6:20pm: As relayed by Harding, club manager Bud Black confirmed to reporters this evening that Rodgers is being placed on the injured list, with Amador to be recalled in a corresponding move.
2:18pm: The Rockies are set to call up infield prospect Adael Amador for his Major League debut, according to reporter Francys Romero (X link). Amador will bypass Triple-A entirely on his way to the big leagues, and the Rox will need to make a corresponding transaction to create room for Amador on both the 26-man roster, although he is already on the club’s 40-man roster.
It’s a surprisingly aggressive move for the Rockies considering that Amador is hitting only .194/.337/.329 over 209 PA with Double-A Hartford, though he does have 22 steals in 25 attempts. However, it isn’t entirely clear whether or not Amador will officially be added to the roster today or if he’ll be on the taxi squad, as MLB.com’s Thomas Harding writes that the Rockies are still determining whether or not Brendan Rodgers will need to visit the 10-day injured list. Rodgers left yesterday’s game with a hamstring injury and is currently day-to-day, so it is possible Amador might not be needed if Rodgers has a very quick recovery.
If Rodgers does hit the IL, or the Rox might give the 21-year-old Amador more or less everyday work at second base if Rodgers will be sidelined for at least the next 10 days. Given the situation, it seems like Colorado prefers using a 40-man spot on Amador rather than create a space for any of their infield options at Triple-A, none of whom have much or any experience in the majors. While Amador’s season-long numbers leave something to be desired, he has recently been on a tear, hitting .309/.400/.655 over his last 66 plate appearances.
While a stop at Triple-A was expected first, Amador was generally seen as an advanced enough prospect to be a candidate for his MLB debut in 2024. Amador is ranked 32nd by MLB Pipeline and 34th by Baseball America on their constantly-updated top 100 prospects lists, and ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel also had the infielder 33rd on his preseason top-100 ranking. Amador was an international signing for Colorado back in 2019, and due to the pandemic, he didn’t make his proper pro debut until he played in the Arizona Complex League in 2021.
Even if the Double-A numbers haven’t quite reflected it, Amador’s switch-hitting approach at the plate has been widely praised, and he has more walks (186) than strikeouts (172) over his minor league career. This contact has been quality contact as well from both sides of the plate, even though Amador has yet to show much power.
It’s possible more pop could come as he gets older and perhaps gains more size (though Amador isn’t a small man at 6’0″ and 200 pounds), and even if his power numbers stay below average, it’s easy to see him driving double or triples into the big outfield at Coors Field. Amador has stolen 73 bases of an even 100 attempts in the minors, and evaluators feel he could stick at shortstop, though the Rockies have made him pretty much a full-time second baseman since Ezequiel Tovar has the shortstop position locked down for the rest of the decade. Since Rodgers is a free agent after the 2025 season, Amador has been viewed as Colorado’s new second baseman of the future.
Service time probably won’t be a big consideration for the moment since Amador’s first stint in the majors might not last too long (if at all), so it’s too early to speculate about Super Two qualification down the road. Still, the fact that the Rockies are calling up Amador over their Triple-A options and are at least willing to consider starting his MLB service clock indicates that the team might have a longer look in mind for Amador later in the season. Rodgers’ health situation will impact his potential trade value heading into the deadline, but a case can be made that the Rockies could move Rodgers before July 30 and clear the way for Amador at second base for the latter half of the 2024 campaign.
Amador’s minor league average is still higher than KB’s major league average
Only .015 behind Swansons. If we are keeping score……
It looks like he’s finally got his swing back post hamate bone surgery. Was puzzling that he was struggling w/ contact so bad early on
Adael will be saying hi to his friends from the other side
Leading a most blessed life. Page 1 of the telephone book. And his fam didn’t have to wait long to hear his name called at his nursery school graduation and were able to bolt out of there real early
Aaron Aarhus was his mortal enemy.
Amador was already on the Rockies’ 40-man roster. Would have been Rule 5 eligible last winter.
How does a writer not check that before posting? It takes less than a minute to proofcheck yourself there.
