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SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — About an hour before the Rockies held their first full-squad workout of spring training Monday morning, Brendan Rodgers sat in front of his locker, lacing up his spikes and getting ready for his debut.

Rodgers, 21, is ranked as the top prospect in the Rockies’ organization. He received an invitation to his first big-league camp, and there is a chance he’ll make his debut in the second-half of the regular season. But now is the time to soak up everything he can.

“I’m excited,” the infielder said. “I’m really looking forward to this. My job in this camp is to learn, so I’m picking the brains of all the guys, picking up whatever I can.”

Specifically, Rodgers is concentrating on honing his fielding skills by watching shortstop and second baseman . Rodgers has quickly discovered that the highlight-reel plays turned in by established Rockies players is not simply a matter of athleticism or instinct.

“I’ve talked to Story about his favorite play: fielding that groundball up the middle and making that spin move to get off the throw,” Rodgers aid. “He practices that play all of the time. It’s like riding a bike for him.

“I told him, ‘Work with me on that, because I need some help with the rhythm of it and the throw.’聽It’s a very tough play, but Trevor seems to have it down pat, so I’m learning all I can from him.”

Rodgers used his 2017 season as a springboard. He hit a combined .336 with 18 home runs, a .567 slugging percentage and 64 RBIs at High-A Lancaster and Double-A Hartford last season.

“We’ll see how he reacts to this (spring), but all indications are from our player-development staff that he’s making great strides,” said manager Bud Black, adding that Rodgers is likely to begin the season at Double-A. “Last year was a big year for him. For the most part, he stayed healthy. He performed.聽We’re excited to see what he can do.”

State of the team.聽Black spoke to the entire team Monday for the first time this spring. What was the topic?

“Oh, I gotta tell you this. So I led it off with — I’m not going to tell you,” Black said, keeping his address private to the clubhouse. A hint of the speech, at least?

“I told them this is a group I was very proud of last year,” Black said. “A lot of guys are returning. (Making the playoffs) was a great first step for us as an organization. As a team, we have work to do. There are still places to go for this team that ultimately lead to where we want to be, and that’s a world championship.”

Then Black paused and broke out a sly grin.

“And I told them some other things I won’t tell you about,” he said.

Footnotes. During batting practice, , Ian Desmond, , and Ryan McMahon took turns hammering pitches over the fence. When the session was over, Valaika had hit the most homers. McMahon, the left-handed hitting rookie who could end up as the starting first baseman, put on a show of his own.

“Beautiful swing,” Desmond commented. “It抖阴ap like he was born with it.鈥�

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