Tyler Matzek is back in business and has been assigned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes.
Matzek will appear in a game for Albuquerque soon, according to Zach Wilson, the Rockies’ director of player development. Wilson didn’t classify it as a rehabilitation assignment or starting over, despit Matzek’s lost time.
Matzek, 24, last pitched for the Rockies on May 6, a start that lasted only two innings and included six walks. The left-hander was sent to Albuquerque in hopes of regaining his command. A week later, he was even worse. He was tagged for seven earned runs and issued seven walks in one inning in his only outing for the Isotopes.
The Rockies gave him some time off, after which he pitched three games for the Single-A Boise (Idaho) Hawks. He walked eight batters and gave up six earned runs in just over two innings spread over three games before being shut down.
“No one in this organization has lost faith in Tyler Matzek,” Wilson said. “He’s ready to come back from the break and looks to be in good condition. He was able to throw some while he was gone.”
Matzek, a first-round pick in the 2009 draft, finished strong last year and was expected to be in the rotation this year.
He started the season 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in his first four starts. But even then, he had allowed 13 walks in 20 innings. He was sent down after his six-walk performance in his fifth start.
Rodgers update. Twenty-five games into his first professional season, shortstop Brendan Rodgers has a new appreciation for baseball. Playing for Grand Junction in the rookie-level Pioneer League, the first-round draft pick is hitting .242, including 13 RBIs and two home runs.
“It’s been a roller-coaster ride so far, but I’m having a blast,” said Rodgers, who was drafted by the Rockies out of high school. “It has been a little more difficult than I thought it would be. But hopefully I can finish a little stronger over these last couple of weeks. My defense still is there.”
The caliber of pitching and the 90 mph fastballs he has faced are among the surprises.
“It’s a grind,” Rodgers said. “We just had a 14-hour bus ride from Grand Junction to Missoula. I fall asleep pretty easily, so it wasn’t that bad.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296, imoss@denverpost.com or
ORGANIZATION LEADERS
(Through Thursday)
HITTERS
BATTING AVERAGE: (minimum 84 games) Raimel Tapia, Modesto, .311; Angelys Niña, Albuquerque, .308; Jordan Patterson, Modesto and New Britain, .308.
RUNS: Ryan McMahon, Modesto, 68; Trevor Story, New Britain and Albuquerque, 66.
HITS: Tapia, Modesto, 142; McMahon, Modesto, 125.
DOUBLES: Patterson, Modesto and New Britain, 38; Story, New Britain and Albuquerque, 35; McMahon, Modesto, 35.
TRIPLES: Patterson, Modesto and New Britain, 12; Forrest Wall, Boise and Asheville, 9.
HOME RUNS: Story, New Britain and Albuquerque, 18; Tom Murphy, New Britain and Albuquerque, 18.
RBIs: Story, New Britain and Albuquerque, 65; McMahon, Modesto, 61.
STOLEN BASES: Wes Rogers, Asheville, 44; Noel Cuevas, New Britain, 26; Drew Weeks, Asheville and Modesto, 26.
PITCHERS
VICTORIES: Shane Carle, New Britain and Albuquerque, 13; Harrison Musgrave, Modesto and New Britain, 11; Zach Jemiola, Asheville and Modesto, 11.
LOSSES: Ryan Carpenter, New Britain, 12; Matt Flemer, New Britain, 9; Carlos Polanco, Asheville, 9.
SAVES: Josh Michalec, Asheville, 26; Austin House, New Britain, 20.
INNINGS: Konner Wade, Modesto, 143 ⅓ ; Flemer, New Britain, 142 ⅓ .
WALKS: Helmis Rodriguez, Asheville, 52; Wade, Modesto, 39.
STRIKEOUTS: Jemiola, Asheville and Modesto, 110; Antonio Senzatela, Modesto, 109.
ERA: (starters) Senzatela, Modesto, 2.43; Musgrave, Modesto and New Britain, 3.12; (relievers) Nelson Gonzalez, New Britain and Albuquerque, 2.34; Trent Daniel, Modesto, 2.47.
