How close is top prospect to joining Rockies?

DENVER -- With each dispatch from Triple-A Albuquerque comes the question from fans: When is Rockies No. 1 MLB Pipeline prospect Brendan Rodgers going to get here, already?

The simple answer is, when there is a place for him, which there isn’t. Ryan McMahon, who went through the ups and downs of the introduction to the Major Leagues last year and is still considered a growing player, is the main second baseman, and Rodgers needs more playing time than he’d receive as a reserve.

But still, there is a buzz worth exploring. So let’s take the opportunity to explore how Rodgers (rated as baseball's No. 9 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline) is doing through the eyes of folks who know, and even those who will matter in the decision of if and when to summon Rodgers to Denver.

Word from the scouts

They don’t live with him or work hands-on with him, but clearly, they watch. Here is a breakdown of general observations through discussions with multiple scouts. These are from background conversations.

• Those who watched a slow early going (.245, 11 strikeouts in the first 62 plate appearances) noted no reduction in one of his best attributes: his bat speed.

• Boy, did that selection improve in the 17 games before Friday. It’s not just his .412/.467/.765 slashline with five home runs, 13 total extra-base hits and only nine strikeouts against seven walks in 75 plate appearances. It's that, even against good Triple-A players, Rodgers looks head and shoulders above the rest, not only in games but even in batting practice.

• The same arc has been seen defensively. A shortstop out of high school, many thought Rodgers looked better at third base, but the footwork and arm angle were unfamiliar to him at second. More recently, however, opinions were he had improved to the point that you could throw him among Major League second basemen and he’d fit right in -- maybe not at the head of the class, but not in the basement, either. He has acquitted himself well on tough plays to the backhand side and the double play turn, once questions.

Now, here are thoughts of those directly involved:

Zach Wilson, Rockies senior player development director, who sees Rodgers and gets reports when not watching Albuquerque

• In 2018, Rodgers had high strikeouts at high levels -- 13 in 49 Spring Training at-bats, 16 in 69 Triple-A at-bats at the end of the season. Wilson (who says Rodgers is healthy, even though he didn’t play Wednesday or Thursday) notes that Rodgers’ improvement is based on dedicated work, following an offseason plan the organization prescribed.

“It’s been a process -- it doesn’t happen overnight -- and a big part of that process is pitch recognition, and he’s improved majorly in that area,” Wilson said. “He was ultra-focused on that, and the results are showing up.

“What I see through my scouting eye is him, time and time, laying off tough pitches -- good breaking balls that are strike-to-ball -- or taking those the opposite way. It’s allowing him to get into better counts and stay in the middle of the field. We saw that in Spring Training, and thought eventually the hits would pile up. They have over the last three weeks.”

• Being a natural shortstop, Rodgers took to third base easily. Second base has taken more practice. But Wilson confirmed what some of the Major League players have said -- in Major League camp this spring, Rodgers picked up on the need to practice at game speed so he’ll be used to it when the game requires him to perform the new nuances at second with intensity.

“Brendan Rodgers is still only 22 years old,” Wilson said. “But he has grown in those areas as far as what it takes not only to get better every day during all the early work, play the game and at the end of every day, just get a little bit better.”

Wilson noted that rather than just moving as he does on the left side, “at second base, everything is across your body, and here’s some fine-tuning with that.”

Manager Bud Black, who spends most of his time with daily Major League preparation but is looking to see if Rodgers is executing the assignments given to him when he was sent out of Major League camp.

• Rodgers hit just .222 in big-league camp, but Black saw the limited strikeouts -- three in 36 at-bats -- as a positive that made the outs worthwhile. The Triple-A reports show bat speed, of course, but also a continuation of the spring.

“He can hit a fastball -- he’s always been able to hit the fastball, but what’s encouraging is the walk rate is in a good spot and the strikeout rate is down compared to last year,” Black said.

• Defensively, Black said “shortstop is his most comfortable position and there’s still a learning curve he’s going through, but each game he plays he’s getting more comfortable. And his feet are fine -- he’s a middle infielder.”

Rockies injury updates
Two Rockies lefty relievers on injury rehab assignments at Triple-A Albuquerque -- Chris Rusin (mid-back strain) and Jake McGee (left knee sprain) are set for appearances Sunday and Tuesday. Rusin will go for one inning, then two; McGee for one, then one-plus. They will join the Rockies in Philadelphia next week to be reassessed. … Lefty reliever Harrison Musgrave is resting his left flexor tendon strain, but said there was “nothing terrible” on the MRI. He’ll likely report to extended spring training when the team leaves on its road trip next week. No throwing has been scheduled.