Rockies' prospects honored with All-Star selection in Arizona Fall League; Vilade and Todd shine

On Wednesday, the rosters for one of the most elite All-Star Games for prospects was announced and the Colorado Rockies are represented by at least two players.

OF Ryan Vilade and LHP Reagan Todd of the Salt River Rafters were announced as participants for the Fall Stars Game. 1B Michael Toglia is part of the Final 2 Vote, which can be done here up to five times. 

“It was really exciting,” Todd said about his selection to the marquee game of the fall season. “I think it’ll be a good opportunity to continue to play with a bunch of good players around this league and meet other people, pick their brains. Definitely excited to represent the Rockies.”

Vilade made his Major League debut on September 18 in Washington, D.C. following a full season at Triple-A Albuquerque that saw the 22-year-old hit .284 with seven home runs and 44 RBI as one of the youngest players in the league. 

Through 17 games in the AFL entering the day, Vilade was batting .220 (13-for-59) with two doubles, a triple, seven runs batted in and two stolen bases. 

Todd, a Colorado native who graduated from Regis Jesuit HS and was drafted in the 32nd round in 2018 out of Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, is hoping to become the third left-handed pitcher on the Rockies roster hailing from the state following the success of Kyle Freeland and Lucas Gilbreath. 

Across Double-A and Triple-A, the 26-year-old had a 4.53 ERA with a favorable 12.0 strikeouts per nine and a 3-to-1 strikeouts-to-walk ratio. In AFL action, he’s been spectacular, throwing to a 1.23 earned run average (7.1 IP, 1 R) with a microscopic 0.55 WHIP.

Teammate Willie MacIver – who worked with Todd in Hartford, Albuquerque and now at Salt River – raved about the type of talent in the Rockies’ farm system such as Todd and fellow Rafters’ pitcher RHP Matt Dennis.

“Those dudes are freaking beasts on the mound. Their mentalities are unbelievable,” MacIver said following a 6-1 loss to the Scottsdale Scorpions. “I love catching those guys because they know what they’re doing. They have a plan. We have a good relationship where we can trust each other and it makes my job fun and easy when (they’re) on the mound hitting their spots, being able to throw their pitches for strikes competing on the mound.”

Diamond Details

• MacIver lashed a double to left field in the 7th inning on Wednesday against Tampa Bay Rays prospect Carlos Garcia. His approach was simple: “Just try to stay on his fastball. He’s throwing pretty hard, so I’m just trying to see the ball,” MacIver admitted after the game. “I tried to stay on a fastball. He hung a slider and I was able to put a barrel on it. It’s all you can do.”
• Salt River dropped to 7-16 on the season and has won just one of their last 10 contests. After six consecutive road games, they return home for the next four.
• On Thursday, the Mesa Solar Sox travel to Salt River Fields. Comprised of prospects from the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Miami Marlins, Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays, they have the best record (12-10-1) in the East Division, 5.5 games ahead of the Rafters.
• Peoria Javelinas, made up of players in the Atlanta, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners organizations, travel to Salt River on Friday.
• You can watch the live broadcast of the Fall Stars Game on the MLB Network at 5pm on Saturday.