Rookies shine in first game of spring

The best prospect in the system stood at the plate with winning run aboard, and despite the fact that this game was taking place in February, it suddenly felt like this at-bat was mid-September, a pennant on the line.

And then Brian Mundell was picked off at first. Oh, what might have been. But, oh yeah: this game didn’t count.

The Colorado Rockies’ extra-inning comeback attempt ultimately fell just short in a surprisingly exciting and competitive first spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The final was 7-6 D-Backs in 10 innings at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

Jeff Hoffman got the start on the mound and pitched two innings without allowing a hit, though he did walk a pair. Zach Jemiola, who is hoping to make his MLB debut in 2018, gave up a solo home run to Jeremy Hazelbaker and a single to Yasmani Tomas over two innings.

Adam Ottavino and Carlos Estevez each pitched a clean inning which is certainly a better sign than not.

The third prospect dealt in the Troy Tulowitzki trade, Jesus Tinoco, looked outstanding in his first inning of work, getting two strikeouts and a popup. But he could not escape his second frame, surrendering a pair of base hits and then a three-run home run that tied the game. Tinoco is not expected to compete for a big league job this season so any time he sees against this competition should be seen as a great experience.

The loss was assigned to Matt Pierpont who gave up two runs in the 10th inning.

The Rockies first RBI of the season came off the bat of Ryan McMahon who is competing for the Opening Day first base job. Arizona went to the lefty to face him but McMahon looped a single to left, scoring a pair.

Raimel Tapia and Brendan Rodgers both came to spring training sporting bulked-up looks and big hopes for the 2018 campaign. Both guys hit rocket-shot solo home runs, Tapia’s going opposite field which is (or at least has been) rare for him. Rodgers also hit the ball hard in an earlier at-bat, falling victim to quality defense at third base but still driving in a run, giving him a two-RBI day.

Colorado’s first hit of spring training came courtesy of a DJ LeMahieu single, of course.

Brian Mundell put together a solid at-bat with a runner at third and two outs in the ninth, hitting a single up the middle to tie the game on the Rockies’ last chance. Mundell is a longshot to make the roster, but as a big (6’3, 230 lbs.) right-handed bat with some pop and an ability to shorten up, he could make himself a legitimate option in a hurry, especially if the Rockies are intent not to add anyone at first base.

For a team that is clearly relying on young talent to carry the torch, regardless of who else thinks that is a good idea, they couldn’t have asked for a better symbolic start. Rodgers, McMahon, Tapia, and Hoffman are all major players for this franchise moving forward and each of them needs to get comfortable and confident thinking of themselves as MLB regulars.

They all took nice, small steps in that direction today.