Topes Notes: Rockies go heavy on college players early in MLB Draft, could they be Isotopes soon?

The Colorado Rockies over the weekend stocked the cupboard in the MLB Draft. How well they stocked it is a game of wait and see.

Considering they locked up three highly touted college players in the first 40 picks of the first day of the draft, might the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes be seeing some of the new Rockies sooner rather than later?

Maybe. While a bit optimistic, it isn’t out of the question for the Rockies’ first three draft picks over the weekend to be making Albuquerque debuts as soon as next season.

Tyler Bell

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School: Kentucky

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Position: SS

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Pick: 10th overall (1st round)

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MLBPipeline draft rank: 10

How’s this for a connection? Bell went to high school at Lincoln-Way East in Frankfort, Illinois; played travel ball for the Cangelosi Sparks in Illinois; and was drafted out of Kentucky as a star SEC shortstop. Current Isotopes SS Ryan Ritter was a fourth-round draft pick in 2022 who went to the same high school, played for the same travel club and was drafted out of Kentucky.

Slowing Bell’s path for now is that he played this past season with a tear in his non-throwing shoulder that will require surgery.

“We’re going to let our medical people take a look at it and make a decision on that,” Rockies Assistant General Manager Tommy Tanous said of Bell’s timeline with the injury. “It’s probably too early for us to comment on that.”

The Rockies’ shortstop position is getting crowded, but Bell could still be a fast riser once healthy and could be in Albuquerque in 2027.

Daniel Jackson

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School: Georgia

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Position: C

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Pick: 37th overall (1st round)

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MLBPipeline draft rank: 28

He’s the 2026 Golden Spikes Award winner out of Georgia. Sound familiar? Current Isotopes slugger and the Rockies No. 2 overall prospect Charlie Condon was the 2024 Golden Spikes Award winner out of Georgia and is on a fast track of his own to the Majors.

Jackson just became the first Division I catcher to hit 25 home runs and steal 25 bases in a season.

Rockies President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta said of Jackson and third round pick Jack Natili, a catcher out of the University of Cincinnati, that both will have long big-league careers.

Logan Reddemann

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School: UCLA

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Position: RHP

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Pick: 38th overall (2nd round)

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MLBPipeline draft rank: 31

Reddemann might be the one most ready to get to Albuquerque, at least, based on having as wide variety of high-command pitches as you’ll see at the college level — not just two good pitches like many players have when they go pro.

“This is one of the bigger arsenals that you’ll see. It’s almost a professional arsenal,” Tanous said.

Trivia time!

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QUESTION: The Golden Spikes Award has been awarded to the top amateur baseball player since 1978 — dubbed by some the “Heisman Trophy” of baseball. This year’s winner Daniel Jackson may find his way soon to Albuquerque after being drafted by the club over the weekend. Current Isotopes slugger Charlie Condon is a past winner of the prestigious honor.

Counting Condon, how many Golden Spikes Award winners have played professional baseball for the Albuquerque Isotopes and/or the Albuquerque Dukes?

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ANSWER: See below…

Know the foe

But first, we rest. Yes, the Isotopes return to action this week, just not until Friday at home after the All-Star break for an abbreviated three-game Pacific Coast League series vs. Sacramento at Rio Grande Credit Union Field.

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Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, 46-47 overall (5th), 7-11 2nd half (t-6th)

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Sacramento River Cats, Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, 49-41 overall (3rd), 7-11 2nd half (t-6th)

Three up, three down

Some things that have been looking good lately for the ‘Topes, some not so good.

Looking good:

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IF Adael Amador had 10 total bases in last week’s series at Sugar Land, including his first home run (Saturday) since May 29 vs. El Paso — a 69-at-bat stretch.

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IF Nic Kent hit his 11th home run of the season on Saturday, matching a career high for a season (2023 at High-A Spokane).

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The Isotopes still lead the PCL in stolen bases with 139. Second place Round Rock is at 123.

Look away:

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The Isotopes lost Friday at Sugar Land 10-0, the worst shutout loss since a 14-0 loss at Oklahoma City on Aug. 27, 2023.

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With Sunday’s loss in Sugar Land, the Isotopes lost the series 1-5 and dropped to 46-47, below .500 for the first time since April 29 (14-15).

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Since IF Chad Stevens had his Isotopes-record 51-game on-base streak (and a streak of 61 straight games on base overall dating back to 10 games with Salt Lake last season) come to an end on July 4, he’s hitting .143 (3-for-21).

Fast food

Another two weeks away for the Topes and now some time off for the All Star break means these chile racers have been sitting out for a long time. Will they be fresh come Friday when they return to action, or stale?

2026 Season Standings (41 races):

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14 wins — Salsa Jar

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11 wins — Red Chile

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9 wins — Green Chile

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7 wins — Taco

Homestand highlights

Here’s a brief look at what the Isotopes are doing when they do get back into action for their abbreviated three-game home series Friday through Sunday (6:35 p.m. first pitch, unless noted):

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Friday: Color your own hat giveaway to the first 2,000 fans through the gates.

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Saturday: Mariachis de Nuevo Mexico Night! Postgame fireworks, in game dancing and music.

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Sunday (6 p.m. first pitch): Looney tunes jersey giveaway for the first 2,000 fans. (NOTE: first pitch is at 6 p.m., not the usual 6:35 p.m., and gates open 90 minutes early at 4:30 p.m. for this game).

Trivia answer

There have been four past Golden Spikes Award winners who have suited up for an Albuquerque professional baseball team:

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Charlie Condon, 1B, University of Georgia 2024: 1st round draft pick of the Rockies in 2024, has played 79 games this season for the Isotopes.

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Kris Bryant, 3B, University of San Diego 2013: The former Cubs star signed with the Rockies in 2022 and is technically on the team’s 40-man roster, but a back injury may prevent him from playing again. Over the past four seasons, he played in 15 games for the Isotopes (six in 2022, one in 2023, eight in 2024).

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Darren Dreifort, RHP, Wichita State 1993: The former L.A. Dodgers pitcher played 21 games for the Dukes in parts of 1995, 96 and 97.

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Tim Wallach, 1B, Cal State Fullerton 1979: Wallach could make this list twice, despite being drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1979. He played one game for the Dukes in 1995 and was the Isotopes manager in 2009 and 2010, winning the PCL Manager of the Year once and tying the franchis record for wins in 2009 with 80.

Reach Geoff Grammer at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.