Ready or not, the comparison questions are going to come for Rockies farmhand Brendan Rodgers.
That’s because Rodgers plays shortstop and the Rockies have rookie standout Trevor Story at the position. He succeeded all-star Troy Tulowitzki.
So the question was put to Zach Wilson, Rockies director of player development: How does Rodgers compare to Tulowitzki and Story?
“I’m not into comparing players,” Wilson said. “Brendan Rodgers is a talented player with a ton of ability. But we just want him to be Brendan Rodgers. He has his own personality.”
Rodgers has been doing pretty well being himself.
Playing for Asheville in the Single-A South Atlantic League, he leads the team in hitting at .363, and has 10 doubles, seven home runs and 27 RBI.
Rodgers, the Rockies’ top draft pick last June out of Lake Mary High School in Florida, is off to a fast start in his first full season of pro ball. He played 37 games of rookie-level ball last year in the Pioneer League for Grand Junction.
“Brendan did a lot of work in the off season and spent a lot of time in the weight room,” Wilson said. “Now, he’s going to see what a 140-game season feels like.”
Story hit .277 with 18 home runs and 63 RBI in 122 games at Asheville in 2012. Tulowitzki didn’t play in Asheville.
Footnotes. Tyler Matzek is still having trouble throwing strikes. He threw to one batter Wednesday night for Modesto in the Single-A Advanced California League. He issued a walk on five pitches, one of which was a wild pitch. Another pitch reached the backstop. Matzek was demoted last season to the minors due to chronic wildness.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296, imoss@denverpost.com or @irvmoss
Organization leaders
(Through Thursday)
HITTING: (minimum 26 games) Brian Mundell, Asheville, .365; Brendan Rodgers, Asheville, .359.
RUNS: David Dahl, Hartford, 29; Rodgers, Asheville, 29.
HITS: Mundell, Asheville, 46; Rodgers, Asheville, 42.
DOUBLES: Mundell, Asheville, 14; Rafael Ynoa, Albuquerque, 11; Rodgers, Asheville, 11; Yonathan Daza, Asheville, 11.
TRIPLES: Ynoa, Albuquerque, 3; Wes Rogers, Modesto, 3; Mytz Jones, Asheville, 3; Sam Hilliard, Asheville, 3.
HOME RUNS: Dahl Hartford, 9; Rodgers, Asheville, 7.
RBI: Rodgers, Asheville, 28; Dahl, Hartford, 22.
STOLEN BASES: Rogers, Modesto, 13; Max White, Modesto, 12.
PITCHING
VICTORIES: Harrison Musgrave, Hartford, 5; Kyle Freeland, Hartford, 4.
LOSSES: Seven pitchers have three losses each.
SAVES: Matt Carasiti, Hartford, 10; Sam Thoele, Asheville, 7.
INNINGS: Kyle Freeland, Hartford, 45; Jeff Hoffman, Albuquerque, 41 1/3.
WALKS: Carlos Polanco, Modesto,23; Hoffman, Albuquerque, 14;Shane Carle, Albuquerque, 14;Ryan Castellani, Modesto, 14.
STRIKEOUTS: Castellani, Modesto,42; Ryan Carpenter, Albuquerque, 41.
ERA: (starters) German Marquez, Hartford, 1.03; Peter French, Asheville and Modesto, 1.06 (relievers) six pitchers have not allowed a run.
