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:
- The list was created entirely by the BSN Rockies staff and had no other input from any outside sources.
- While giving credit for overall (or trade) value, we prioritized an ability to help the MLB club win immediately.
- In accordance with this, we also prioritized players with fewer question marks but potentially lower ceilings.
- 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.
No. 25: Zach Jemiola, 22 (RHP)
He might not seem like the obvious choice for a spot on this list, but Zach Jemiola is the right one.
Drafted straight out of high school all the way back in 2012, Jemiola (pronounced GEM-ee-OH-la) was limited to just over seven innings his first go-round in Grand Junction because of injury. But he has been a workhorse ever since, pitching at least 60 innings in each of his next several seasons.
In 2016, Jemiola tossed 162 innings for Double-A Hartford, then another 22 for the Salt River Rafter before being named to the 40-man roster at the age of 22. He finished second in the Arizona Fall League as well as the Eastern League in number of innings pitched.
His 4.39 ERA won’t blow anyone away nor does it inspire a great deal of confidence that his career numbers sit just below that. And while he has shown good command and low walk rates (about 2.3/9) he hasn’t displayed a dominating strike-out ability (about 6.8/9). But what he has done is answered the call.
One of the most important things to remember when evaluating prospects is that context matters almost as much as, sometimes even more than, statistics. While pitchers like Parker French, David Hill, and Sam Howard have shown higher potential ceilings and the type of stuff that usually translates better the higher up the levels they go, Jemiola has shown something else; the ability to punch up to his competition.
The Rockies have done something similar with a higher profile player who even got the benefit of college development; Kyle Freeland. They haven’t waited to Freeland to start dominating a level before moving him up instead looking for a few specific internal adjustments before moving on to a new challenge, maybe even before he is fully ready for it, and seeing how he adjusts. Jemiola’s process has been slower but the thinking is the same. And he has responded incredibly well at each step both in terms of his mental approach and his willingness to struggle to improve.
This is why, at the same age, Hill is going into High-A for the first time and Howard and French – both a year older – are just now preparing for Double-A while Jemiola is set for Triple-A and sits on the 40-man roster just a call away from MLB. We debated among our staff for a while, but Jemiola’s more advanced placement at a younger age and the club’s clear belief in his talent and character won him a spot on this list.
His proven consistency, ability to work through lineups multiple times, a devastating change-up, perpetual improvements, and the right attitude have gotten Jemiola this far. He has been a leader and a driving force behind some of the best minor league teams the Rockies have ever had and while being on the 40-man doesn’t guarantee a thing, we at BSN Denver will be among the least surprised when Zach Jemiola eventually toes the rubber at 20th and Blake.
