Denver Sports Today

Denver Sports News Continuously Updated

Ryan Ritter Making Strong Case For Call-Up to Rockies

by

Albuquerque Isotopes infielder Ryan Ritter has been one of the best players in Triple-A this month. His torrid stretch gives him a strong case for a call-up to the major leagues this season. Ritter isn’t even in the Colorado Rockies’ top ten prospects, per MLB.com, checking in at No. 12 on the list. But he is putting his head down and lighting up the Pacific Coast League offensively. It’s a safe bet that Ritter will be ranked higher on the list when the next update comes.

Ryan Ritter’s Historic May

On May 10, Ritter’s slash line did not yet reflect it, but he was beginning to heat up. He was hitting .218/.370/.411 on the season. But in seven games to begin May, he recorded seven hits and five runs with three homers and four RBI. On May 29, the slash line looked much better. He is now hitting .296/.409/.619 with 56 hits, 15 homers, and 37 RBI over 228 plate appearances.

After a slow start to the season in April, Ritter has been on a different planet in May. It has been noticed. Ritter was selected as the PCL Player of the Week in consecutive weeks for his stellar play from May 12 to 25. He is the first Isotope to earn the honor since Elehuris Montero from August 5-11, 2024. Ritter is the first position player in the PCL to earn the award in consecutive weeks since Reno’s Jake McCarthy from August 28 to September 10, 2023.

In 104 plate appearances in May, Ritter has hit .374/.436/.890 with an otherworldly 1.326 OPS. He’s recorded 34 hits, 26 runs, 10 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, and 26 RBI. Ritter has also shown stellar plate discipline in this stretch with an excellent K:BB ratio of 17:10. He became the first player in Isotopes’ history to hit five home runs in a two-game span against Reno and Sugar Land on May 25 and 27. It has been a month to remember for Ritter down on the farm.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Ritter Showing Traits of an All-Around Player

Ritter was drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft out of the University of Kentucky. MLB Pipeline profiles Ritter as a player who can play shortstop at a very high level with his quickness and a plus arm from all angles. However, he still had work to do developing his offensive game entering this season.

Per MLB Pipeline, Rockies coaches told Ritter to be more patient at the plate, use the athleticism he shows defensively in the batter’s box, and take it one pitch at a time. He had to lower his strikeout rate and find the barrel more consistently. Ritter took the coaching to heart, and the results speak for themselves. With the summer months right around the corner in the very hitter-friendly PCL, Ritter has the potential for a monster season.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

When Could Ritter Make His Rockies’ Debut?

The Rockies have already found their shortstop of the future in 21-year-old Ezequiel Tovar. This blocks the path for Ritter to debut with Colorado at his primary position. Ritter has played 44 of his 49 games at shortstop this season. But he has played 14 games at second base in his minor league career. That is the versatility that could be needed if Ritter wants to appear on the Rockies anytime soon.

MLB Pipeline projects that he will debut as a utility player and has enough upside to settle in as a “defensive-oriented” regular. With so much focus on Ritter’s defensive prowess as he works his way up the farm, his recent offensive emergence has to feel like a bonus for the Rockies’ front office.

Ritter’s hot streak has rightfully gained attention as a precursor to a potential Rockies debut. Adael Amador has struggled mightily offensively and defensively as the regular at second for the Rockies this season. But Colorado ended any speculation about an immediate call-up for Ritter when they signed Orlando Arcia on Memorial Day. The path for Ritter to the Rockies became even more clouded when it was announced on May 30 that second baseman Thairo Estrada was being activated off the 60-day injured list.

Immediate Paths to the Rockies Are Limited

The Rockies are currently dead last in MLB with a 9-48 record. They are mired in a rebuild that will likely not end anytime soon. In a transition season that has seen manager Bud Black fired, the Rockies should be playing their young talent as much as possible. While signing the 30-year-old Arcia seems to be in direct conflict with that plan, Estrada was slated as the Rockies’ new regular second baseman before suffering an injury in Cactus League play. Estrada has a great history at Coors Field in his career. It makes sense that the Rockies would want to see what Estrada can do regularly after signing him this offseason.

Even with Ritter’s likeliest paths to the Rockies currently blocked, perhaps the Rockies didn’t want to call up Ritter after one great month in an offensive-friendly league. He can continue to develop in Albuquerque and produce consistent offense. This being in opposition to risking calling Ritter up immediately and being faced with the decision of sending him back down soon if he struggles like Amador has.

If Ritter continues his quality play, his Rockies debut will assuredly come after the trade deadline. Veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon will continue to be mentioned in trade talks as the deadline nears. Ritter is also currently a prime candidate to be a September call-up when rosters expand from 26 to 28. For now, Rockies fans can enjoy Ritter being a regular on their Twitter feed as he continues to terrorize the PCL.

 

Photo Credit: © Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The post Ryan Ritter Making Strong Case For Call-Up to Rockies appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.