Colorado Rockies’ Tyler Colvin Making Case To Be Freed From Minor League Limbo


Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Ah, sweet reprieve and freedom from the minors.

It’s the what dreams are made of for those in professional baseball who have been to the bigs and back, and it’s the call that Tyler Colvin has been waiting for since he arrived in Triple-A Colorado Springs, exiled as the odd man out on the Colorado Rockies — the victim of a team with just too much talent in the outfield.

The thing is, he’s more than earned that call, too.

Though there’s not a whole lot of doubt that Colvin has the ability to hit in the big leagues — he did post a .290/.327/.531 triple-slash over 452 PA with the Rockies in 2012, hitting 18 homers and driving in 72 — the situation is now a little more complicated.

Michael Cuddyer, the only member of the Colorado outfield whose job Colvin might have realistic a shot at, is hitting far to well (1.013 OPS) for anything to happen to his playing time … and that’s not to mention the $21 million owe to him through the end of 2014.

Standing at Colvin’s other position at first base, of course, is all-time Rockie Todd Helton, a monolith of the franchise that is not simply pushed aside, despite his relatively paltry production (.727 OPS) and off-the-field issues. While the numbers would say that the current minor leaguer’s production will likely outshine that of the 39-year-old veteran’s, there’s a little more to it than simply just numbers for the Rockies.

And so, Colvin waits, toiling away dutifully in Triple-A. But each day he does, he’s making a stronger and stronger case for a return trip to the bigs.

Having just seen his 15-game hitting streak come to a close on the second day of May, the 27-year-old wasted no time in starting a new one, and is now on a modest two-game streak while putting up a .298/.340/.511 over 100 minor league at-bats with four runs, four doubles and a pair of triples.

His plate discipline isn’t particularly great, as his 0.21 BB/K will tell you, but there’s no doubt about his power (.511 slugging), and if there’s one thing that the Rockies know well, it’s how much a power bat can help the team.

In fact, Colorado has already made one heralded move to obtain said power by calling up uber-prospect Nolan Arenado to fill a hole at third, so there is precedent there for team’s willingness to make moves for increase production.

Will Colvin be next? The banging is getting louder by the day, and at some point, the Rockies are going to have little choice but to find a way to open the door.

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