24-year old righty swinging outfielder Kent Matthes wasn’t one of the top prospects of the Rockies coming into this season. But, he’s starting to change that this year. Matthes has played in 93 games in A-ball so far this year and he is 124 for 371 (.334 avg, 1.020 OPS) with 70 runs scored, 23 homers, 95 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. He has now played in 177 games in his first three years in the minors and he is 208 for 691 (.301 avg, .900 OPS) with 118 runs scored, 29 homers, 141 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. If Matthes keeps hitting like he is right now, the Rockies might put him on the fast track to the majors.

23-year old lefty swinging Tim Wheeler came into this season as the Rockies’ #21 prospect according to Baseball America, but he has to be moving up for next year’s rankings. Wheeler has played in 81 games in AA-ball so far this year and he is 103 for 326 (.316 avg, .988 OPS) with 67 runs scored, 20 homers, 63 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Wheeler has now played in 278 games in his first three years in the minors and he is 300 for 1,119 (.271 avg, .800 OPS) with 199 runs scored, 37 homers, 161 RBIs and 46 stolen bases. Wheeler has to be catching the eyes of the Rockies’ brass as they likely have smiles on their faces.

The Rockies have dealt 28-year old righty swinging 3B Josh Fields to the Nippon Ham Fighters. No idea who or what the Rockies will get for him. Fields played in 50 games in AAA-ball for the Rockies this year and he is 65 for 178 (.365 avg, 1.103 OPS) with 53 runs scored, 11 homers, 45 RBIs and 7 steals. Fields has played in 217 games in parts of five years in the majors and he is 167 for 713 (.234 avg, .724 OPS) with 95 runs scored, 34 homers, 107 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. With the emergence of Ty Wigginton at 3B, the Rockies decided that they had no need for Fields anymore so they essentially let him work out a deal with a team in Japan.

25-year old righty swinging 2B Brad Emaus is really ripping the ball in AAA for the Rockies right now. He has played in 43 games in AAA-ball for the Rockies this year and he is 49 for 157 (.312 avg, .961 OPS) with 36 runs scored, 9 homers, 27 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Emaus looked overmatched with the Mets earlier this year. He played in 14 games for the Mets this year and he was 6 for 37 (.162 avg, .424 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. With switch-hitting Jonathan Herrera and righty swinging Chris Nelson struggling at the plate right now, it might only be a matter of time before the Rockies give Brad Emaus a shot.

32-year righty starter/reliever Claudio Vargas has decided to retire. Vargas pitched in 8 games (4 starts) in AAA-ball for the Rockies this year and he was 2-2 with a 11.08 ERA and a 2.42 WHIP. He gave up 50 hits and 6 homers in only 26 innings pitched this year in AAA. Vargas pitched in 217 games (114 starts) in his 8 years in the majors and he was 48-40 with 1 save, a 4.83 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. The Rockies won’t miss Vargas at all going forward.

22-year old righty swinging catcher Wilin Rosario came into this season as the Rockies’ #2 prospect according to Baseball America. Rosario has played in 41 games in AA-ball so far this year and he is 42 for 161 (.261 avg, .780 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 9 homers and 18 RBIs. He has now played in 334 games in his first six years in the minors and he is 333 for 1,225 (.272 avg, .774 OPS) with 169 runs scored, 49 homers, 186 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Rosario might be ready to challenge Chris Iannetta for the starting job behind the plate next spring if he continues to play like he is right now.

28-year old righty swinging 3B Josh Fields is off to a great start in AAA-ball this year. He has played in 27 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 31 for 87 (.356 avg, 1.121 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 6 homers, 22 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Fields last played in the majors in 2010 with the Royals. He has played in 217 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 167 of 713 (.234 avg, .724 OPS) with 95 runs scored, 34 homers, 107 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He has also whiffed 235 times in his major league career as he has been pretty much an all or nothing hitter in the majors. If he keeps hitting well while Ian Stewart continues to struggle with the Rockies, he might get a chance to revive his major league career with the Rockies in 2011.

20-year old lefty starting pitcher Tyler Matzek came into this season as the Rockies’ #1 prospect according to Baseball America. But, he’s off to a rough start in the minors this year. Matzek has pitched in 5 games (all starts) in A-ball so far this year and he is 0-2 with a 8.31 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP. He has walked a stunning 20 batters in only 17 1/3 innings so far this year and that’s the reasons for his struggles as he has only allowed 16 hits and whiffed 19 batters so far this year. Matzek has now pitched in 23 games (all starts) in his first two years in the minors and he is 5-3 with a 3.80 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. If Matzek tightens up his control quite a bit….he might get placed on the fast track to the Rockies. But, if he continues to struggle with his control, the Rockies will take it very slow with him.

The Colorado Rockies have designated 27-year old righty starting pitcher Alan Johnson for assignment to make room on the roster for 33-year old switch-hitting IF/OF Alfredo Amezaga. Johnson started 1 game for the Rockies this year and he didn’t get the decision as he worked 4 innings in which he allowed 6 hits, 3 walks and 4 earned runs. Johnson also started 2 games (both starts) in AAA-ball for the Rockies this year and he was 1-0 with a 0.84 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Amezaga’s versatility is going to really help the Rockies’ bench. He has played in 17 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he was 24 of 66 (.364 avg, .939 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 1 homer, 11 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Amezaga last played in the majors back in 2009 with the Marlins. He has played in 544 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 334 of 1,331 (.251 avg, .652 OPS) with 167 runs scored, 12 homers, 106 RBIs and 49 stolen bases.

27-year old righty swinging outfielder Matt Miller is having a solid season in AAA. He has played in 86 games in AAA-ball this year and he is 114 of 336 (.339 avg, .886 OPS) with 69 runs scored, 8 homers and 56 RBIs. Miller could be a trade chip later this month or he could get called up by the Rockies if they move an outfielder in a trade before the deadline on July 31st. Either way it appears that Miller is working his way closer to the major leagues.