Stupidity
I am a massive Amador fan but this is flat out stupid. Really hope this doesn’t affect his long term development because this is way too early
Well “I’ll be quirky”, he’s skipping Albuquerque.
I realize stats can be deceiving, but .194 in 46 games at AA and they bring him up?
I think it’s more that he was really struggling to find his swing post injury and now he has it back. It’s definitely early & I don’t understand burning his service time without a trip to AAA though.
Love your name.
RIF: While Amador’s season-long numbers leave something to be desired, he has recently been on a tear, hitting .309/.400/.655 over his last 66 plate appearances.
He has hit better recently but I still not like the move. He has found his groove again but he is 21 and hasn’t hit at AAA ball, he could easily get into another funk. Obviously that can happen to anyone, even experienced pros but I would have given him 300 PAs at the AAA level to see if his struggles are fixed for good.
Imo when you are as talent starved as the rockies are better keep your prospects in the minors a little too long rather than having them learn on the job.
The worst thing that can happen is when you have it like with Tovar where you have a player sucking for two seasons while burning service time.
If I ran a player development of an org I would have my players Check all sorts of kpi before calling them up.
Like does he have a good strikeout to walk ratio (Amador does fortunately), can he lift the ball, does he hit high fastballs, does he hit breaking balls, does he lift the ball etc and only call him up when all that is fixed
You’re talking too reasonably to work in the Rockies front office.
“Talking too reasonably”…I know. Unfortunately, due to his rational, logical thinking the Rockies owner has already blacklisted him from ever holding a management or on-field position with the team.
They aren’t bringing him up to stay. They are bringing him up because they need a 2B and he is the only one on the 40 man. They didn’t want to have to DFA someone to bring up Albuquerque 2B Coco Montes, who is not on the 40 man anymore. So it is basically an audition, but not really. As soon as Rodgers is back, Amador will be back in Hartford.
Bingo, it’s a short-term thing because Amador is the only healthy IF on the 40-man and there isn’t anybody obvious for them to DFA.
Soon he’ll be back in AA, or if he seems ready perhaps he goes to AAA when Rodgers returns.
The Rockies being the Rockies. Stupid move after stupid move. How can so much incompetence reside in one organization?
Let’s see: the top prospect in the game, playing well at a higher level, Jackson Holliday, is grossly overmatched when called up but Amador, who is finally hitting .200 is ready to play?
Rockies are the best team at losing
So since Holliday struggled, does that mean everyone in the minors shouldn’t be called up? If the top prospect is grossly overmatched, then what chance does everyone else have?
Just a horrible comparison. Amador is coming up because the Rockies need a 2B and he is the one on the 40 man roster. They don’t want to DFA someone just to get the AAA 2B that won’t be needed when Rodgers is back in a short while.
If this guy is the only option for a call up that says more about the state of the Colorado Rockies being unable to promote a player worthy of an actual promotion.
No. The Rockies are set up with 8 pitchers and 6 position players on the 40 man that are not on the big league roster. Rodgers is the 5th position player currently on the 10 day IL, which means they were down to 2 minor leaguers that they could bring up. It says nothing about the state of the team other than they had a bunch of injuries bad enough for the IL, but not bad enough for the 60 day IL, pile up at the same time.
Was thinking about various high draft picks. Whether we classify as busts , or disappointing coz they play regularly in mlb just not stars. Remember just getting to play regularly in mlb even if you suck is quite an accomplishment for anyone.
Is Rodgers classified as a bust to you guys ?
No he is not a bust. He has put together a 4 WAR season in the majors. Busts don’t do that. He might not end up in the Hall of Fame or live up to unrealistic expectations, but he is clearly not a bust. There are plenty of players out there that have accomplished far less than Rodgers in the majors.
Wouldn’t say unrealistic expectations, drafted that high you do expect to develop into a star. But agree not a bust. Regular mlb player. As I said that is an extraordinary athletic achievement in itself.
Just curious how others view him.
Appreciate your take.