Weekly Pebble Report: Ch-Ch-Changes (May 6th-May 12th)

Colorado Rockies minor league report for Wednesday, May 14, 2025

The Colorado Rockies saw a tremendous organizational shakeup to start the week. Longtime manager Bud Black was relieved of duty alongside his right-hand man in bench coach Mike Redmond. This shakeup comes as the Rockies are on a historically bad skid to start their 2025 campaign. The new-look staff comes as the Rockies kick off a road trip to Texas and Arizona, and while the Rockies are still not expected to win many—if any—games on this trip, the Weekly Pebble Report persists all the same!

The Call-Ups

Keep on rolling, son: After eight years in the Rockies organization, multiple shoulder surgeries, and some truly bad luck, 2018 first-round pick and left-handed pitcher Ryan Rolison has climbed to the mountaintop at last. Rolison, 27, had his contract selected on Sunday after a strong start to 2025 out of the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes bullpen. He held a 3.72 ERA over 12 appearances with 23 strikeouts over 19 ¹⁄₃ innings.

A close Schaeff: When Bud Black was relieved of his managerial duties, it was 40-year-old third base coach Warren Schaeffer who got the call to take over. Schaeffer was drafted by the Rockies very late in the 2007 MLB draft and played his entire professional career with the organization. He has managed the A-level Asheville Tourists, the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats, and most recently the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. Schaeffer brings a positive energy to the clubhouse and I’m excited to see how his managerial style develops through the rest of the season.

Pa-check out this guy: With interim hitting coach Clint Hurdle taking over for Mike Redmond as the Rockies’ bench coach, the team brought in some more fresh blood. Isotopes hitting coach Jordan Pacheco. Pacheco was part of the same 2007 draft class as Warren Schaeffer, and played six big-league seasons as an infielder and catcher. He received some Rookie of the Year votes after a strong 2012 season where he hit .309/.341/.421 in 132 games. When he retired as a player, Pacheco joined the coaching staff of his hometown Albuquerque Isotopes in 2021.

Where there’s a Wilson, there’s a way: With assistant hitting coach Andy González moving to third base coach where Warren Schaeffer once stood, the Rockies needed another new face in the clubhouse. They turned to someone they’ve been grooming for the role over the last several years. 32-year-old Nic Wilson has been the Rockies’ minor league hitting coordinator since 2023 after two successful seasons as the hitting coach for the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies. He has been praised for his ability to teach and communicate with players while building relationships and gaining their respect. He was most recently the Rockies’ coaching delegate for the 2024 Arizona Fall League.

“Mark Brewer (former Fresno Grizzlies pitching coach), after his first year with him in 2021, said, ‘This guy is a slam-dunk big league hitting coach,’ ” Rockies Assistant Director of Player Development Jesse Stender said.

“Asked why he predicted such a bright future for Wilson, Brewer said, ‘In a nutshell, his ability to communicate with everybody is over the top good. He’s just over the top really good with people.’”

Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (3-3, 16-22 Overall)

The Isotopes rarely have a good time when they head to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, but this time they managed a series split against the newly rebranded Oklahoma City Comets (Los Angeles Dodgers). The Isotopes also lost hitting coach Jordan Pacheco to the big league squad. Minor league hitting coordinator Michael Ramirez will fill in temporarily.

A Hill to die on: Before right-handed reliever Jaden Hill (no. 19 PuRP) was placed on the 7-day injured list, he was continuing to perform well in hopes of a call back up to the big league squad. Hill pitched 5 ¹⁄₃ innings against the Comets and gave up just one earned run on two hits during Thursday’s game. He also racked up another eight strikeouts, including four on Sunday.

This Palm isn’t greased: Left-handed starter Carson Palmquist (no. 9 PuRP) had one of his best starts of the season so far against the Comets. In six innings, he gave up just one earned run on one hit—a solo home run—despite walking four batters. He also tallied eight strikeouts, just one shy of his season high thus far.

This is just kind of neat: Catcher Ronaiker Palma has seen more limited action with Braxton Fulford as the Isotopes’ primary catcher. He played in just two games against the Comets, going 2-for-7 with a double, two RBIs, and a walk. More interestingly, in one of the games he did play… he did so at second base. Palma had never played the position before, but turned in a solid performance. He even assisted on a double play.

Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats (2-3, 16-13 Overall)

Say it ain’t so! The Hartford Yard Goats suffered a series loss against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays) in a week spoiled by heavy rain. Inclement weather caused the teams to play two double headers and a game was still lost to further postponement. That game will me made up when the Yard Goats host the Fisher Cats at the end of May.

Turn the page: Yard Goats left-handed reliever Matt Turner had one final appearance against in Double-A this week, working a scoreless inning with two strikeouts. The former Cleveland Guardians draft pick—who was out of affiliated ball in 2024—has now ascended to the highest level of professional baseball he’s ever reached, as he was promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Hughes it or lose it: While the Rockies have been cautious to start the season with right-handed starter Gabriel Hughes (no. 11 PuRP), the leash has been getting longer. The former first-round pick now has four-straight five-inning starts and has given up just three earned runs across them. During his start against the Fisher Cats, Hughes gave up just two earned runs on two hits and two walks while striking out seven batters.

To the Victor go the spoils: Young Mexican righty Victor Juarez had a tough start to 2025. Relegated to a long relief role to start the season, Juarez had given up at least one earned run in all of his April appearances. Juarez’s first May appearance came on Wednesday, as well as his first clean sheet of the year. He gave up just one hit across three scoreless innings and struck out three New Hampshire hitters.

High-A: Spokane Indians (4-2, 17-16 Overall)

The Spokane Indians are over .500 as they secured their first series win of 2025 against the Vancouver Canadians (Toronto Blue Jays)! The Indians won both the first and last two games of the series to become the second Rockies affiliate with a winning record so far this season.

Say “So Longwell” to that baseball: Indians first baseman Aidan Longwell had a fantastic series against the Canadians. He went 9-for-25 at the plate with six RBIs and hit three doubles and two home runs for a .720 slugging percentage during the series. Longwell is tied with Jared Thomas for the team lead in home runs with five.

The kid’s a Wimmer: Utilityman Braylen Wimmer had a series to remember against the Canadians, hitting 8-for-24 while playing all over the field. Wimmer hit two doubles and a home run with six RBIs and a stolen base during the series. He also delivered the walk-off blow in the 10th inning on Mother’s Day, hitting a two out single to end the game.

We’re Eaton well tonight: Left-handed pitcher Konnor Eaton had two strong starts against the Canadians last week. He opened the series with five innings of work, giving up two earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out five batters. He ended the series with six shutout innings. In his Quality Start he gave up just two hits and struck out a season high eight batters.

Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (4-2, 13-20 Overall)

The Grizzlies played host to the Modesto Nuts (Seattle Mariners) and walked away with a much needed series win against a very good opponent. The Grizzlies are now just seven games below .500 as they look to right their ship for the rest of the first half.

Calaz-tronomical: Since returning from the injured list, outfielder Robert Calaz (no. 5 PuRP) has reached safely in every game he has appeared in. He continued this on-base streak with a strong series against Modesto in which he went 8-for-23 with six RBIs and slugged his second home run of the season.

The Unsullied: Lefty Sean Sullivan (no. 8 PuRP) made his final rehab appearance following offseason hip surgery with the Grizzlies. He worked four shutout innings, giving up three hits and no walks while striking out two batters. Sullivan’s rehab is now complete and he has been assigned to the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats.

Givng them Fitz: Grizzlies left fielder and first baseman Kevin Fitzer had an excellent series against the Nuts. the 16th round pick out of Cal State Northridge went 8-for-20 at the plate with at least one hit in all five games he appeared in. Fitzer scored five times and plated four runners while hitting three doubles and drawing two walks.

Arizona Complex League: ACL Rockies (3-3, 5-3 Overall)

The Arizona Complex League is now in full swing, with the ACL Rockies playing six games over the last week. The ACL Rockies played two games and split the results against both the ACL Giants (San Francisco Giants) and ACL Athletics (Athletics). They also lost to the ACL Royals (Kansas City Royals) and blew out the ACL Guardians (Cleveland Guardians) during the week.

That’s Wilder: One of the ACL Rockies’ most valuable players for the week was 18-year-old Venezuelan infielder Dalis Wilder. Splitting time at both third base and shortstop, Wilder went 6-for-19 at the plate with two triples and four RBIs.

Where the catchers Romo: Rockies catching prospect Drew Romo returned to action for the first time since he fractured a finger during a minor league spring training game. Romo went 0-for-2 at the plate, popping out and flying out. Romo will continue to ramp up with the goal of eventually making his way back to the big league roster.

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