BSN Exclusive: Rocky Mountain Vibes usher in a new era of Colorado baseball

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COLORADO SPRINGS – The notable epigram of French journalist Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr is just as true today as when it was written during the 1800’s: “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”

In Colorado Springs, originally home to a Chicago White Sox affiliate from 1950-58 known as the Sky Sox, the professional team is now known as the Rocky Mountain Vibes. They occupy in the same stadium on Tutt Boulevard, but the new residents call it UCHealth Park. And the Triple-A baseball that once entertained fans in the Springs has disappeared for greener pastures. In its place, the Pioneer League now reigns supreme.

The 91.5 mph first pitch fastball at 6:42 pm MST by Brewers prospect Cam Robinson ushered in a new era for professional baseball in the state of Colorado. For thirty years, Colorado Springs was home to the highest rung of minor league baseball, first with Cleveland between 1988-1992, then as the Rockies top affiliate from 1993-2014, and finally with Milwaukee in 2015 until last season.

Typically near the basement in attendance of Pacific Coast League teams since the Rockies left for Albuquerque, the owners of the Sky Sox, The Elmore Group, did some shuffling of their assets for the start of this season: rookie short-season Helena Brewers moved to the Springs and became the Vibes; the Triple-A Sky Sox effectively became the San Antonio Missions; and the Double-A Missions became the brand-new Amarillo Sod Poodles.

Friday night’s match-up between the Vibes and Rockies marked the first time two minor league teams from the Centennial State have played against one another in the Olympic City since September 14th, 1958. On that day, the Sky Sox defeated the Chicago Cubs’ affiliate Pueblo Bruins in the now-defunct Single-A Western League.

At one time, between 1988-92, Colorado Springs and Denver were both home to Triple-A baseball. However, the Denver Zephyrs were a member of the American Association, so the two teams never played during the regular season. They would, however, meet for one exhibition game before the start of their seasons on April 4, 1989. In 1993, the Zephyrs moved to New Orleans when the Colorado Rockies came into existence, taking over Mile High Stadium for themselves.

As the newest member of the eight-team Pioneer League, the Vibes will play against the GJ Rockies several times each season, bringing back purple prospects to the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains for the first time in Jeff Bridich’s tenure as General Manager.

The actual game itself was a typical rookie level affair with one side giving up seven walks and the other making a fielding error as well as three base running errors; the errors were trying to steal on Vibes’ catcher Luis Avalo who is undoubtedly blessed with a cannon for a throwing arm.

The Rockies would prove victorious, 8-5, but the home team featured a three-hit night by designated hitter Bryan Torres and a home run from leadoff hitter Michael Wilson, not to mention the copious amounts of between-inning entertainment courtesy of not one, but two mascots for the Vibes.

Grand Junction was aided by Brenton Doyle, a 4th round pick in 2019, who scored in all four plate appearances and drove in two runs behind a triple and a home run smashed 432 ft to center field. He walked and added a single, leaving him a double short of a cycle. When the Vibes got a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the 9th, Doyle was stranded in the on-deck circle and left without his chance at more history.

Eddy Diaz had a hit and two walks, but was caught stealing twice thanks to Avalo. In the Dominican Summer League last year, the 19-year-old from Cuba swiped 54 bases and was caught only thirteen percent of the time. Fellow teenager Julio Carreras chipped in with two hits, including an inside-the-park home run and two runs batted in.

On the mound, RHP Mitchell Kilkenny made just his second appearance since being selected 76th overall with a competitive balance pick at the end of the 2nd round in 2018. The 22-year-old was taken out of Texas A&M and had Tommy John Surgery before he making his professional debut three days ago in Grand Junction. Kilkenny went just two innings and threw twenty pitches. He gave up one hit and one walk, but erased both with double plays in each inning of work.

“The tradition continues in Colorado Springs. Regardless of the final score, it was a good night,” shared Chris Moyer, Vibes/Sky Sox team historian. For the 5,680 fans that turned up to watch professional baseball Friday night at UCHealth Park, some nine months after Triple-A skipped town, it was business as usual for the first time.