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Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections
of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development
personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards
of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time)
are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2006.
The Rockies’ rebuilding began in earnest in 2005. While enduring
their fifth straight losing season and tying the Pirates for the worst
record in the National League, they used a franchise-record 19 rookies,
including nine from last year’s Top 30 Prospects list. Rookies
made more starts (584) and appearances (942) for Colorado than for any
other team.
Clint Barmes took over at shortstop and emerged as an early NL rookie-of-the-year
favorite before he fell down a flight of stairs and broke his left collarbone.
Jeff Francis joined revitalized Aaron Cook and Jason Jennings to give
the Rockies three homegrown arms at the front of the rotation. Third
baseman Garrett Atkins, right fielder Brad Hawpe and center fielder
Cory Sullivan all became regulars, with varying degrees of success,
with only catcher J.D. Closser a disappointment. Marcos Carvajal and
Scott Dohmann had their moments pitching in relief.
Though the influx of talent in Colorado drained the system of much
of its depth at the upper levels, the Rockies do have some more prospects
on the verge of contributing. First baseman/outfielder Ryan Shealy,
righthander Ryan Speier and outfielder Ryan Spiborghs all could play
roles for the Rockies in 2006. So too could infielder Omar Quintanilla,
acquired in a midseason trade with the Athletics.
Most of Colorado’s next wave of impact talent spent 2005 at high
Class A Modesto, one of the club’s two affiliates to make the
postseason. Third baseman Ian Stewart and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki
are elite players and the organization’s top two prospects. Other
Modesto standouts to watch include righthanders Ubaldo Jimenez and Juan
Morillo, catcher Chris Iannetta and shortstop Matt Macri.
Scouting director Bill Schmidt and his staff turned in another promising
draft in 2005, starting with Tulowitzki. Expected to go to the Mariners
with the No. 3 overall pick before the draft, he fell to the Rockies
at No. 7 when Seattle changed directions. Righthander Chaz Roe (supplemental
first round) asserted himself as one of the system’s best pitching
prospects, and a pair of late-rounders starred in the Rookie-level Pioneer
League. Infielder Corey Wimberly (sixth) followed up an NCAA Division
I batting title with a pro crown by hitting .381, while righty Andrew
Johnston (ninth) used a heavy sinker to tie a league mark with 18 saves.
The Rockies’ Latin American scouting department continues to
thrive under the guidance of Rolando Fernandez. Dominicans Franklin
Morales, Jimenez, Morillo, Samuel Deduno and Manuel Corpas all have
flashed mid- to upper-90s fastballs. Australian righty Shane Lindsay,
another hard thrower, ranked as the top prospect in the short-season
Northwest League. After failing miserably by trying to import free-agent
pitching—the Rockies lavished $172 million in contracts for Mike
Hampton and Denny Neagle, who went 40-51 for Colorado—they’re
trying to find a different solution.
1.
IAN
STEWART, 3bBorn:
April 5, 1985 B-T: L-R Ht: 6-3 Wt: 205
Drafted:
HS—Garden Grove, Calif., 2003 (1st round) Signed
by: Todd Blyleven
Background: In their first 11 drafts, the Rockies
took a position player in the first round just once—Todd Helton
in 1995. Since then, they have taken Stewart with the 10th overall pick
in 2003, followed by shortstops Chris Nelson in 2004 and Troy Tulowitzki
in 2005. Before signing for $1.95 million, Stewart starred as an amateur,
winning a bronze medal with Team USA at the 2002 World Junior Championships
and leading La Quinta (Calif.) High to a No. 3 national ranking in 2003.
He ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Rookie-level Pioneer League in
2003 and No. 2 in the low Class A South Atlantic League in 2004 before
facing adversity for the first time in 2005. A pulled hamstring forced
him to spend April in extended spring training, and a sprained right wrist
cost him a week in June. But he reinforced Colorado’s confidence
in his potential by rallying to hit .299-11-52 in his final 60 games at
high Class A Modesto to rate as the fourth-best prospect in the California
League. He batted .333-3-12 in 12 Arizona Fall League games before reinjuring
his wrist sliding into second base.
Strengths: Stewart should be a quality run producer in the middle
of a big league lineup. He has quick hands that allow him to wait on
pitches, and his pitch recognition is strong. He’s a natural hitter
with bat speed, strength and a slight uppercut which generates loft
power. He can drive balls out of the park to the opposite field. He
handles lefthanded pitching better than most lefty hitters, in part
because his father is a southpaw and has thrown him batting practice
for years. Stewart is driven to be an elite player, and he makes no
qualms that he expects to become not only an all-star, but also a Gold
Glover. He has average speed and plus arm strength.
