The Rockies announced Wednesday that they’ve claimed infielder/outfielder Troy Johnston off waivers from the Marlins. Colorado also reinstated Kris Bryant and righty Jeff Criswell from the 60-day injured list, adding both back to the 40-man roster.
Johnston, 28, was a 17th-round pick by Miami back in 2019 and has been a career-long Marlin to this point. He made his big league debut this season after a lengthy run of productive campaigns n the upper minors. The Gonzaga product hit .277/.331/.420 with four home runs in 121 plate appearances during his first run at the MLB level.
In Johnston, the Rockies are adding an older but controllable player with a strong minor league track record. Johnston is a career .281/.367/.458 hitter in seven minor league seasons. His .267/.345/.438 slash in parts of four Triple-A campaigns is weighed down a bit by an awful debut there back in 2022 (116 plate appearances), but he’s been an above-average hitter with the Marlins’ top affiliate in Jacksonville each season since.
Though Johnston has primarily been a first baseman in the minors, with more than 4300 innings logged at the position, he’s also suited up for 826 innings in left field and 492 innings in right field. Since his contract was selected to the 40-man roster for the first time this season and he wasn’t optioned back down thereafter, he’ll join the Rox with a full slate of three minor league option years remaining.
It’s not entirely clear who’s making roster calls in the Colorado front office at the moment. The Rockies fired GM Bill Schmidt shortly after the season, and longtime assistant GM Zack Rosenthal left the club shortly thereafter. Owner Dick Monfort and his son, executive vice president Walker Monfort, have been conducting a search for a new baseball operations leader over the past month but have yet to announce a hire. It’s possible they’re making calls with input from some of the still-remaining midlevel baseball operations executives while continuing through a hiring process that as of last week was down to two finalists but once again appears more wide open.
Johnston could be a sneaky good bench piece for Colorado, had a nice showing as a rookie last year in Miami.
I’m sorry to see Johnston leave Miami. Not only might he be a good bench piece, he could be a solid everyday placeholder on a rebuilding team
So if Bryant is removed from the 60 Day Injured List, he must now be magically healed and ready to resume all baseball activities. (Sarcasm Intended of yet another antiquated and out of date MLB Rule in need of review/updating/elimination.)
Go Zags!
The question of the day for Rocky fans, yes, there are several of us left, is, who is making these calls? Do we somehow have a “deep state” organization within the meat packing industry?
I’d bet a group including Clint Hurdle and the director of scouting, ol’ what’s-his-name
Department of Laundry
“It’s not entirely clear who’s making roster calls in the Colorado front office”
Is it ever?
Yeah! Kris Bryant off the IL and ready to play. What? The season’s over? Well, at least there’s only 3 more months til he gets back on the IL.
I have watched him play the past couple years. Trust me, it is better when he is on the IL and not on the field.
After watching George Springer wince in the world series due to his oblique strain, I can’t even imagine what Bryant is dealing with.
I honestly do feel for the man as a human being. He has spent his whole life as a top athlete and now his body is not letting him do that anymore. As a fan of the Rockies, I just cannot wait for him to not be on the team anymore.
Your mouth to god’s ear
At this point, at least for some of our positions, any warm body with a strikeout rate under 25% would be an upgrade.
Also it’s hilarious how the Rockies refuse to let a first baseman be a first baseman, they must also play left field. Probably right field as well.
Back in 2010 I wrote the Rockies front office with my concerns. 2007 was a WS appearance and 2009 playoff and I thought they were not making the roster stronger at the time. I did not attach my phone # to the letter, but Dick Monfort called me and we talked for 20 minutes. I was blown away that he took the time, plus had to search for my #. He said Cargo and Tulo were his biggest priorities to long term and he also told me of a couple players he wanted to be rid of.
So now without a GM or PBO, I have no doubt he is calling the shots.
You are hired, get ready for next week’s GM meetings.
Monfort is known for his personal replies to emails and fan/reporter outreach..
He’s surprised Fangraphs and Effectively Wild folks with call-backs.
Say what you will, he’s real.
guessing who he wanted to be rid of… Seth Smith, Manny Corpas, Huston Street maybe? Atkins for sure but in classic Us fashion they rode him until he proved himself terrible instead of trading him after 2007 to clear room for Baker or someone else who owned a proper 3B glove