Ian Stewart and Troy Tulowitzki are living up to promise.
And the only people happier than the Rockies’ player development department are fans of the Tulsa Drillers. They are watching two No. 1 draft choices excel in the Double-A Texas League, leaving the fans of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox unhappy. They have to wait for a chance to see two first-round picks in action at the same time.
With Stewart, the Rockies’ No. 1 pick in 2003, at third base and Tulowitzki, the first-round selection last June, at shortstop, the left side of the Tulsa infield is becoming a tough place to get a ball through. But it’s at the plate where they are opening eyes.
After hitting 40 home runs in his first two professional seasons, Stewart is swinging with authority after an off year in 2005. He was the first player in the Rockies’ farm system to hit nine doubles and tied for the first to hit two triples. Eleven of his first 19 hits went for extra bases, and he has posted an 11-game hitting streak in his first 15 games.
Tulowitzki is making the most of his first full season in professional baseball, essentially starting his climb at the Double-A level. Despite missing two games with a minor injury, Tulowitzki ranked right behind Stewart in doubles with eight. He hit safely in nine of the first 11 games.
Marc Gustafson, the Rockies director of player development, likes what he’s seeing, but wouldn’t promise either would move up to Triple-A in Colorado Springs this season.
“We’re not in a hurry to push either one,” Gustafson said. “It’s fair to say that both could move up this season, but we’re just not in a hurry.”
Tulsa pitcher Steven Register is showing patience as well. The right-hander led the Rockies’ organizational pitchers in innings at 17 2/3, had a 1.53 ERA, but still didn’t have a decision.
The Sky Sox don’t have Stewart and Tulowitzki, but outfielders Jeff Baker and Ryan Spilborghs are reasonable facsimiles. Spilborghs’ 19 hits were tied for second in the Rockies’ farm system, and his seven doubles were tied for second in the Pacific Coast League.
Baker has posted a seven-game hitting streak, and he reached 18 RBIs faster than anyone in the farm system.
Outfielder Matt Miller wasn’t a No. 1 pick, but he’s making his 13th-round selection in 2004 look pretty good. Miller made the climb from Asheville to high Single-A this year and is the top hitter in the organization at .404 with the Modesto Nuts.
Last year, Casper manager P.J. Carey had Corey Wimberly, Dexter Fowler and Eric Young Jr. and said he needed one more speedster to have a world-class 400-meter relay team. They’re back and running this year. Wimberly raced to six stolen bases in his first 11 games at Modesto, Fowler had five in 12 games and Young four in 13 games at Asheville. Fowler opened the season by hitting home runs from both sides of the plate in Asheville’s season opener.
Asheville pitcher Alan Johnson has the strikeouts to walks ratio down pat. In his first three starts, Johnson compiled 24 strikeouts and zero walks.
Gustafson scanned the injury list and found hope for a return in the near future for first baseman Ryan Shealy and outfielder Jorge Piedra. Outfielder Jeff Salazar isn’t expected to return until June, and pitcher Chin-hui Tsao’s return is uncertain.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
