A month from now, some of the top prospects in the Rockies organization will be staying close to the telephone.
The minor-league season will be about finished. The lifting of the 25-player roster restriction on the big-league team will be right around the corner.
If the Rockies are in contention in the National League West, they just might tap the most immediate source of help for a pennant chase.
Bill Geivett, Rockies vice president of baseball operations, said fans are free to speculate, but he pointed out the team’s hierarchy hasn’t met to discuss September call-ups.
But one interesting possibility is catcher Chris Iannetta, although he has played fewer than three years in the Rockies organization.
“He’s handled any challenge we’ve thrown at him,” Geivett said.
“He’s been on a fast track. Usually decisions on who to bring up go down to the last day. We not only bring up players to get experience, but players who we think can help.”
Iannetta already has handled the challenge of moving up to Triple-A.
He hit .351 in his first 25 games with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox and has a combined average of .330 between Tulsa and the Sky Sox. His combined 13 home runs are tied for second in the organization.
The Rockies’ player development formula allows for players to jump up the ladder if performance merits. Geivett noted players work on refining their game at each level.
“Once they get it, they can fly right through Double-A and Triple-A,” Geivett said. “A lot of our good prospects have done that.”
A case in point is reliever Manuel Corpas, who collected 19 saves at Tulsa, flew through a limited time with the Sky Sox and landed in the Rockies’ bullpen.
“He earned the spot with the Rockies on his own,” said Jim Wright, Rockies roving pitching coordinator.
Wright agreed injuries to other prospects have helped Corpas’ climb, but he wouldn’t have taken a back seat to anyone on his drive to the big leagues.
Outfielder Matt Miller was given the chance to do some flying last week when he moved from Single-A Modesto to the Sky Sox.
“Matt Miller has done a lot at every level,” Geivett said. “We had a spot in Triple-A and he definitely was in line for a promotion.”
Miller hit .381 in his first six games in Triple-A. He leads the organization in hits with 127 and is second in RBIs at 79.
Before this season, Miller posted 215 hits, 38 home runs and 126 RBIs in his first two seasons in the organization.
Miller won’t figure in the September mix, but he’ll probably go to the Hawaii Winter League or the Arizona Fall League.
But the Sky Sox have several other players on the September radar.
Barring any departures through trades, outfielders Jeff Baker, Ryan Spilborghs and Jeff Salazar could get a look. Pitchers Scott Dohmann, David Cortes, Jose Acevedo, Justin Hampson, Sun-Woo Kim, Nate Field and Steve Colyer would draw interest, but Colyer’s walks (33) would be a concern.
Lefty Josh Newman and Jim Miller could be longshots off the Tulsa staff.
Miller, second in saves among minor-league closers last year with 34, is pitching again after missing most of the season with arm problems.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS
(Through Thursday)
HITTING: (66 games) Carlos Rivera, Colorado Springs, .339; Chris Iannetta, Tulsa/Colorado Springs, .330.
RUNS: Cole Garner, Asheville, 76; Joe Koshansky, Tulsa, 64.
HITS: Matt Miller, Modesto/Colorado Springs, 127; Seth Smith, Tulsa, 113.
DOUBLES: Smith, Tulsa, 34; Ian Stewart, Tulsa, 31; Chris Nelson, Asheville, 31.
TRIPLES: Justin Nelson, Modesto, 7; Jonathan Herrera, Modesto, 7.
HOME RUNS: Koshansky, Tulsa, 25; Iannetta, Tulsa/Colorado Springs, 13; Garner, Asheville, 13.
RBIs: Koshansky, Tulsa, 85; Miller, Modesto/Colorado Springs, 79.
STOLEN BASES: Eric Young Jr., Asheville, 69; Corey Wimberly, Modesto, 34.
PITCHING VICTORIES: Ubaldo Jimenez, Tulsa/Colorado Springs, 9; Alan Johnson, Asheville, 9.
LOSSES: Mike Esposito, Colorado Springs, 9; Ryan Mattheus, Modesto, 9; Zachary Simons, Asheville, 9.
SAVES: Nate Field, Colorado Springs, 16; Scott Beerer, Modesto, 11.
INNINGS: Marc Kaiser, Tulsa, 124; Johnson, Asheville, 119 2/3.
WALKS: Franklin Morales, Modesto, 65; Jimenez, Tulsa/Colo. Springs, 57.
STRIKEOUTS: Samuel Deduno, Modesto, 126; Morales, Modesto, 117.
ERA: (starters) Brandon Durden, Asheville, 3.17; Jimenez, Tulsa/Colo. Springs, 3.47 (relievers) David Patton, Asheville, 1.66; Josh Newman, Tulsa, 2.14.
