Clint Barmes is back in business.
Since May 1, when he left the Rockies’ bench and rejoined the Colorado Springs Sky Sox infield at shortstop, Barmes has raised his batting average from .200 to .301 as of Friday.
The surge has Sky Sox manager Tom Runnells saying that if Barmes isn’t back where he needs to be as a hitter already, he’s heading in the right direction.
“If Clint can get his hitting back, he’s going to have a place to play,” Runnells said. “He’s been tremendous for us at shortstop, has played some second base and has even played some outfield.”
Two years ago, Barmes was the talk of major-league baseball as he made an early-season run for rookie of the year honors in the National League before suffering a broken collarbone June 5. Since then, Barmes has struggled to regain his swing, hitting .220 in 131 games last year with the Rockies.
“I’ve just simplified everything and let go of everything mentally other than seeing the ball,” Barmes said. “I’m not trying to go out and get every pitch. I’m still tinkering with some things, but I feel more comfortable and more confident with my hitting.”
But as Barmes looks at the Rockies, he knows the infield has changed. Troy Tulowitzki has taken over at shortstop and is making his own run at being the top rookie of the season. Kaz Matsui is firmly planted at second base.
Barmes has surveyed the territory.
“I’m pretty sure if I go back to the Rockies I’ll be a utility player,” Barmes said. “I like to play every day, but I’ll do whatever it takes in this organization.”
Playing every day with the Sky Sox after a utility role with the Rockies has been a factor in his batting average rising.
To build his player stock, Barmes has played second base as well as center field.
Barmes isn’t satisfied with the average at .301. He hit .328 in a full season with the Sky Sox in 2004 and believes a batting average in the area of .330 is possible again.
He’s realistic. The better the numbers, the better for more people to see. He doesn’t think a trade to another organization is out of the question.
Another No. 1
Bill Geivett, Rockies vice president for baseball operations, hesitated to predict where Casey Weathers would begin his professional career. The Rockies selected Weathers out of Vanderbilt as their first-round draft pick Thursday in the 2007 amateur draft.
The first worry is where to assign Weathers. The player development department is thinking Single-A Asheville or higher.
Third baseman Ian Stewart at Colorado Springs, shortstop Chris Nelson at Modesto and pitcher Greg Reynolds at Tulsa are first-round picks playing in the farm system.
Stewart is prospering in his first season at Triple-A, hitting .304 with 18 extra-base hits, including five home runs after hitting two Friday night.
“Nobody in the organization is worried about his power,” Geivett said of Stewart, the top pick in 2003.
Nelson has moved up more slowly since being selected in 2004. He stayed two years at Asheville, but is doing well at Modesto in the Single-A California League. Nelson is hitting .270 with 20 extra-base hits, including 13 doubles.
Reynolds, the top pick last year, was more than a match for Double-A competition in his first year at Tulsa. But after a 4-1 start with a 1.58 ERA, Reynolds went on the disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder. He’s expected back later this month.
Home run derby
Want home runs? The place to have been Thursday night was either Colorado Springs or Asheville. The Sky Sox clubbed seven homers, including two by Stewart on the way to a 23-11 victory over Tacoma.
At Asheville, outfielder Victor Ferrante hit a three-run homer and a grand slam in a 12-3 victory over Hickory.
About time
First baseman/outfielder Karl Bolt became only the second Air Force player in 51 years to be drafted in the major-league baseball amateur draft Friday, going to the Philadelphia Phillies in the 15th round.
Bolt joins outfielder Mike Thiessen, who was taken by Arizona in the 42nd round of the 2001 draft.
Staff writer Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
