Colorado Rockies call up highly-touted infield prospect for MLB debut

DENVER – The Colorado Rockies announced on Saturday that they will indeed need to place second baseman, and multiple time All-Star, DJ LeMahieu back on the Disabled List as he continues to struggle with oblique issues.

Taking his spot on the 25-man roster, and being added to the 40-man roster for the first time in his career, is super athlete/super utility man Garrett Hampson.

The 23-year-old has rocketed up prospect lists and through the Rockies organization by employing a unique combination of contact, decent pop, defensive value at three infield positions (and even some centerfield) with blazing speed to top it all off.

Of the “five tools” his power has shown up the least. He has hit eight home runs in 91 games across two levels this season.

He has also made a name for himself with an advanced, mature, patient approach at the plate. He walked more than he struck out in Double-A and though he has hit over .300 at each of his stops in MiLB, his on-base percentage has always been significantly higher, sitting around .387 for his career.

He may be the fastest guy in the Rockies organization (apologies to Wes Rogers) and stole 51 bases at the High-A level in 2017. He has swiped 33 bags already this season and been caught just five times.

While not quite on the level of Brendan Rodgers or Ryan McMahon, Hampson has been highly touted by numerous prospect lists, ranking on MLB Pipeline as the seventh best second base prospect in baseball before the season began.

BSN Denver has had several conversations with Hampson and some of his coaches about his development and overall game. Stay tuned.

In a final corresponding move, in order to make room for Hampson to be added to the 40-man roster, infielder Daniel Castro has been designated for assignment. If he isn’t claimed by another team, the chances seem pretty high that he would return to the Rockies organization and remain in Triple-A.