Colorado Rockies Pitching Pipeline Runs Through Asheville

The pitching pipeline for the Colorado Rockies runs through Asheville, North Carolina. In Asheville's historic and  picturesque ballpark, McCormick Field, the hometown Tourists have produced four of the starting pitchers on the Colorado roster this season. And all but one of these pitching prospects have been within the past five years.

Chacin

 Jhoulys Chacin played in Asheville in 2008. He tore up the South Atlantic League with a record of 10-1 and 1.86 Earned Run Average (ERA) in 16 starts. This season, the twenty-five year old is 3-3 with a 4.10 ERA this season with the Rockies. 

Scouting Report on Chacin: Doesn't have any plus-plus pitches, but has 4 above average pitches. His fastball is 90-91 mph and it is his worst pitch. His slider is 82 mph, and has been his best pitch thus far in the majors, and he throws it 18% of the time. His curve is also above average, 78 mph, and a change-up 83 mph. He doesn't throw many strikes, but surprisingly his walk rate is down so far this year. He has benefited this year from becoming more of a ground ball pitcher, and is generating 60%, up from 46 and 47% in 2009 and 2010.

Nicasio

 Juan Nicasio also had a great season during his time in Asheville. In 2009, Nicasio had a record of 9-3 with a 2.49 ERA. This season with the Rockies, the twenty-six year old is 4-1, 4.47 ERA. Nicasio's velocity has been steadily improving, moving from the 88-92 range earlier in his career, to 90-95 last year, to more consistent mid-90s readings this year including some reports of him touching 100. He mixes in a very good curveball, as well a decent slider and changeup, giving him a complete arsenal.

Cabrera

 Edwar Cabrera was 4-2 with a 3.14 ERA in 2011 with the Tourists. This season with the Rockies he is 0-2, with a 11.12 ERA in the two games he started before going on the disabled list (DL). 

Report on Cabrera: The lefthander has a killer changeup, low-90s fastball, and a decent-enough curve to be a solid fourth starter. Cabrera is 24 years old.

Francis

The fourth starter is the old man of the bunch and was a member of the Tourists briefly in 2002.  Jeff Francis, the ninth overall pick out of the University of British Columbia, was in Asheville for only 4 games in 2002 and had no decisions and a 1.80 ERA. This season with the Rockies, the thirty-two year old lefty is 2-3 with 6.00 ERA. He has been sidelined recently with a left groin injury but is expected to come off the DL and rejoin the Rockies staff any day.

Scoop on Francis: Throws his low-90s fastball with pristine command. His curveball can also be nasty and he throws it all with a quick and easy motion. Is capable of logging major innings. Injuries are a concern. Also needs work on the consistency of his secondary pitches. He's a bit too hittable and not nearly dominant enough to compensate. Crafty left-handed starter, when healthy.

Bettis

Two of the former Tourists are making their way to the Big Leagues, currently in Tulsa (Rockies AA affiliate). Chad Bettis was in Asheville in  2010 and posted a 2-0 record and a .096 ERA in his only three starts. Like Francis' quick stop through Asheville, if you blinked on Chad Bettis, you missed him.

The scouting report on Bettis - a solid Grade B prospect if healthy, as a mid-rotation starter or (more probably) a relief option and potential closer due to his issues with the changeup. Both fastball and slider are plus/plus pitches. This season at Tulsa he is 2-2 with a 4.0 ERA. He is 24 years old.

Matzek

Bettis' teammate at Tulsa came through Asheville a year later, in 2011. Twenty-two year old left hander Tyler Matzek had a 5-4 record and 4.36 ERA while in a Tourist uniform. This season with Tulsa, he is 1-4 with 4.99 ERA.

Scoop on Matzek - Stuff isn't the problem, but will his command ever be good enough for the stuff to matter? I have no idea. Grade A arm, but Grade C/D+ in the control and consistency departments.

Anderson

Another lefty, Tyler Anderson had a very good season in  Asheville last year (2012) with a record of 12-3, 2.47 ERA 81/28 Strike outs (K)/Walks (BB) in 120 innings.. This season he is in Modesto (Colorado's A+ affiliate) and is 0-1 with a 3.80 ERA in 8 starts.

Report on Anderson - Average fastball but excellent change up and control. Breaking ball is so-so and limits his strikeout potential. Projects as a number four starter. Anderson is twenty-three.

Butler

Like Francis and Bettis, Anderson's newest teammate in Modesto, twenty-two year old Eddie Butler's stay in Asheville was brief. Butler has been tearing up every league he has been in during his professional career. Last season at Grand Junction in the Pioneer League (Rookie), he was 7-1, 2.13 ERA, 55/13 K/BB.  This year in Asheville, he was 5-1 with a 1.66 ERA in nine starts. He was recently promoted to Modesto (A+) and in his only start he has no decisions and a 2.84 ERA.

Book on Butler - Sinker/slider combo with velocity plus movement. Poor change up may limit him to relief at higher levels, but if it comes around he could be a number three starter.

Aquino

There are more pitchers on the way. Any day now Asheville, may see Jayson Aquino, yet another lefty. Aquino has had a successful debut in Pioneer League (4 -0 with 1.87 ERA in 43 innings) after dominating Dominican Summer League ball.

Scouting report: Velocity is 88-92 with more heat possible, good change up and working on breaking stuff. Aquino just turned twenty.



So that is a total of nine pitchers that have come through Asheville on their way up in the Colorado organization. Eight of the nine are under twenty-six years old and five of the nine are left handed throwers.  I would say the pipeline through Asheville is working pretty darn well.