Colorado Rockies Spring Training 2017: Progress Report 1

As Colorado Rockies spring training 2017 rolls on, we want to make sure we are giving you regular progress reports as opposed to just individual game notes. We will still be providing those more from time to time, but if you follow the Rockies at this time of year looking less at the box score and more at how what is happening now might affect the upcoming season, these reports should be far more helpful.

With each, we will give you an update on players who stock is going up and those who are going down, with specific attention paid to those on the bubble at any given position. It’s always nice to check in on Nolan Arenado and Carlos Gonzalez, but almost nothing they do this spring is going to change their perceived role heading into the season.

After taking a look at individual performances, we will wrap up with some miscellaneous notes from the week.

Stock Up:

Gerardo Parra — With the injury to David Dahl, Parra is taking advantage of every possible resource he needs to capture the starting spot in left field. So far in five games, Parra is hitting .364 with one double, three RBI and three (yes, three) walks.

Miguel Castro — Castro is looking to bounce back from an up-and-down 2016 campaign. The 22-year-old has made three appearances, throwing 2 1/3 innings while giving up two hits and striking out two.

Tony Wolters — Colorado’s potential Opening Day catcher loves Spring Training. Like last year, Wolters is thriving in the early goings. Tony is hitting .545 with one double, one home run and four RBI.

Jeff Hoffman — Looking to capture the fifth and final rotation spot, Hoffman has put up solid numbers in  two outings. Hoffman has logged 3 2/3 innings, giving up one run (not earned) on five hits while striking out three.

Zach Jemiola — The 22-year-old is making the most of his outings early on. In four appearances, Jemiola has given up just one hit over four innings while striking out two.

Mark Reynolds — Reynolds is looking to capture a roster spot, but it won’t be as a starter. The addition of Ian Desmond forces the veteran to be a backup — unless an injury occurs. In five games, Reynolds is hitting .364 with a double and an RBI.

Jordan Patterson — Patterson has hit the ball with authority this spring, launching two home runs and four doubles in 17 at-bats. As we’ve discussed at BSN Denver, if he keeps this up and Cristhian Adames and/or Alexi Amarista don’t do enough to separate themselves, the Rockies have enough versatility to carry Patterson instead of one of those two guys.

Stock Down:

Jordan Lyles — Since the demotion to the bullpen, things still haven’t gone Lyles’ way on the mound. In two appearances thus far, the right-hander has given up five runs on five hits — two of which were via the long ball.

German Marquez — Marquez is one of the names in discussion for the final rotation spot, but he’s not helping his cause. In two appearances, one start, Marquez has given up four runs on five hits while walking two and striking out a pair.

Kyle Freeland — Another candidate for the final rotation spot, Freeland — like Marquez — is struggling out of the gate. The southpaw has made one start, giving up four runs (three earned) on two hits while walking two as well as striking out two.

Tom Murphy — Murphy will be one of two catchers cracking the team, but for now it’s looking to be Wolters’ job to lose. The power-hitting backstop is hitting just .143 in five games played.

Alexi Amarista — Amarista was signed to be a utility player and perhaps a little bias from his previous, now current, manager Bud Black. The 27-year-old is hitting .125 in four games played.

Notes:

• Jon Gray looked solid in his two outings this spring. Colorado’s right-hander struck out a pair over two innings, holding the Dodgers scoreless in his first start. He made his second start Saturday afternoon against the Mariners, giving up one hit — which was a home run — over two innings while collecting one strikeout.
• Charlie Blackmon is still pretty good. The 30-year-old outfielder is hitting a whopping .500 in five games played, adding a home run and four RBI to his credit.
• Nolan Arenado has three two-out RBI. Even when the games don’t count he is clutch.