Colorado Springs – Hitting help could be just a phone call away for the Rockies.
Carlos Rivera, 28, has been under the radar almost all season for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox while the organization’s focus in the minor leagues has been on the likes of Ryan Shealy, Jeff Baker, Ian Stewart and the power hitting of Joe Koshansky, who has 29 home runs at Double-A Tulsa.
But sights are shifting to September and the possible need for a productive hitter to help the Rockies in the National League West race. It might be tough to look past Rivera.
“If it’s me making the decision, there’s no doubt he could be helpful,” Sky Sox manager Tom Runnells said. “He’s probably one of the most professional hitters I’ve been around. He’s proven that he can sit for a period of time and come off the bench and be very effective.”
The Rockies’ baseball hierarchy should zero in on the last part of Runnells’ comment. Rivera is hitting .556 as a pinch hitter, with 10 hits in 18 at-bats and seven RBIs. He’s been one of the organization’s best hitters, taking a .345 batting average into the weekend.
“He’s hit the ball very well under both conditions as a platoon player and a starter,” Runnells said. “He has parts of two years with Pittsburgh and he knows what to expect up there. He has a lot of quality at-bats in his book. He’ll play in the big leagues again if he wants to.”
Rivera signed with the Rockies as a free agent during the offseason. He played 85 games with the Pirates during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, hitting his first big-league home run against the Rockies at Coors Field in 2003. His big-league totals include a .218 batting average, three home runs and 11 RBIs.
He was in the Houston organization last year.
“He can drive the ball, but he might not be a home run threat every time he comes off the bench,” said Alan Cockrell, Sky Sox hitting coach. “He uses his hands really well. I think he could help, I really do.”
Rivera picked up his hitting pace after Shealy was recalled by the Rockies and eventually traded to Kansas City. He hit .443 in his first 20 games as the regular at first base.
“I just felt free when I knew I was playing every day,” Rivera said. “I just kept hitting and hitting and I’m here. Of course I could help the Rockies. But my goal is to finish strong over the last 20 games and see what happens.”
An observation by Bill Geivett, Rockies director of baseball operations, provides a clue to the future.
“There’s always a place for guys who can hit,” Geivett said.
Runnells said he’d like to see all his players get a shot in September. He stopped a moment when talking about Kaz Matsui, obtained earlier in the season from the New York Mets.
“I think Kaz Matsui has a chance to be helpful,” Runnells said. “He’s a switch-hitter. He has speed. He can play the middle of the diamond very well. What’s not to like about him? He’s very close and he has surprising pop with the bat, too.”
Matsui was sidelined with back problems at first, but had 21 hits in his first 21 games, hitting .276 with nine RBIs. He collected his third home run Friday.
Noteworthy: Right-hander Denny Bautista, obtained from Kansas City in the trade for Shealy and pitcher Scott Doh- mann, pitched well in his first start for the Sky Sox. He had nine strikeouts, a season high for the Sky Sox, in six innings.
“I really like the ceiling for him,” Runnells said. “There’s been talk of whether he should be a starter or come out of the bullpen. Whatever they want to do, he has a future.”
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
