19-year old lefty starting pitcher Tyler Matzek was a first round pick of the Rockies in 2009. He was also considered the Rockies’ #1 prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. He is really off to a outstanding start in the minors for the Rockies. He has started 7 games in A-ball this season and he is 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. He has only given up 22 hits in 35 innings so far this season while whiffing 39 batters showing what kind of stuff he has. But he has walked 24 batters as his control will need to tighten up quite a bit before he eventually gets to Denver.

37-year old righty swinging outfielder Jay Payton is playing well in AAA for the Rockies this year. He has played in 47 games this year in which he is 51 of 162 (.315 avg, .819 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 2 homers, 26 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Payton last played in the majors in 2008 with the Orioles. He has now played in 1,239 games in his major league career and he is 1,145 of 4,119 (.278 avg, .747 OPS) with 558 runs scored, 119 homers, 521 RBIs and 46 stolen bases. The Rockies are deep in the outfield but if Payton keeps hitting well he will likely get a call at some point this year to return to the show.

The Rockies have lost 25-year old righty reliever/starter Shane Lindsay on waivers to the Yankees. Lindsay came into this season as the Rockies’ #23 rated prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. He pitched in 14 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this season and he was 0-1 with a 6.59 ERA and a 2.34 WHIP. He walked a stunning 17 batters in 13 2/3 innings but he did whiff 19 batters. Still the Rockies have decided that they have seen enough of Lindsay. Lindsay pitched in 100 games (41 starts) in his six years in the minors with the Rockies and he was 18-13 with 1 save, a 3.48 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP.

22-year old lefty starting pitcher Christian Friedrich is the Rockies’ #2 rated prospect coming into this season according to Baseball America. He has started 3 games in AA-ball this season and he is 0-1 with a 2.81 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. In his three years in the minors he has pitched in 36 games (all starts) in which he is 8-8 with a 2.94 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He has whiffed 240 batters while only walking 62 in 183 2/3 career innings in the minors showing that he has both outstanding command and stuff. The Rockies have rebuilt the minor league system with a lot of imposing arms (Friedrich being one of them) which could help them sustain a lot of prolonged success in the near future.

The Rockies have released 32-year old right starting pitcher Tim Redding. Redding started 5 games in AAA-ball for the Rockies this season and he was 1-1 with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. He was quickly snapped up by the Yankees on a minor league deal but the Rockies won’t miss Redding as they have a lot of younger pitchers in the system that they like much better than him.

25-year old lefty Matt Reynolds and 26-year old righty Andrew Johnston have both been outstanding so far this season in AAA for the Rockies. Reynolds was the Rockies’ #25 rated prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. He has pitched in 9 games out of the pen this season and he is 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 0.60 WHIP. Reynolds has only allowed 7 hits in 11 2/3 innings while whiffing 15 batters showing just how dominating he has been. He also has not walked a batter yet this season. Johnston has pitched in 11 games out of the pen in AAA this year and he is 2-1 with a 0.75 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Look for Reynolds and Johnston to make their way to Denver if they keep pitching well and the Rockies have a need in the pen.

The Rockies have designated 23-year old righty reliever Al Alburquerque for assignment. He pitched in 4 games (0 starts) in AA-ball this season and he was 0-2 with a 12.46 ERA and a 2.31 WHIP. In his two years in Colorado’s minor league system he pitched in 27 games (0 starts) in which he was 1-5 with a 4.99 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. The Rockies needed Alburquerque’s roster spot for 33-year old righty swinging catcher Paul Phillips who has been promoted to the show.

24-year old switch hitting 2B Eric Young Jr. was a hot topic in trade discussions last week but the Rockies were smart to keep him. Young was the Rockies’ #18 rated prospect when the season started according to Baseball America but he’s probably moving up that list fast. He has played in 97 games in AAA-ball so far this season and he is 113 for 383 (.295 avg, .797 OPS) with 92 runs scored, 6 homers, 36 RBIs and 51 stolen bases. If anything were to happen to either Troy Tulowitzki or Clint Barmes the Rockies would likely call up Young to start at 2B. Look for him to get a September call up from the Rockies.

The Rockies have called up 23-year old lefty swinging outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and have demoted Matt Murton to AAA. Gonzalez was a key part of the Matt Holliday trade with the Rockies over the winter. Gonzalez has played in 48 games in AAA-ball this season and he was 65 for 192 (.339 avg, 1.048 OPS) with 43 runs scored, 10 homers, 59 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Gonzalez has also played in 85 games in his major league career and he is 73 for 302 (.242 avg, .633 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 4 homers, 26 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Matt Murton was playing decent for the Rockies before his demotion. He played in 22 games for the Rockies this season and he was 12 for 45 (.267 avg, .771 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 1 homer, 6 RBIs and 2 stolen bases.

The Rockies are really loaded with outfielders and 22-year old switch hitter is one of the best ones in the minor leagues. Fowler was the #3 prospect in the Colorado Rockies’ minor league system according to Baseball America coming into this season and he has not disappointed. Fowler has played in 87 games in AA-Ball this season and he is 113 for 343 (.329 avg, .932 OPS) with 72 runs scored, 9 homers, 54 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. He will be on the fast track to the majors now with the Rockies with an estimated time of arrival in Denver of September, 2008.