Rockies’ Charlie Condon Sets Sights On Meeting Mile-High Expectations
The Rockies didn’t think College Player of the Year Charlie Condon would be available when they picked third overall in the draft.
But once the Reds chose Wake Forest righthander Chase Burns at No. 2 overall, Rockies senior director of scouting operations Marc Gustafson said there was “big-time elation” and “pure joy” in Colorado’s draft room.
“It’s a special bat,” Gustafson said. “It’s foul-pole-to-foul-pole power. He’s not just a spin-and-pull-type power guy. He can drive it off-gap. He can drive it over the batter’s eye, and he can certainly loft to the pull side.
“And his batting average is still up there, too. That’s what’s so impressive with this kid.”
Condon started his pro career at High-A Spokane after leading all Division I hitters with a .433 batting average, 1.009 slugging percentage, 37 home runs and 233 total bases this year at Georgia.
As he anticipates reaching the majors, Condon now has the enticing prospect of hitting at Coors Field.
“It’s definitely something I’m looking forward to,” Condon said. “I was extremely excited and happy to hear my name called and to be tied to the Rockies’ organization. It’s been an organization that does really well developing hitters.
“They know what they’re doing and how to teach power hitting. I’m really excited and really honored to be a part of the Rockies.”
The 6-foot-6, 216-pound Condon started at five different positions his final year at Georgia and will likely end up as a corner outfielder with the Rockies. He will play left and right field as well as third base.
Condon signed for $9.25 million, matching Burns for the largest signing bonus in draft history. His amateur pedigree, draft status and bonus record translate to extremely lofty expectations as he begins his pro career.
“I can promise you,” he said, “that what I expect out of myself is much higher than what anyone expects out of me.”
ROCKY ROADS
— Lefthander Carson Palmquist and righthanded relievers Jaden Hill and Seth Halvorsen were promoted from Double-A Hartford to Triple-A Albuquerque. At Hartford, Palmquist, 23, went 6-4, 3.20 in 17 starts with 33 walks and 111 strikeouts in 81.2 innings. Hill, 24, went 5-2, 3.52 with six saves in 34 games with 11 walks and 56 strikeouts in 38.1 innings. Halvorsen, 24, went 4-2, 4.84 with eight saves in 33 games with 19 walks and 41 strikeouts in 35.1 innings.
— Righthander Chase Dollander and lefthander Sean Sullivan were promoted from High-A Spokane to Double-A Hartford, and righthander Jack Mahoney was promoted from Low-A Fresno to Spokane. Dollander, 22, went 4-1, 2.83 in 14 starts with 28 walks and 111 strikeouts in 70 innings at Spokane, where Sullivan, 22, went 7-2, 2.16 in 14 starts with eight walks and 101 strikeouts in 83.1 innings. Mahoney, 23, went 5-6, 3.52 with 22 walks and 91 strikeouts in 94.2 innings at Fresno. The Rockies drafted Dollander, Sullivan and Mahoney in the first, second and third rounds last year.
— Outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez, 21, was promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque from Hartford where he hit .283/.339/.439 in 88 games with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs. Outfielder Robert Calaz, 18, was promoted to Low-A Fresno from the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, where he won the triple crown. Calaz hit .349/.462/.651 in 49 games with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs. He led the ACL in on-base percentage (.462), slugging (.651), OPS (1.113) and total bases (112), in addition to batting average, home runs and RBIs.
— Lefthanders Sam Weatherly, 25, and Bryson Hammer, 22, were promoted from Low-A Fresno to High-A Spokane. Weatherly went 3-1, 2.85 with eight saves in 30 games with 19 walks and 51 strikeouts in 41 innings. Hammer went 5-3, 1.25 with five saves in 33 games with 24 walks and 52 strikeouts in 50.1 innings.
— Righthander Brayan Castillo, 23, and outfielder Juan Guerrero, 22, were promoted from High-A Spokane to Double-A Hartford. Castillo went 2-3, 3.66 with five saves in 28 games and 18 walks and 39 strikeouts in 32 innings. Guerrero hit .302/.341/.399 with four home runs and 49 RBIs in 92 games.
