26-year old righty swinging outfielder Tony Blanco is ripping the cover off of the baseball for the Rockies this season. He has played in 64 games in A+AA ball this season and he is 87 for 247 (.352 avg, 1.096 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 19 homers, 56 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Blanco is a little old for the levels he’s playing at so his production shouldn’t be too shocking. If the Rockies trade a few outfielders in the next couple of weeks Blanco could get a shot at the big leagues.

26-year old lefty swinging 1B Joe Koshansky is on fire in AAA but he’s blocked by Todd Helton on the Rockies. He has played in 65 games this season in AAA ball and he is 75 for 242 (.310 avg, 1.011 OPS) with 43 runs scored, 15 homers and 66 RBIs. He was the #17 prospect in the Rockies’ Minor League System when the season began according to Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook. If the Rockies don’t make a run soon they could look to trade Helton which could open an opportunity for Koshansky at the major league level.

23-year old lefty swinging 3B Ian Stewart is off to a slow start in the minors. Stewart is the #2 prospect in the Colorado Rockies’ entire system accoring to Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook. Stewart has played in 30 games in AAA-Ball so far this season and he is 28 for 114 (.246 avg, .849 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 7 homers, 13 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Stewart is blocked at third base by Garrett Atkins so it would be smart of him to convert to 2B where the Rockies’ have a huge hole in the lineup right now.

If the Rockies can’t make a trade for a starting pitcher before Saturday they likely will recall 21-year old lefty Franklin Morales to start that game.  He has started 20 games this season between AA+AAA ball and he is 5-4 with a 3.51 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP.  In 112.2 innings this season he has allowed 97 hits, walked 58 batters and whiffed 93.  Morales has a blazing fastball but if he doesn’t improve his control he will likely have problems pitching half of his games as Coors Field.

The Rockies have signed veteran righty Elmer Dessens to a minor league contract.  They will send him to AAA and stretch him out as a starting pitcher with the idea of letting him start a handful of games in September for them.  He pitched in 12 games this season out of the bullpen for the Brewers and he was 1-1 with a 6.60 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP.  In 15 innings this season he has allowed 24 hits, walked 3 batters and whiffed 12.   Dessens has now pitched in 351 major league games and he has compiled a 47-60 record with 5 saves and a 4.44 ERA.

The Rockies have demoted Chris Iannetta to AAA and he richly has deserved it.  Iannetta has played in 51 games this season and he is 27 for 151 (.179 avg, .585 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 2 homers and 15 RBIs.  Bellorini has been swinging the bat well in AAA this season.  He has played in 59 games this season and he was 72 for 221 (.326 avg) with 38 runs scored, 9 homers and 45 RBIs.

The Rockies are pleased with 22 year old lefty swinging Ian Stewart’s play in AAA.  He has played in 108 games this season and he is 121 for 397 (.305 avg, .866 OPS) with 70 runs scored, 15 homers, 64 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.  The problem for the Rockies is that Stewart is blocked at third base by Garrett Atkins and first base by Todd Helton.  It will be interesting to see what the Rockies do with Stewart.  Will they trade someone to open a spot for him or will they trade Stewart for something they need to compete?  Only time will tell.

27 year old righty swinging Sean Barker has been crushing the baseball in AAA.  In 22 games this season, Barker is 30 for 73 (.411 avg, 1.188 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 4 homers and 15 RBIs!  Look for Barker to get a call to the Rockies if they need a corner outfielder as long as he keeps hitting.