Kyle Freeland, the latest top draft pick of the Rockies, is off to a good start in the minor leagues.
The left-hander, a Thomas Jefferson High School and University of Evansville product, has pitched in two games for the Rockies’ rookie-level farm team in Grand Junction. One statistic that stands out is no walks allowed by Freeland in the five innings he has pitched.
Freeland, who is on a pitch limit, has four strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA. One of his goals early in his professional career is developing an effective changeup.
“I’m working on the changeup and having trust in it,” Freeland said. “It’s an important pitch for me now and will be down the road. My main focus is getting my feet wet and competing when I’m on the mound.”
As for the transition from college baseball to the minor leagues, Freeland has settled in pretty well. He recently had a 13-hour bus ride from Grand Junction to Missoula, Mont. He called it “a little grueling.”
Freeland, 21, plans to be ready whenever manager Anthony Sanders hands him the ball.
“I don’t know what the plan is for the rest of the season,” Freeland said. “I’m taking it start by start. I imagine the pitch count and the innings will increase.”
Tony Diaz, the Rockies’ development supervisor for the Grand Junction team, noted that Freeland is on the same schedule as all of its first-year pitchers.
“We’ll take it slowly with Kyle,” Diaz said. “We maybe will be up to 60 pitches (in a game) later in the season. I do like the way he competes. He doesn’t quit.”
At times, the performance of their first-round draft picks has been a sore subject for the Rockies, especially in the pitching department. The most disappointing stretch of draft picks for the Rockies was 2006-08, when they selected pitchers Greg Reynolds, Casey Weathers and Christian Friedrich. All three suffered injuries. Reynolds and Weathers no longer are in the picture with the Rockies. Friedrich has been moved to the bullpen in Triple-A Colorado Springs after briefly filling a hole in the Rockies’ rotation.
But there have been success stories. Jeff Francis (drafted in 2002) helped the Rockies reach the World Series in 2007. Tyler Matzek (2009) is in the Rockies’ rotation. Tyler Anderson (2011) and Jon Gray (2013) are with Double-A Tulsa. In his past two starts, Gray allowed no earned runs, three hits and four walks and had 12 strikeouts in 11 ⅔ innings. He is 9-4 overall. Among pitchers in the Rockies’ farm system, he has the lead in strikeouts (88).
The Rockies have fared well with many of their drafted position players. All-star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was drafted in 2005. Outfielder Kyle Parker (2010) is having a good year with Colorado Springs and also has played for the Rockies this season. Outfielder David Dahl (2012) is with Single-A Asheville and leads the Rockies’ farm system in hits (116) and runs scored (66).
“We know that Kyle Freeland is a strike thrower and has been impressive in his innings,” said Zach Wilson of the Rockies’ player development department. “David Dahl has been on a tear for a month. He can hit.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296, imoss@denverpost.com or twitter.com/irvmoss
Organization leaders
(Statistics through Thursday)
HITTING: Raimel Tapia, Asheville, .330; Michael Benjamin, Asheville, .325.
RUNS: David Dahl, Asheville, 66; Ryan McMahon, Asheville, 64.
HITS: Dahl, Asheville, 116; Tapia, Asheville, 111.
DOUBLES: Dahl, Asheville, 33; McMahon, Asheville, 32.
TRIPLES: Trevor Story, Modesto and Tulsa, 8; David Kandilas, Modesto and Tulsa, 7.
HOME RUNS: Ben Paulsen, Colorado Springs, 15; Correlle Prime, Asheville, 14.
RBIs: McMahon, Asheville, 75; Prime, Asheville, 63.
STOLEN BASES: Story, Modesto and Tulsa, 21; Tapia, Asheville, 21.
PITCHING VICTORIES: Antnio Senzatela, Asheville, 11; Johendi Jiminian, Asheville, 11.
LOSSES: Yohan Flande, Colorado Springs, 10; Richard Castillo, Tulsa, 9; Ben Alsup, Modesto, 9.
SAVES: Scott Oberg, Tulsa, 15; Dylan Stamey, Asheville, 10.
INNINGS: Alex Balog, Asheville, 114 ⅓ ; Matt Flemer, Modesto, 105 ⅔ .
WALKS: Alsup, Modesto, 43; Castillo, Tulsa, 32; Balog, Asheville, 32.
STRIKEOUTS: Jon Gray, Tulsa, 88; Balog, Asheville, 85.
ERA: (starters) Tyler Anderson, Tulsa, 2.59; Gray, Tulsa, 3.54; (relievers) Troy Neiman, Asheville, 1.78; Ken Roberts, Tulsa, 2.34.
