DENVER -- As soon as his first hit bounced past first base and into the right-field corner at Coors Field on Tuesday night, Rockies No. 6 prospect Cole Carrigg had third base in his sights -- darn any possible consequence. The batting helmet would not stay on through his long strides, and his uniform front would be covered in dirt when he arrived.
The switch-hitting Carrigg completed the fifth-inning play with a stylish flip of the head to shake floppy hair out of his eyes, and a swaggy shrug. He also scored on teammate Kyle Karros’ fielder’s-choice grounder in the Rockies’ 7-3 victory over the Cubs.
Struggling Rockies teams of recent seasons have lacked a measure of derring-do; a scarcity of over-the-top athletic ability figured into the equation. An extremely young roster taking its lumps, no doubt, led to tentativeness.
Could Carrigg, 24, help usher in a color-outside-the-lines future?
Carrigg has the tools. Before the Rockies selected him out of San Diego State as the 65th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, he lit up the combine workouts with a 100 mph throw from shortstop, then threw 101 mph and 102 mph from the outfield. The speed is undeniable. On Tuesday’s triple off Cubs starter Colin Rea, he went from home to third in 11.26 seconds – the 12th-fastest such route in the Majors this season and fourth-fastest for the Rockies.