Outfielder David Dahl is off to the kind of start at Hartford in the Double-A Eastern League that indicates he could be the next first-round draft pick to make it big in a Colorado Rockies uniform.
After missing most of last season because of an injured spleen he sustained in a collision with a teammate in the outfield, Dahl is making up for lost time. He leads the Yard Goats in home runs (11), doubles (16), runs (37), RBIs (35) and stolen bases (13).
Those numbers are fine with Dahl, but he thinks the 24 walks he has is the best sign that he’s advancing as a hitter.
“I changed my approach after the first two weeks of the season,” Dahl said in a phone interview. “The walks show I’m being more selective at the plate.”
Draft near: Baseball’s annual amateur draft will be held next week. The Rockies have the fourth overall pick, with Philadelphia, Cincinnati and Atlanta selecting in front of them.
Rockies director of scouting Bill Schmidt said the top of the draft lacks the elite prospects of recent years.
“Itap a little different this year in that there doesn’t seem to be those few elite prospects that look to be above everybody else,” Schmidt said. “We’ll have our eye out for pitching, but basically we’ll take who we think is the best player available.”
Recent Rockies first-round picks are having a good year. Pitcher Tyler Anderson (2011) has worked his way up to Triple-A Albuquerque and is showing the promise that could lead to a major-league debut soon. Dahl (2012) is on his way, and pitcher Jon Gray (2013) is in the Rockies’ starting rotation.
Pitcher Kyle Freeland (2014) has won five games at Hartford, and shortstop Brendan Rodgers (2015) is hitting .308 with eight home runs at Single-A Asheville.
ORGANIZATION LEADERS
(Through Thursday)
HITTING: (minimum 41 games) Brian Mundell, Asheville, .348; Omar Carrizales, Modesto, .322.
RUNS: Mundell, Asheville, 40; David Dahl, Hartford, 37.
HITS: Mundell, Asheville, 73; Raimel Tapia, Hartford, 63.
DOUBLES: Mundell, Asheville, 28; Yonathan Daza, Asheville, 18.
TRIPLES: Carrizales, Modesto, 4; Max White, Modesto, 4; Sam Hilliard, Asheville, 4.
HOME RUNS: Dahl, Hartford, 11; Brendan Rodgers, Asheville, 8.
RBI: Dahl, Hartford, 35; Rodgers Asheville, 33; Hilliard, Asheville, 33.
STOLEN BASES: Wes Rogers, Modesto, 19; White, Modesto, 16.
PITCHING
VICTORIES: Harrison Musgrave, Hartford and Albuquerque, 7; Jack Wynkoop, Asheville, 6.
LOSSES: Parker French, Asheville and Modesto, 5; three pitchers with four each.
SAVES: Matt Carasiti, Hartford, 16; Sam Thoele, Asheville, 8.
INNINGS: Kyle Freeland, Hartford, 68 1/3; Wynkoop, Asheville, 64.
WALKS: Carlos Polanco, Modesto, 31; Sam Howard, Modesto, 24.
STRIKEOUTS: Howard, Modesto, 66; Ryan Castellani, Modesto, 62.
ERA: (starters) Parker French, Asheville and Modesto, 2.44; Musgrave, Hartford and Albuquerque, 2.47 (Relievers) Javier Palacios, Asheville, 0.00; Jason Gurka, Albuquerque, 1.13.
