Strength Gains Help Rockies’ Andy Perez Hit With Authority
For a second straight year, shortstop Andy Perez began the season at Low-A Fresno. This time he has a much better chance to succeed.
“He was overwhelmed last year in Fresno,” Rockies assistant farm director Jesse Stender said. “We sent him there, which was an aggressive promotion . . . We challenged him.”
The Cuban-born Perez bypassed the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League after two years in the Dominican Summer League. He did well in minor league spring training last year and went to California League, where he hit .245/.280/.316 in 119 games with one home run and 21 stolen bases.
He hit safely in Fresno’s first 18 games this season before that streak ended. Perez’s 14.7% strikeout rate last year was hardly egregious, particularly given his free-swinging tendency.
His strikeout rate through 25 games this year was 17%, but he’s hitting the ball with much more authority due to added strength. Unlike last year, the lefthanded hitter can regularly barrel the ball.
“A lot of times (last year), it was a weak line drive to the opposite field,” Stender said. “This year, he’s pulling the ball more. He’s shooting (balls to) left-center with more authority. And it’s all related to strength.
“He’s just physically more imposing this year, and it’s playing out.”
The lanky Perez is 6-foot-3, 200 pounds and turns 20 on June 4. He was hitting .298/.336/.519 with four home runs and has far more trust in his ability to hit. He typically wouldn’t let the count reach two strikes last year.
“This year,” Stender said, “when he’s behind in the count, when he takes a first-pitch strike, it’s not panic mode.”
Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar is signed through 2030. For that reason and because Perez might outgrow shortstop, he has also played third base.
Stender said Perez’s hands, range, arm strength and accuracy “all project to be major league average and maybe plus at this point. Now some things are ahead of others. The arm stands out. The hands stand out.
“And the headiness—he has a feel to play.”
ROCKY ROADS
— The Rockies called up 23-year-old outfielder Jordan Beck after he began the season hitting .307/.405/.594 in 25 games at Triple-A Albuquerque with five home runs. Beck had a walk rate near 15%, a strikeout rate bordering on 20% and was 5-for-5 in stolen bases. He was a 2022 supplemental first-round pick out of Tennessee.
— The Rockies recalled Hunter Goodman from Albuquerque after he began the season hitting .298/.352/.690 in 20 games with seven home runs and 22 RBIs. The 24-year-old can play corner outfield, first base and catcher. He made his MLB debut last year, appearing in 23 games. Goodman took the roster spot of first baseman/right fielder Michael Toglia, who was hitting .106/.143/.362 in 15 games and was optioned to Albuquerque. Four of his five hits were home runs, but Toglia went 5-for-47 with a 41% strikeout rate after making the Rockies’ Opening Day roster for the first time.
— Lefthander Austin Kitchen was promoted to Albuquerque, where he ended the 2023 season with two appearances. In five games at Double-A Hartford to start this season, Kitchen went 2-0, 1.08. In 43 games at Hartford last year, he worked 59.2 innings with a 3.62 ERA and an average of 8.1 strikeouts and 2.3 walks per nine innings. The 27-year-old went undrafted out of Coastal Carolina and signed with the Rockies in 2021 after playing independent ball in 2020.
