Colorado Rockies Top 25 Under 25: Honorable Mentions

Welcome to the BSN Denver Colorado Rockies Top 25 Under 25 where we will rank the organization’s best players who will be 25 years-old or younger on Opening Day 2017.

Our parameters for this list are may be different than others it resembles so let us be clear about them:

1. The list was created entirely by the BSN Rockies staff and had no other input from any outside sources.
2. While giving credit for overall (or trade) value, we prioritized an ability to help the MLB club win immediately.
3. In accordance with this, we also prioritized players with fewer question marks but potentially lower ceilings.
4. Statistics were considered on equal level with scouting reports in addition to our own field reporting.

Our observations come through a combination of spending parts of each of the past four (going on five) seasons on the ground on the backfields at spring training and through our regular reporting from Rookie Level Grand Junction, talking to coaches, scouts, and journalists both on and off the record. Of course, countless hours are spent on MiLB.tv and combing over public reports from other credible sources.

The Honorable Mentions are:

Daniel Montano, 17 (OF) DSL:

Montano is a long way off and wasn’t going to be able to crack our list because of it, but he has the kind of athletic frame and natural ability that scouts love to dream on. He could be a name to keep an eye on over the next few years as he makes his debut stateside in an attempt to become the next …

Pedro Gonzalez, 19 (OF) Rookie Grand Junction:

Gonzalez has split scouts and some of our own sources after moving from shortstop to center field. Though the consensus is that he has handled the move well defensively and in time should take to the spot, his in-game power nearly evaporated last season, hitting only two home runs in the ballpark the locals call “Coors Light Field.” But he also just turned 19 and while he didn’t dominate the Pioneer League the way Raimel Tapia or David Dahl did at that age, he did enough to impress those who still believe he is a few minor tweaks from being among the very best overall players in the Rockies system. All five tools are there, they just need to be refined. He has as variable potential outcome as anyone in the system.

Mike Nikorak, 20 (RHP) Rookie Grand Junction (Repeat):

Speaking of variable potential outcomes, Mike Nikorak has had an odd start to his career, beginning in 2015 when he couldn’t find the strike zone with a roadmap, a GPS, a compass, and Cortana. He showed some dramatic improvement in 2016 but had to be shut down early due to injury. While erratic, he showed some of the dominating stuff that made him such a promising prospect in the first place and he’s simply too young and athletically gifted to give up on just yet. He needs a good 2017 as much if not more than anyone else in the system.

Tyler Nevin, 19 (3B) Rookie Grand Junction:

Nevin was showing all kinds of promise in 2015 and had he progressed quickly in 2016 he might have had a shot at the Top 25, but alas, it was an entirely lost campaign for the son of the former Padre great. Nevin has shown an advanced feel for the game in all aspects but with little resume as a professional to date, an honorable mention was the best we could do.

Colton Welker, 19 (3B) Rookie Grand Junction:

The Rockies sure know how to draft talented, athletic third basemen. Welker showed well in his age appropriate debut in Grand Junction, hitting .329 with five home runs and six stolen bases. He flashed some impressive defense and stands in a similar position to where his predecessor (Nevin) did a year ago. A strong 2017 could start to garner him some attention.

Brian Mundell, 22 (1B) Single-A Asheville:

It’s very difficult to project power-hitting 1B, especially ones who aren’t especially young or athletic. But Mundell’s 14 home runs and staggering — record setting — 59 doubles in 2016 in damned impressive. Doing that once gets you an Honorable Mention. Doing that more than once gets you a lot more than that.

Garret Hampson, 22 (SS) Low-A Boise:

Hampson, named recently by Baseball America to have both the best strike discipline in the system and to be it’s best infield defender, had an excellent season in Boise. He posted a 138 wRC+ hitting .301 and stealing 36 bases. His lack of power and age kept him out of our Top 25, but there is a ton of potential here and if he continues to hit well at higher levels his athleticism will find him a spot in the big leagues.

David Hill, 22 (RHP) Single-A Asheville:

Hill had a remarkable 2016 campaign which makes one wonder why the Rockies didn’t promote the 22-year-old. Maybe they just didn’t want to mess with his rhythm. He struck out 8.96 batters per nine innings while walking just 1.53 but some bad luck and some defensive miscues drove his ERA up to 4.48. His misfortune is shown both in his 3.22 FIP and in game film we reviewed.

Hill is likely to be a strong asset for the Rockies moving forward but he is one they have been careful with so far, leaving him behind several other pitchers in the system who will get their chance to impact the Major League club first.

Sam Howard, 23 (LHP) High-A Modesto:

Everything we just said about David Hill, but left handed.

Robert Tyler, 21 (RHP): Low-A Boise

Tyler has been identified as a potential fast riser in the Rockies system. He has thrown just seven innings as a professional, which isn’t enough time for any stats to be meaningful, but scouts and coaches love his arm and mind for pitching, meaning if he start to produce, he could rocket toward and MLB bullpen in need of some help.

Omar Carrizales, 21 (OF) Double-A Hartford:

Carrizales has all of the tools except the flashiest and arguably most important one; power. But he shouldn’t be overlooked as a 21-year-old defensive wiz and speed demon who has already reached Double-A. His bat is unlikely to ever develop into anything more than average at the MLB level, but he could arguably step onto the big stage right now just to pinch-run and play late-game defense.

His lower ceiling keeps him off the list but don’t be surprised if Carrizales ends up playing under the lights for a good long while.

Parker French, 23 (RHP) High-A Modesto:

French is a BSN Denver favorite who actually made several earlier versions of the list, finally just missing the cut based on the fact that it’s incredibly unlikely he helps the MLB club before 2018 at the earliest. His skillset is everything the Rockies should be looking for in a pitcher, though.

Over two years and three levels — finishing at High-A Modesto in 2016, French has pitching 225 innings while striking out 158 hitters and walking just 31. He’s 23 going into Double-A and he doesn’t display huge strikeout numbers but his command is just absurd.

Sam Moll, 25 (LHP) Triple-A Albuquerque:

The Rockies sure know how to draft left-handed pitching Sams. Moll has shown everything you would want out of a left-handed reliever in his minor league career but has also had issue staying healthy early on. But he pitched 47.2 innings at Triple-A last year posting a 4.94 ERA and a 4.72 FIP. Those are by far the worst marks of his career given any kind of sample size, and he still displayed dominance over left-handed hitters which would likely be his role should he get the call to MLB in 2017.

Of everyone in our Honorable Mentions, Moll is by far the most likely candidate to see some time at 20th and Blake next year.

Stay tuned to BSN Denver as we get into the Top 25 starting on Monday.