Weaknesses: Stewart’s swing can get a little long, but
his bat is quick enough to compensate. He did have some problems early
on in 2005 when pitchers fed him a steady diet of breaking balls and
offspeed pitches. He showed the ability to adjust and took advantage
of that pitching pattern later in the season. Stewart’s third-base
defense needs the most work. He made impressive strides in 2004 but
seemed to level off in 2005. He reacts a little slowly and has trouble
with hard-hit balls directly at him. If Garrett Atkins builds on his
rookie season in Colorado, it’s possible that Stewart could move
to right field, a shift some scouts thought was inevitable when he was
in high school. However, he has improved and won’t change positions
any time soon.
The Future: Stewart didn’t suffer any structural damage
when he reinjured his wrist and is expected to be 100 percent by spring
training. He’ll move to Double-A Tulsa and could reach Triple-A
Colorado Springs by midseason if he stays healthy. If all goes according
to plan, his bat could earn him a trip to the majors in September, but
a more likely scenario is a mid-2007 arrival at Coors Field. He should
follow in Helton’s footsteps and become the organization’s
second homegrown star.
2005 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
CS
Modesto (Hi A)
.274
.353
.497
435
83
119
32
7
17
86
52
113
2
2
2.
TROY TULOWITZKI,
ss Born:
October 10, 1984 B-T: R-R Ht: 6-3 Wt: 205
Drafted:
Long Beach State, 2005 (1st round) Signed by: Todd Blyleven
Background: Tulowitzki has been compared to
Bobby Crosby since succeeding him at shortstop for Long Beach State. The
seventh overall pick in the 2005 draft, he signed for $2.3 million. He
went straight to high Class A, and the only negative in his pro debut
was a torn quadriceps that limited him to 22 games.
Strengths:
Most scouts think Tulowitzki is slightly ahead of Crosby, the
2004 American League rookie of the year, at the same stage of
their careers and a better fit at shortstop. Tulowitzki has the
stroke, strength and bat speed to hit 25-30 homers annually. Though
he’s big, he doesn’t sacrifice any athleticism. He
has above-average range and arm strength, and his exceptional
instincts allow him to extend his range.
Weaknesses:
Tulowitzki sometimes can get out of control and too aggressive
at the plate. He could control the strike zone a little better.
A broken hamate bone in the spring and the torn quad restricted
his development in 2005.
The Future:
Despite the injury, Tulowitzki should be able to handle the jump
to Double-A for his first full season. He could be Colorado’s
starter by 2007.
2005 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
CS
Modesto (Hi A)
.266
.343
.457
94
17
25
6
0
4
14
9
18
1
0
3.
FRANKLIN
MORALES, lhpBorn:
January 24, 1986 B-T: L-L Ht: 6-0 Wt: 170
Signed:
Venezuela, 2002 Signed by: Francisco Cartaya
Background: The Rockies brought Morales along
slowly in his first full season in the United States. Signed out of the
Dominican Republic at 16, he worked in relief early in 2005 before moving
into the low Class A Asheville rotation. He improved greatly from his
7.62 ERA at Rookie-level Casper in his U.S. debut.
Strengths:
Morales has a live arm. His fastball ranges from 92-98 mph and
sits at 94-95. Working from a three-quarters arm slot, he shows
a good curveball and an average changeup already. He’s tough
to run on. He demonstrates a flair and confidence beyond his youth
on the mound.
Weaknesses:
Like most young pitchers, Morales lacks consistency. He tends
to overthrow when he gets in trouble, costing him control. He
needs to throw more strikes, especially when he faces more advanced
hitters who will wait him out. He has the basics of a good delivery,
though he doesn’t always maintain it.
The Future: Morales will open 2006 in high Class A. The
Rockies have shown a willingness to be patient with young Latin
pitchers, but they think he has a chance to be special and could
accelerate his timetable.
Drafted:
HS—Lexington, Ky., 2005 (1st round, supplemental pick) Signed
by: Scott Corman
Background: Roe had a chance to follow in the
footsteps of his father Donald and play football at Kentucky, but he decided
to focus on baseball after having two concussions in high school. The
Twins and Braves considerd him in the late first round of the 2005 draft,
but he slipped to the Rockies with the 32nd pick. He signed for $1.025
million and made the Pioneer League all-star team in his debut.
Strengths:
Roe has a low-90s fastball with hard downward movement and tops
out at 95. He has the makings of a downright nasty curveball,
which one national crosschecker called the best he’d seen
from a high school pitcher in the last decade. Loose and athletic,
he has the ideal build for future projection. His work ethic and
feel for the game stood out in Rookie ball.
