COLORADO SPRINGS — The important thing for Eric Young Jr. right now isn’t where he is, but what he’s doing.
Young was introduced Tuesday as a member of the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox, getting ready for Thursday night’s opening game of the Pacific Coast League season against Tacoma.
At the same time, the Rockies were in Milwaukee. Young, one of the Rockies’ top prospects, wasn’t able to make the big-league club in spring training.
“It doesn’t matter where you start, it’s all about where you finish,” Young said. “I know my opportunity will come and I want to be ready for it.”
Sky Sox manager Stu Cole has a plan for Young that should allow him to have his bags packed if and when the Rockies call.
“He’s going to play second base, some in the outfield and some at third base,” Cole said. “He just has to continue doing the things he has been doing and not get sidetracked in his thinking because he’s not with the Rockies right now.”
Young — whose father, Eric Young, was a Rockies fan favorite when major-league baseball came to Denver in 1993 — played 30 games for the Rockies last year after being called up from the Sky Sox. He hit .246 in 57 at-bats.
Besides versatility, Young brings leadoff-hitter quality to the table.
“He’s instant offense,” Cole said. “Every time he gets up to the plate, he’s a threat to get on base and make something good happen.”
Young has swiped 307 bases in his six years in the minor leagues.
Young went to spring training in Tucson this year with hopes of making the Rockies’ 25-man roster because of his offense and ability to play several positions. But when the Rockies brought veteran infielder Melvin Mora to camp, Young’s path was blocked.
“Players like Mora will make the Rockies stronger,” Young said. “I can be patient. My dad broke into the big leagues when he was 25. I was 24 last year, so I’m right on schedule.”
Young knows the workings of baseball. He will play every day for the Sky Sox, and that means he will be seen every day by scouts from other teams.
“I’d love to be in a Rockies uniform,” Young said. “But teams fill needs through trades.”
In the meantime, the only geography Young thinks about is the proximity of Colorado Springs to Denver.
“Last year I got a call in the morning, was in Denver an hour later and I played that night,” Young said.
He’d do it all over again in a second.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
