The Rockies introduced a sequence of roster strikes at this time. Infielder Ryan Ritter has been chosen to the roster, catcher Braxton Fulford has been recalled and right-hander Zach Agnos has been reinstated from the bereavement listing. Proper-hander Angel Chivilli was optioned after yesterday’s recreation. To open two extra spots, the membership has positioned shortstop Ezequiel Tovar on the 10-day injured listing with a left indirect pressure, retroactive to June third, whereas catcher Jacob Stallings has been unconditionally launched.
Stallings, 35, had a stable season for the Rockies final 12 months however he’s been dreadful this 12 months. Going into 2024, he signed a $2MM deal and went on to hit .263/.357/.453 for a 114 wRC+ in 82 video games for Colorado. The defensive evaluations have been combined however the Rockies clearly preferred him, because it was reported in September of final 12 months that they wished to carry him again. The 2 sides ultimately reunited on a one-year deal for 2025 with a $2.5MM assure, within the type of a $2MM wage and $500K buyout on a $2MM mutual possibility for 2026.
Sadly, his efficiency has dropped off considerably to this point this 12 months. By means of 93 plate appearances, he has a .143/.217/.179 line. A drop from final 12 months’s .324 batting common on balls in play to this 12 months’s .226 doesn’t assist however that’s not the one factor occurring right here. He has struck out in a 3rd of his plate appearances, an enormous soar from final 12 months’s 23.1% clip. His stroll fee has dropped from final 12 months’s 9.6% tempo to this 12 months’s 5.4%.
Whereas Stallings has been doing that, Hunter Goodman has been taking up the catcher place. Goodman has ten house runs in 241 plate appearances, serving to him produce a .281/.328/.491 line and 114 wRC+. His defensive marks aren’t nice but it surely’s comprehensible that the Rockies have leaned in direction of that stronger offensive output. Fulford has been enjoying properly within the minors so he’ll get to return up and be part of the massive league catching ranks, whereas Stallings has been let go.
As soon as Stallings clears launch waivers, he’ll have the ability to signal with any membership. The Rockies will stay on the hook for the rest of his wage. If some other membership offers him a spot, they’d solely must pay him the prorated portion of the league minimal wage for any time spent on the roster.
It’s unclear how lengthy Tovar shall be out of motion however indirect strains may be troublesome, with minor strains typically taking weeks or months to get well from. That opens the shortstop place and Thomas Harding of MLB.com means that Ritter ought to get common enjoying time, although Orlando Arcia, Tyler Freeman and Kyle Farmer all have some expertise on the place.
Ritter, 24, was a fourth-round choice of the Rockies within the 2022 draft. He has since climbed the minor league ladder and is having a great season in Triple-A. He has a .305/.413/.635 line and 149 wRC+ in 52 video games for the Isotopes. He already has 16 house runs whereas drawing walks at a 13.9% clip and protecting his strikeouts right down to a 20.4% fee.
Prospect evaluators have usually anxious about his chase tendencies however he has continued to decrease his strikeout fee. He was punched out 29% of the time in 2023 however obtained that right down to 23.6% final 12 months and he’s dropped it much more this 12 months. His defensive evaluations are combined however he’s able to swiping 20 baggage yearly. Baseball America now lists him because the #4 prospect within the membership’s system.
Even the perfect prospects can typically flounder when first reaching the majors, so time will inform how Ritter handles the soar. If he doesn’t succeed instantly, he may very well be optioned again right down to Albuquerque when Tovar is wholesome. If he succeeds, he has performed some second base within the minors and will maybe kick over to the opposite aspect of the bag, relying on how Thairo Estrada is performing.
Photograph courtesy of Robert Edwards, Imagn Photographs
