Bill Schmidt isn’t about to tip his hand in advance of baseball’s draft of college and high school players.
During the past three months, Schmidt and the Rockies’ scouting department that he oversees have gathered information on the best college and high school players in the nation. Schmidt and his staff are at the Rockies’ spring training complex in Scottsdale, Ariz., where they will select the next group of prospects starting Monday on the first day of the three-day draft.
The Rockies have the third overall pick, but Schmidt won’t tip his hand on whom they like. The Arizona Diamondbacks and Houston Astros have the first two picks. The Rockies also have the 27th, 38th and 44th picks in the early rounds.
Schmidt said the overall talent available this year is average, with no certain star player who stands out.
“There will be some major-league players in the group,” Schmidt said. “But I don’t think there’s a top-flight player in this draft.”
Schmidt noted that injuries to some college pitching prospects depleted some of the pool expected to go early.
Nine players on the current Rockies active roster are draft picks. Outfielder Corey Dickerson and pitcher Tyler Matzek are draft picks currently inactive.
But in baseball most of the attention is on the first-round picks, and some of the Rockies’ first-rounders have fallen by the wayside because of injuries.
Left-handed pitcher Kyle Freeland, a first-round pick last June out of the University of Evansville by way of Denver’s Thomas Jefferson High School, hasn’t pitched this year because of shoulder surgery.
Pitcher Jon Gray, a first-round pick in 2013, has won two of seven decisions for Triple-A Albuquerque. Outfielder David Dahl (2012) probably is sidelined for the rest of the season because of injuries suffered in a collision in the field with a teammate at Double-A New Britain. Left-handed pitcher Tyler Anderson (2011) hasn’t pitched this season because of shoulder problems.
Outfielder Kyle Parker (2010) is hitting .258 with six home runs for Albuquerque, while left-hander Matzek (2009) is inactive after being demoted from the Rockies’ roster. Left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich (2008) is 0-1 in 23 innings working out of the Rockies’ bullpen.
Zach Wilson, Rockies director of player development, isn’t offering a timetable for the return of Freeland, Dahl, Anderson or Matzek.
“I expect Kyle Freeland to make a full recovery,” Wilson said. “Right now we’re keeping Matzek outside of the competitive environment.”
On the Rockies’ 2015 draft radar.
Before being sidelined, Dahl was on the radar of the Rockies’ development staff as the farm system’s up-and-coming star. Outfielder Drew Weeks is gaining attention at Asheville. Weeks, picked in the seventh round in last year’s June draft out of the University of North Florida, leads Asheville in RBIs with 28 and in doubles with 11.
“Weeks can play all three outfield positions, and he has a significant throwing arm,” Wilson said. “He’s getting on our radar.”
Organization leaders
(Through Thursday)
HITTING: (minimum 40 games) Jordan Patterson, Asheville, .321; Raimel Tapia, Modesto, .316.
RUNS: Trevor Story, New Britain, 34; Patterson, Modesto, 31; Tapia, Modesto, 31.
HITS: Tapia, Modesto, 68; Story, New Britain, 55.
DOUBLES: Ryan McMahon, Modesto, 18; Patterson, Modesto, 17.
TRIPLES: Patterson, Modesto, 7; Forrest Wall, Asheville, 5.
HOME RUNS: Tom Murphy, New Britain, 8; Story, New Britain, 7.
RBIs: Tapia, Modesto, 35; Story, New Britain, 31.
STOLEN BASES: Wes Rogers, Asheville, 34; Drew Weeks, Asheville, 16.
Pitching
VICTORIES: Yohan Flande, New Britain, Albuquerque, 7; Gus Schlosser, New Britain, 7.
LOSSES: Carlos Polanco, Asheville, 7; Sam Howard, Asheville, 6.
SAVES: Austin House, New Britain, 16; Josh Michalec, Asheville, 8.
INNINGS: Shane Carle, New Britain and Albuquerque, 68 ; Zach Jemiola, Asheville and Modesto, 68 .
WALKS: Logan Sawyer, Asheville, 23; Johendi Jiminian, Modesto, 22.
STRIKEOUTS: Antonio Senzatela, Modesto, 61; Jemiola, Asheville and Modesto 57.
ERA: (starters) Flande, New Britain and Albuquerque, 2.32; Senzatela, Modesto, 2.32; (relievers) Carlos Estevez, Modesto and New Britain, 1.78; Jerry Vasto, Asheville, 1.78.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296, imoss@ or
