for assignment on Tuesday: Dom Nuñez (SF), Colton Welker (SF), Jeff Hoffman (CIN) and Raimel Tapia (TOR).