This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding's Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
DENVER -- History says the future is not far away for the Rockies’ No. 3 prospect, switch-hitting Roldy Brito (ranked No. 72 overall by MLB Pipeline).
With a .322 batting average, six home runs, 63 RBIs and 16 stolen bases for Fresno going into Saturday, Brito became one of just four Single-A players invited to the Futures Game on July 12 in Philadelphia during All-Star Weekend.
Brito joins Charlie Condon (the Rockies’ No. 2 prospect/No. 65 overall), who will head to his second Futures Game. Condon’s sizzling season at Triple-A Albuquerque has observers hoping his Major League future arrives any day now.
Recent history tells us, however, that Brito, 19, best be preparing for a future that could be here quickly.
Honored players from Latin America -- Brito hails from Bonao, Dominican Republic -- make the All-Star Weekend trip young, and they can receive the call quickly from there.
Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, from Venezuela, was still 20 when he was chosen in 2022, and was barely 21 when he debuted that September. Last year, lefty reliever Welinton Herrera of the Dominican Republic participated at 21 and was in the Majors this season at barely 22. (Herrera made three appearances before sustaining a left elbow injury that this week required internal brace surgery.)
As with all statements, it’s no guarantee that a Major League debut is coming quickly after a Futures appearance. Outfielder Yanquiel Fernández (now with the Yankees in Triple-A) appeared in 2023 at 20, but continued to develop until debuting last season at the ripe old age of 22.
Understanding all this, Brito trusts his mentors.
“My dad Ronny Brito [who had a shot with the Phillies organization a few years back] has been my biggest supporter, but also he has kept me level -- my teacher, in a way,” Brito said, with Edwin Perez interpreting. “He's the one who tells me the adjustments that I need to make when I'm going through a bad hitting streak or a bad streak overall in my game. He’s the one who adjusts and corrects me.
“My manager, Cesar Galvez, has been a huge help for me. I’m thankful every day that he has improved me as a player. All the hitting coaches here and all the coaches overall at Fresno has been such a huge help for me -- it’s been a huge experience for me at this level because every day we are looking at every aspect of the game.”
Brito, signed by international vice president Rolando Fernandez for $420,000 in 2024, said he has received mentorship from Albuquerque shortstop Adael Amador, who took a fast path. Amador, a switch-hitting infielder, was 20 when he jumped from Double-A to the Rockies in 2024. He struggled initially and sustained an injury, and last year had mixed results while bouncing between the Majors and Triple-A.
A couple of weeks ago, Amador returned to Fresno on an injury rehab assignment for a left hamstring strain, and Brito could learn from him up close.
“He's told me a lot of helpful things, and all in the journey about what to expect, kind of what to learn, what he went through to not go through some of this, some of the stuff, but understanding what has helped him get to the Major Leagues.”
COMPLETE ROCKIES PROSPECT COVERAGE
Brito has played slightly more center field than second base. He played more in the infield in the Dominican Summer League and last year in his first season stateside, when he earned Arizona Complex League Most Valuable Player honors before finishing the season at Fresno.
Brito’s performance highlights strength -- athletic ability, speed and a solid approach as a left-handed hitter -- with a .360/.416/.548 slash line against right-handed pitching entering Saturday. He was batting .205 with 20 strikeouts against lefties, but that was in just 78 at-bats. Current Rockies rookie Cole Carrigg also had less-than-desirable numbers early in his Minor League career from the right side, but received more opportunities and honed his approach this year in Triple-A.
Brito believes he has a good plan.
“It’s being selective on a pitch, you know, understanding that I have to look for the right pitch,” Brito said. “There’s sometimes I'll get damage on a pitch that's maybe not the best pitch out there that I could have had during that at-bat. I can do more as a baseball player when it’s the right pitch -- something down the middle.
“Don’t make swings outside of the zone. That’s my main focus.”
Brito’s plan is to keep learning and enjoy perks such as the Futures Game.
“It’s something that you dream of as a kid, as soon as you sign with the team,” Brito said. ”You want to play in important games like this. It’s a beautiful opportunity.”