Weaknesses:
Roe’s curveball is still inconsistent and gets slurvy at
times. He also needs to polish up his changeup. He’s also
working on his control, which is hindered when he rushes his delivery
and loses balance. He can get too aggressive at times.
The Future:
If everything clicks, Roe can be a front-of-the-rotation starter.
He’ll probably open his first full season in low Class A.
Signed:
Dominican Republic, 2001 Signed by: Rolando Fernandez
Background: Jimenez was on a roll in high Class
A in 2004 when the Rockies discovered the beginnings of a stress fracture
in his right shoulder. He started slowly in 2005 but earned a promotion
to Double-A and adapted well by season’s end.
Strengths:
Jimenez is a pure power pitcher capable of reaching 96-98 mph,
and he worked consistently around 92-94 in 2005. His 12-to-6 curveball
is a swing-and-miss out pitch, and he has the confidence to throw
it when he’s behind in the count. He flashes a plus changeup
at times. His confidence has grown with his mastery of English.
Weaknesses:
Jimenez’s mechanics had to be completely overhauled to get
him back into a compact motion directed at the plate. He still
needs to improve his command and his changeup. Though his shoulder
woes appear behind him, questions about his health and his delivery
prompt some to project him as a future closer.
The Future:
Though he’ll return to Double-A to begin 2006, Jimenez could
finish the season in Colorado. He has shown too much potential
as a starter to consider moving him to the bullpen at this time.
Background: The first major Australian free
agent signed by the Rockies, Lindsay emerged as the short-season Northwest
League’s top prospect in 2005. He led the league in strikeouts while
ranking second in wins and third in ERA. He left the league a week early
to pitch at the World Cup.
Strengths:
Lindsay is aggressive with his fastball, which sits at 91-92 mph.
As a game goes on, his velocity will climb as high as 95-97 mph.
He features a good spike curveball that he used with better judgment
after throwing it too often in his shaky 2004 pro debut. His circle
change should become a solid third pitch.
Weaknesses:
Command issues were a major problem for Lindsay in his 2004 debut.
A back problem led to bad mechanics that he since has ironed out,
but like most of the Rockies’ top arms he’ll have
to throw more strikes. His ability to locate his curve comes and
goes. He’s hesitant to throw his changeup, which he’ll
need to be a dominant starter.
The Future: The challenge for Lindsay in 2006 is to prove
he can excel at the full-season level. If he passes the test in
low Class A, he could move quickly.
2005 Club (Class)
W
L
ERA
G
GS
CG
SV
IP
H
HR
BB
SO
AVG
Tri-City (SS)
6
1
1.89
13
13
0
0
67
37
1
34
107
.163
7.
CHRIS
IANNETTA, cBorn:
April 8, 1983 B-T: R-R Ht: 5-11 Wt: 195
Drafted:
North Carolina, 2004 (4th round) Signed by: Jay
Matthews
Background: North Carolina has produced big
league catchers Dwight Lowry, Scott Bradley, B.J. Surhoff, Matt Merullo
and Jesse Levis in the last three decades, and Iannetta is the next in
line. Rockies pitcher Aaron Cook raved about his receiving ability while
on a rehab assignment at Modesto. Iannetta played in the Futures Game
in his first full season.
Strengths:
Iannetta has a compact swing and good pitch recognition, and his
bat has been a pleasant surprise. He should hit for average with
gap power. His calling card is his defense. He has soft hands,
good agility and a plus arm with a strong release. His poise and
leadership enable him to help pitchers work through tough situations.
Weaknesses:
Iannetta can tie himself up when he gets technical with his approach.
He tried to play with a broken left hand late in the season, but
he couldn’t grip the bat properly and his performance suffered.
The Future:
Iannetta will stay in Double-A to start 2006, but he should be
able to make another midseason jump. There’s no one standing
in his way to becoming Colorado’s starting catcher in 2007.
2005 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
CS
Modesto (Hi A)
.276
.381
.490
261
51
72
17
3
11
58
45
61
1
2
Tulsa (AA)
.233
.329
.417
60
7
14
3
1
2
11
8
15
0
0
8.
JUAN
MORILLO, rhpBorn:
November 5, 1983 B-T: R-R Ht: 6-3 Wt: 190
Signed:
Dominican Republic, 2001 Signed by: Rolando Fernandez
Background: The Rockies have developed Morillo
cautiously, keeping him in Rookie and short-season leagues for his first
four years. He made his full season debut in 2005 and advanced to high
Class A after six weeks.
