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Eric Cross' ranks and discusses his top 10 prospects in the Colorado Rockies organization for fantasy baseball. These are the prospects to monitor and target in dynasty leagues.
Welcome to my 2024 team-by-team prospect rankings. Over the next few months, I'll be going through all 30 MLB farm systems, ranking my top 10 in each system, and discussing the profiles and long-term outlooks of these players.
After starting with the Arizona Diamondbacks, we shift over to the always intriguing Colorado Rockies farm system today. People love to rag on the Rockies and their tendency to keep players down longer than most teams, but we've seen Colorado become more aggressive on certain prospects lately, specifically Ezequiel Tovar in 2023. And even though Tovar and Nolan Jones have graduated, there are still plenty of intriguing names in this system, most of which are on the hitting side of course.
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Colorado Rockies Top Prospects
1. Adael Amador, SS/2B
Age on 4/1/2024: 20.9 | Highest Level: AA | ETA: 2025
You could make a strong case for Adael Amador being one of the most underrated top prospects in the game today. In just 69 games this season, Amador racked up 15 doubles, 12 home runs, and 15 steals with a .287/.380/.495 slash line and more walks (39) than strikeouts (37). If he didn't miss around half of the minor league season recovering from surgery on his right hamate bone, Amador might be in the top 10 overall discussion.
While Amador might not have the flashy power/speed blend that most of the names ahead of him in my rankings have, he's still around average game power and speed, maybe even above average in the power department. That's enough to flirt with 20/20 seasons when half of your games are going to be in Coors Field. Add in a plus or better hit tool and outstanding approach, and you have a well-rounded offensive middle infielder with a fairly high floor as well. This is a no-doubt top-20 prospect for fantasy in my eyes that doesn't get valued as one.
2. Jordan Beck, OF
Age on 4/1/2024: 22.9 | Highest Level: AA | ETA: 2024
After hitting .296 with more walks than strikeouts in 26 games following the 2022 draft, Jordan Beck enjoyed a massive first full professional season in 2023. In 126 games between Hi-A and Double-A, Beck racked up 34 doubles, 25 home runs, and 20 steals while slashing .271/.364/.503. However, Beck's performance dropped off after his promotion to Double-A and his strikeout rate rose to a whopping 31.8%.
All in all, Beck performed as many expected. There's easy plus or better raw power in the profile with above-average speed as well, but Beck's contact skills are below average. As you saw above, there are some strikeout concerns here as well. If Beck is able to improve these areas, the upside is considerable for fantasy.
3. Yanquiel Fernandez, OF
Age on 4/1/2024: 21,3 | Highest Level: AA | ETA: 2025
The 2023 season was very much a tale of two seasons for Yanquiel Fernandez. For the first half of the season, Fernandez dominated in Hi-A and soared up prospect rankings, even garnering outlandish Yordan Alvarez comps. Then, following his promotion to Double-A, Fernandez's production fell off a cliff.
Hi-A: 268 PA, .319/.355/.605, 17 HR, 17.9% K
Double-A: 237 PA, .206/.262/.362, Eight HR, 32.9% K
Many will look to the slash line and power falling off a cliff, but my eyes are drawn to that 15% strikeout rate increase. There's no doubting Fernandez's power upside. This could be a 30+ homer bat with Coors Field to boost him. However, the contact skills and approach are still a work in progress.
4. Sterlin Thompson, 3B/2B/OF
Age on 4/1/2024: 22.8 | Highest Level: AA | ETA: 2024
We now shift over to a prospect that is pretty different than Beck or Fernandez. Sterlin Thompson is a much better contact hitter than the other two, posting a contact rate of around 78% in both Hi-A and Double-A this season. However, he's also not on the same level as those two in the power department. That's not to say Thompson can't provide power though, but he's more in the 18-20 homer range in my eyes, maybe a touch more due to Coors Field, along with similar speed upside. But if that comes with a solid AVG and OBP, you'll certainly be happy with that production if you have Thompson in fantasy.
In 94 games this past season between Hi-A and Double-A, Thompson slashed .293/.376/.487 with 25 doubles, 14 home runs, and 17 steals in 20 attempts. It also remains to be seen where Thompson winds up on the diamond, but his versatility should certainly help.
5. Zac Veen, OF
Age on 4/1/2024: 22.3 | Highest Level: AA | ETA: 2025
I'm honestly getting to the point where I'm not sure if I'm in or out on Zac Veen. After a 55-steal season in 2022, Veen had 22 steals this season in 46 games for Double-A Hartford, but his season ended early after he had hand surgery.
