Scottsdale, Ariz. – “He plays like a wild horse with his hair on fire,” manager Warren Schaeffer said about super-utilityman Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP).
That’s fair, since Carrigg puts the “super” in “super-utilityman” — he’s played every position in a college or pro game over the last few years and is also a switch hitter. Given the Rockies’ emphasis on “optionality” and “adaptability,” the 23-year-old could be a model for the type of player the team is hoping to build. (Rocky Mountain Mookie Betts,
anyone?) Sure, there are other players who play multiple positions, but Carrigg is a true super-utilityman.
Whatever needs to be done, he can deliver.
“It’s pretty fun, honestly, to play short, center, and all that,” Carrigg said. “[I’m] just trying to get as much work as I can at every position – taking all the reps that I can, and taking them seriously so that way it comes a little bit easier in the game.”
Carrigg was drafted as a catcher in 2023 out of San Diego State University, but has seen spring action at shortstop and center field – his preferred positions.
“I think short is my favorite,” he said. “Obviously, I think it’s the hardest position on the field, but it’s closer to the action and closer to the game. You have to be on every pitch in the outfield, as well, to get good reads and everything, but you just have to be that much more focused in [the infield].”
Given that Gold Glove winner Ezequiel Tovar currently mans that position, the Rockies are set there for the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t mean Carrigg hasn’t sought out advice from the incumbent.
“Tovar has been really good,” Carrigg said, “just teaching me little stuff with mechanics and staying down and my throws and stuff. All the guys are great at helping out with that kind of stuff.”
And he’s also been seeking out help from the new coaches, who have been helpful with his transition from position to position.
“They’re really great about everything, about the whole ‘playing infield again’ [thing],” Carrigg said. “They’ve been super great about helping me out there.
“All the coaches have been really great and super on point,” he continued. “There’s reasoning behind everything that we’re doing, and they just seem super focused. And you can tell how bad they want it, and it flows into the clubhouse as well.”
The good vibes aren’t just inside the clubhouse, though. Carrigg has also noticed a big difference “just in the hallways.”
“It feels like a tighter-knit group. Nobody feels above anybody,” he said. “And all the older guys are great – Mick[ey Moniak] and [Kyle] Freeland and Nicky Lopez… all those guys are awesome.”
But above everything else, Carrigg is “looking forward to getting back into playing everyday.
“I get bored at home in the offseason, so I’m just ready to get going.”
And how does he feel about Schaeffer calling him “a wild horse with his hair on fire?”
“I would definitely agree with Schaeff on that one,” he chuckled. “I’m just a super competitive guy and I’m gonna give 100% every day on the field and not gonna leave anything out there.”
Kevin Henry made his way to Tampa this week, and caught up with former Rockie Ryan McMahon about all the changes he’s made since being traded to the Yankees last July. In a plot twist, are we ready to see Ryan McShortstop?
This metric indicates these 2 prospects could be ready for the Majors | MLB.com
First base is a question mark for the Rockies right now, but TJ Rumfield and Charlie Condon appear to have the edge for now. Thomas Harding identified one metric that shows they’re both potentially MLB-ready: “the ability to hit Major League velocity. The average four-seamer pops in at 95 mph.”
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