Strengths:
Morillo fires easy, effortless gas, and the White Sox reportedly
clocked him at 104 mph in 2004. He regularly pops 100 mph and
pitches at 95-97. Durable and resilient, he never has missed a
start as a pro.
Weaknesses:
He may light up radar guns, but Morillo is primarily a one-pitch
pitcher. He still needs to learn to command his fastball and improve
his secondary pitches. He has a hard slider and a changeup, but
he doesn’t have enough command to throw them with confidence.
His slider reaches the upper 80s, but he’ll try to throw
it too hard and lose break. He led the California League in walks,
and even when he throws strikes he often leaves his pitches up
in the zone.
The Future: Because he only has one reliable pitch, several
scouts foresee Morillo moving to the bullpen, where he could develop
into a big league closer. He’ll stay in the rotation in
Double-A in 2006.
2005 Club (Class)
W
L
ERA
G
GS
CG
SV
IP
H
HR
BB
SO
AVG
Asheville (Lo A)
1
3
4.54
7
7
0
0
34
40
2
14
43
.290
Modesto (Hi A)
6
5
4.41
20
20
0
0
112
107
10
65
101
.258
9.
RYAN
SHEALY, 1bBorn:
August 29, 1979 B-T: R-R Ht: 6-5 Wt: 240
Drafted:
Florida, 2002 (11th round) Signed by: Mike Day
Background: The Rockies took Shealy in the fifth
round out of high school in 1998 but didn’t sign him until drafting
him again as a college senior. He won two home run titles in his first
three pro seasons and would have challenged for the Triple-A Pacific Coast
League crown in 2005 if not for his big league time.
Strengths:
Shealy has tremendous strength and makes pitchers pay if they
miss on the inner third of the plate. He has the patience to work
counts and is comfortable hitting the ball the other way. He has
soft hands and has improved at first base.
Weaknesses:
The last job for Shealy is to turn on pitches more regularly.
Though he’s a big man with limited range and speed, he has
lost 30 pounds since spring training in 2005. Blocked at first
base by Todd Helton, he hopes his work on conditioning and agility
will make him an option as a corner outfielder.
The Future: Coming off an inspiring showing with the Rockies,
Shealy has earned a spot on the roster. Finding regular playing
time will be a bigger challenge.
2005 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
CS
Colorado Springs (AAA)
.328
.383
.601
411
85
135
30
2
26
88
41
81
4
0
Colorado
.330
.413
.473
91
14
30
7
0
2
16
13
22
1
0
10.
CHRIS
NELSON, ssBorn:
September 3, 1985 B-T: R-R Ht: 5-11 Wt: 176
Drafted:
HS—Decatur, Ga., 2004 (1st round) Signed
by: Damon Iannelli
Background: The Orioles planned on taking Nelson
with the eighth overall pick in 2004 until owner Peter Angelos mandated
they choose a college pitcher. The Rockies gladly selected him at No.
9 and signed him for $2.15 million. He never got untracked in 2005 while
battling groin and hamstring injuries.
Strengths: Nelson is a line-drive hitter with plus speed.
The Rockies think he can hit 25-plus homers on an annual basis
once he matures physically and develops lift in his swing. One
of the best athletes in the system, he has the size, instincts,
quick feet and arm to play shortstop.
Weaknesses:
Nelson’s plate discipline left something to be desired in
2005, robbing him of the ability to drive the ball with authority.
He also developed a bit of a hitch in his throwing motion, a possible
side effect after having Tommy John surgery prior to his senior
year in high school. He didn’t square up to the target on
throws during the regular season and focused on correcting that
during instructional league.
The Future:
Nelson profiles at shortstop, but so does Tulowitzki, who should
beat him to Colorado. Nelson, who will open 2006 in high Class
A, could move to second base or center field if needed.
2005 Club (Class)
AVG
OBP
SLG
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
CS
Asheville (Lo A)
.241
.304
.330
315
51
76
13
3
3
38
25
88
7
4
Photo Credits:
Troy Tulowitzki: Rich Abel
Stewart: Larry Goren
Roe: Paul Jasienski
Iannetta: Bill Mitchell
Jimenez, Morillo: Steve Moore
Nelson: Sports on Film
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Baseball America
The Rockies’ rebuilding began in earnest in 2005. While enduring
their fifth straight losing season and tying the Pirates for the worst
record in the National League, they used a franchise-record 19 rookies,
including nine from last year’s Top 30 Prospects list. Rookies
made more starts (584) and appearances (942) for Colorado than for any
other team.
