Sky Sox outfielder Matt Miller has made a name for himself in the Colorado Rockies’ player development department. Walter Sylvester, an assistant in player development, let the name slip out last week as he made some appraisals.
“He’s a professional hitter,” Sylvester said when discussing Miller, who’s in his seventh season on the development ladder.
Sylvester’s comment was in the same context as Rockies manager Jim Tracy’s description last week of second baseman Jonathan Herrera being a “professional ball catcher,” referring to his outstanding defense.
Miller can hit, and Herrera can catch.
Miller’s batting averages throughout his climb up the ladder in the organization have been as consistently high as any player on the organization’s books.
Take a look: 2005, Asheville (Single-A), .331; 2006, Modesto (Single-A), .323; 2007, Tulsa (Double-A), .262; 2008, Tulsa, .344; 2009, Colorado Springs (Triple-A), .319; 2010, Colorado Springs, .328.
Rockies outfielder Brad Hawpe hit above .300 twice in his four-year climb to the big leagues — .347 in 2002 at Single-A Salem and .322 in 2004 at Colorado Springs. Third baseman Ian Stewart posted a .319 batting average at Asheville in 2004 and a .304 average at Colorado Springs in 2007.
But Miller hasn’t logged a single day in the big leagues. He didn’t get a September call-up in 2008 even though his .344 batting average at Tulsa led the Texas League and he hit .333 in 33 games at Colorado Springs.
“I’m not playing this game to play in the minors,” Miller said. “I feel my performance deserves some big- league time, but I understand the situation I’m in. I know the outfielders on the Rockies’ roster, and I understand why they are there. I can’t say that I’m better than any one of them.”
“Unfortunately for him, we have a logjam of outfielders on the big-league roster,” Sylvester said. “If one gets hurt, they fill in for each other. We believe Matt is a big- league player, but he’s blocked in this organization.”
Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez are 24. Eric Young Jr. is 25 and waiting to come off the disabled list. Miller is 27 and probably doesn’t have the power-hitting potential of Seth Smith or Ryan Spilborghs. Miller hit nine homers last season but drove in 98 runs for the Sky Sox. His numbers haven’t gone unnoticed in the Pacific Coast League. Miller is playing in the Triple-A All-Star Game for the second year in a row Wednesday in Lehigh Valley, Pa., against the International League.
Around the bases.
The Sky Sox almost couldn’t get home Thursday from Fresno, Calif. The day started with a 4:30 a.m. wake-up call, but their 7:40 a.m. flight was canceled. It took seven flights to get the players and staff back, some rerouted through Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas. Many didn’t get home until 2 a.m., and Thursday night’s game against Reno was postponed. . . . Left-hander Christian Friedrich, a first-round draft pick in 2008, seems to be back in the groove for the Tulsa Drillers. After struggling early, Friedrich has fanned 21 and walked five in his last two starts. He struck out 12 Thursday night on his 23rd birthday.
Minor-league spotlight
Adam Jorgenson, RHP,
Modesto Nuts
Nuts pitching coach Darryl Scott has a way of smoothing out the rough spots for closer Adam Jorgenson.
“Sometimes negative situations or rough outings can be the greatest learning tool we have,” said Scott, pitching coach for the Rockies’ affiliate in the advanced-level Single-A California League.
Jorgenson brought up the rough spot, talking about a home run he allowed June 9 in the ninth inning against San Jose.
That was seven appearances ago. Since then, Jorgenson hasn’t allowed a run while picking up two of his 18 saves.
“I love closing,” Jorgenson said. “I’m comfortable doing it. The way I pitch, it’s best that I pitch just one inning at a time.”
Scott agrees.
“He’s very aggressive on the mound,” Scott said. “He comes right at you. He’s not going to leave a whole lot in the tank when he comes off the field.”
Jorgenson’s 18 saves lead the Rockies’ farm system. He had 27 last season at Asheville.
“I’ve been closing since college at Cal State Fullerton,” Jorgenson said. “My coach said I looked as if I could close and asked me to move into the role.”
Jorgenson has reached 96 mph on his fastball. The 24-year-old right hander has worked his ERA down to 2.01 through 32 appearances.
Organizational leaders (Through Thursday)
HITTING: (72 games) Jordan Pacheco, Modesto, .331; Matt Miller, Colorado Springs, .328.
RUNS: Miller, Colorado Springs, 61; Thomas Field, Modesto, 58.
HITS: Pacheco, Modesto, 103; Miller, Colorado Springs, 102.
DOUBLES: Travis Metcalf, Colo. Springs, 25; Jay Payton, Colo. Springs, 23.
TRIPLES: James Cesario, Modesto, 10; Eliezer Mesa, Asheville, 7.
HOME RUNS: Field, Modesto, 12; Ryan Harvey, Tulsa, 11; Wilin Rosario, Tulsa, 11; Jared Clark, Asheville, 11.
RBI: Pacheco, Modesto, 51; Field, Modesto, 51.
STOLEN BASES: Mesa, Asheville, 19; Avery Barnes, Asheville, 18.
PITCHING VICTORIES: Juan Nicasio, Modesto, 8; Alan Johnson, Colorado Springs, 7; Kenneth Durst, Modesto, 7.
LOSSES: Chaz Roe, Colorado Springs, 9; Brandon Durden, Tulsa/Colorado Springs, 8.
SAVES: Adam Jorgenson, Modesto, 18; Sheng-An Kuo, Asheville, 10.
INNINGS: Nicasio, Modesto, 104 1/3; Ethan Hollingsworth, Modesto, 101.
WALKS: Rob Scahill, Modesto, 38; Dan Houston, Modesto, 37.
STRIKEOUTS: Nicasio, Modesto, 98; Hollingsworth, Modesto, 98.
ERA: Starters — Tyler Matzek, Asheville, 2.41; Nicasio, Modesto, 3.36; relievers — Scott Rice, Tulsa, 0.96; Jorgenson, Modesto, 2.01.