Outside of the speed, Veen's 2023 season was a disappointment. He only left the yard twice and produced a lackluster .209/.304/.308 slash line. Throughout his three seasons in the minors, Veen has shown a willingness to make an impact on the bases. The approach has been decent, but we're still waiting for Veen to break out at the plate, especially in the power department. The 2024 season should be significant for Veen's long-term outlook, one way or the other.
6. Hunter Goodman, 1B
Age on 4/1/2024: 24.5 | Highest Level: MLB | ETA: Debuted
When discussing the profile of Hunter Goodman, you have to begin with his massive raw power. Even in a neutral park, I'd say that Goodman has the upside to crank 30+ homers over a full season, but in Coors, 35+ is certainly in play as long as Goodman is able to make enough contact and keep the strikeout rate in check.
Goodman's contact rates in the minors this past season weren't terrible, but he was sitting in the 65-70% range. If he can remain in that range and keep the strikeout rate south of 30%, Goodman could be a .240+/30+ type. But unfortunately, this production isn't likely to come with catcher eligibility.
7. Benny Montgomery, OF
Age on 4/1/2024: 21.6 | Highest Level: Hi-A | ETA: 2025
During the 2021 draft season, Benny Montgomery was one of the toolsiest prep bats available. And when he was selected by the Colorado Rockies, prospect hounds began salivating at the thought of what Montgomery could do in Coors Field if everything clicked. Well, it hasn't fully clicked for Montgomery yet after two and a half seasons, although he's shown glimpses here and there.
In 2022, Montgomery slashed .310/.385/.494, but that dropped to .251/.336/.370 in 2023. However, Montgomery did increase his walk rate from 7.3% to 10.4%. The power/speed upside with Montgomery remains high, but we've gotten to the point where he's going to need to start showing those skills more consistently in games or risk falling further down prospect rankings.
8. Ryan Ritter, SS
Age on 4/1/2024: 23.4 | Highest Level: AA | ETA: 2025
A fourth-round selection in 2022 out of the University of Kentucky, Ryan Ritter put together an impressive showing during the 2023 season. In 119 games, Ritter racked up 25 doubles, 24 home runs, and 20 steals with a .281/.383/.519 slash line and an 11.8% walk rate. However, there are two massive red flags in the profile in the form of his sub-65% contact rate and a strikeout rate that jumped to 34.8% above Lo-A.
Ritter's above-average power and speed could have him flirting with 20/20, and he's a good defender at shortstop as well. But for now, I'm questioning if he's a major league regular given the contact issues and propensity to strike out. If I rostered Ritter in dynasty, I'd try to use his 24/20 season and sell high.
9. Dyan Jorge, SS
Age on 4/1/2024: 21.0 | Highest Level: A | ETA: 2025/2026
Oh look, yet another intriguing Colorado prospect that has shown glimpses of exciting upside but has yet to put it all together. Granted, Jorge has shown more than someone like Montgomery has, hitting .312 over 123 games with a solid approach at the plate and decent speed upside. However, Jorge has yet to show much progress in the power department, which is the real X factor for his fantasy value moving forward.
Jorge had only a trio of home runs in 70 games this past season and seven total in 543 career minor league plate appearances. There's also plenty of physical projection left on his frame, which keeps the dream of more power very much alive. If Jorge adds more power while maintaining his contact skills, approach, and speed, the upside is a top-50 overall prospect by the end of 2024.
10. Cole Carrigg, C/SS/OF
Age on 4/1/2024: 21.9 | Highest Level: Lo-A | ETA: 2025
How can you look at Cole Carrigg's trio of positions above and be intrigued? Honestly, I have no idea where Carrigg will end up defensively long-term, and a super-utility role is definitely in play here. But wherever he lands, there's likely going to be some intrigue for fantasy purposes.
Carrigg is an above-average or better runner who has shown his athleticism and versatility in the field, but many questioned the bat heading into the 2023 draft. And while I don't believe he'll stand out at the plate, there's a chance he develops into a .260/10 type that can add 20 steals annually as well. If that comes with catcher eligibility, the profile becomes even more intriguing.
If you enjoyed these rankings and want to see the full top 40 along with additional rankings, analysis, and more, check out Eric's Toolshed Fantasy Patreon.
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