 |
| Tim Wheeler debuted power potential in 2011 |
|
Double-A Tulsa hosted, developed and featured high-quality prospects for the Colorado Rockies' in 2011, including three pitchers and two positional players that reached the major leagues.
Yet the player who hasn't yet got the call to Denver was probably the biggest star of the bunch - outfielder
Tim Wheeler, a 2009 first-round draft pick (# 32 overall) who slugged his way into prospect prominence.
Wheeler (23) bashed 33 home runs, drove in 87 runs, hit 28 doubles, six triples and finished with a .287 average. He also stole 21 bases in 33 attempts. A well-rounded, breakout year, yet one with flaws. He wasn't immune to slumping and he struck out a whopping 142 times, while only drawing 59 walks. His swing produced but that approach likely won't work at the major league level. He also has to learn to hit left-handers at better than a .236 clip with a nearly 4/1 K/BB rate that he had this season.
While Wheeler has a big project on his hand in becoming more plate defensive he certainly progressed as a prospect and has proven pro talent.
Two more notes about him to get excited about - with runners on base he hit .320. With runners in scoring position, he was even better, hitting .333.
Catcher
Wilin Rosario (22) has been thought to be Colorado's best positional prospect and it's easy to see why. He has a big arm behind the plate, he has equally big power, he plays a premium position and he's young.
Rosario again showed the explosive bat of his, finishing with 21 homers and it earned him a trip to Denver, where he showed more home-run power. He has put 40 homers and 28 doubles on the board at Tulsa in the 175 games he's played with the Drillers over the last two years. His power is his best tool. It's no fluke.
The problem with Rosario there is way too much swing-and-miss with his game. He hit but .249 at Tulsa, struck out 91 times, drew only 18 walks and was strikeout prone at the big league level while also barely hitting over .200.
Rosario will surely start the 2012 season in the minors. He is undeniably talented and has enticing potential but without learning to hit for average in addition to power, he will severely stunt what he can be as a player, going from possible star to a backup.
 |
| Thomas Field's consistent quality earns trip to Denver |
|
Thomas (Tommy) Field (24) is a second baseman you may not have heard much about but he too got called up to Denver late in 2011 where he didn't embarrass himself. At Tulsa, he hit .271 with 17 homers and 61 RBI. At High-A Modesto in 2010, he hit .284 with 15 HRs and 72 RBI so you can see Field is consistently good. The questions with him are can he show that kind of power at the MLB level and maintain an acceptable average? Regardless of the answers, he's proven to be a scouting find from the 2008 draft, in which he was selected in the 24th round.
The Drillers' pitching prospects were a hot attraction.
Pitcher
Juan Nicasio, who won four games for the Rockies, started the season in Tulsa, where he went 5-1 with a 2.22 ERA in nine starts. He had an outstanding 63/10 K/BB rate and allowed but three homers. Until his near-fatal injury on the mound he had the possible look of a future no. 3 starter at worst.
Pitcher
Alex White, who came over to the Rockies' in the Ubaldo Jimenez deal and quickly advanced to Denver, went 1-1 with a 1.65 ERA in 4 games with the Drillers, with a 10/1 K/BB rate in 16 innings. He gave up but one home run. He looked overmatched in Denver, with an ERA over 8.00.
Big, left-handed pitcher
Drew Pomeranz, the plum prospect Colorado got in the Jimenez trade, made but two starts in Tulsa, but went 1-0 with an ERA of zero, allowing two hits in 10 frames with seven strikeouts and no walks.
 |
| Joe Gardner made strong first impression after trade |
Joe Gardner (23), a third pitching prospect from Cleveland in that transaction, was a big surprise, going 3-3 in six starts, with an ERA of 2.48. He allowed 31 hits in 36 innings, but gave up just one homer and recorded a 22/8 K/BB rate. Gardner excelled in 2010 with the Tribe's organization but was getting roughed up in 2011 before coming to Tulsa.
Joey Williamson was excellent, posting a 3-2 mark with a 2.42 ERA but when he moved on to Triple-A Colorado Springs, he as 2-3 with a 7.12 ERA.
Starting pitcher
Dan Houston earned a promotion from High-A Modesto and then competed in Tulsa but his performance was not as attractive as he became significantly more hittable and struck out fewer hitters. He has done well in the system and now, like he did by mastering Modesto the second time around, he has to do the same at Tulsa.
Starting pitcher
Christian Friedrich's (24) star continues to dim. He did excel at times but he went 6-10 with an ERA of 5.00, gave up 150 hits in 133 1/3 innings, 20 home runs and has an ERA over 5.00 in his last two years, both at Tulsa. He appears to have plateaued, if not regressed.
Some in the Rockies' system and Tulsa might vehemently disagree but if Friedrich can't get people out consistently at Double-A, how would he fare at Colorado Springs and in Denver?
He looked like a grade-A prospect through 2009 but Tulsa has proven to be a testing ground he hasn't been able to conquer.
See the Double-A Tulsa prospect rankings -
click here.
See overall Hitter and Pitcher Rankings - click here.
