Colorado Rockies minor league report for Wednesday, March 19th, 2025
On Sunday afternoon the Colorado Rockies fielded a squad of their best and brightest against the Chicago White Sox for the second annual Spring Breakout prospect showcase game. Playing as the away team over at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, the Rockies’ prospect squad came away with a 3-1 victory over the prospects from the South Side. The win came via solid offense but mostly thanks to a dominant pitching effort that yielded just one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out ten batters.
Adael Bombador: The Rockies and White Sox were tied 0-0 through the first five frames with solid pitching on both sides. Adael Amador (no. 3 PuRP) decided to change that. After a Cole Carrigg double to kick off the sixth inning, Adael Amador crushed a hanging curveball from White Sox prospect Riley Gowens for a two run home run.
Amador has already been assigned to Triple-A Albuquerque to start the season, but the game-winning home run has to be a confidence booster for the hopeful second baseman of the future.
“I love that kid,” said Bobby Meacham, who managed Amador last season in Double-A Hartford. “He worked his butt off and I could see that coming into Spring Training. I saw him the first day and was like, ‘Wow. He looks great, looks like he lost a little weight.’ Then the first time I saw him fielding ground balls, I was like, ‘He’s been working on some of the stuff.’”
Check yourself before you Brecht yourself: Sunday’s Spring Breakout game was the long-awaited professional debut for 2024 top draft pick Brody Brecht (no. 6 PuRP). The former two-sport star from the University of Iowa didn’t see any in-game action in 2024, and had only pitched during instructionals and more recently during minor league camp.
The wait was well worth it. Brecht pitched a flawless third inning for the Rockies prospect squad with two strikeouts in relief of starter Gabriel Hughes. His fastball and arsenal of breaking pitches were commanded well and he induced four whiffs.
“I absolutely loved his arm action, snapping that breaking ball really well,” said Double-A Hartford manager Bobby Meacham, who managed the Rockies’ Spring Breakout club. “I could tell how happy he was to be out there healthy and pitching in a game like this. It must’ve been a ton of fun.”
Hughesing with confidence: The healthy return of Gabriel Hughes (no. 11 PuRP) from Tommy John surgery has been one of the best storylines of the spring. Hughes made three scoreless appearances with the big league camp, giving up three hits, three walks, and striking out three batters over 6 1⁄3 innings of work. While Hughes has already been reassigned to minor league camp and it was extremely unlikely for him to make the Opening Day roster, the 2022 first rounder’s triumphant return to the mound is worthy of praise.
Hughes continued his strong spring as the starter for the Spring Breakout game. He worked two hitless, scoreless innings while striking out two batters and inducing a double play. His confidence and excitement were on full display.
“I’m never going to back down the intensity,” Hughes said. “That’s just how I play, and I was happy to be able to go out and showcase that intensity. It’s incredible being around guys that I’m going to be moving up with, playing with in the future. And we came out with a win.”
King of the Hill: Right-handed reliever and 2021 second-round pick Jaden Hill got his first taste of the big leagues last season and now is fighting for more. So far this spring, his performance has been somewhat uneven. In six innings over six appearances he has six strikeouts, but he’s also given up five earned runs on three hits—including a home run—and three walks.
However, Hill flashed what makes him so special during the Spring Breakout with a dominant inning of relief. He struck out the side on 18 pitches, showcasing the full arsenal he has at his disposal and making strong use of his sweeping slider.
Acquiesce to Agnos: I legitimately believe we have seen Zach Agnos (no. 23 PuRP) do enough to earn one of the Rockies’ coveted bullpen spots on the Opening Day 26-man roster. The mustachioed, turtlenecked former East Carolina Pirate has dazzled this spring. In eight appearances and 9 1⁄3 innings he holds an ERA of 3.86 with seven strikeouts to just one walk. My one concern is the long ball. Three of the eight hits he’s given up have gone over the fence.
Agnos was the Rockies’ closer for the Spring Breakout game and slammed the door shut on the White Sox prospects. He worked a quick 1-2-3 inning and struck out Chicago’s no. 2 overall prospect in Kyle Teel.
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Opening Day for the Rockies is next week and there are just eight spring training games left to play as the roster takes shape. On Wednesday morning the Rockies announced that—with the reassignment of Braxton Fulford and Keston Hiura to minor league camp—there are just 38 bodies remaining in big league camp with eight non-roster invitees.
A large portion of the roster is set in stone, but there are still plenty of questions to be answered over the next week. Will Chase Dollander, Zac Veen, and maybe even Zach Agnos be awarded spots? How do you think the roster will look on Opening Day?
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