Rox acquire Tyler Colvin, D.J. LeMahieu from Cubs for Stewart, Weathers
Colvin and LeMahieu to be added to Rockies 40-Man Roster
DENVER – The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has acquired outfielder Tyler Colvin and infielder D.J. LeMahieu from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for infielder Ian Stewart. Both Colvin and LeMahieu will be added to the Rockies 40-man roster.
Colvin, 26, has spent parts of the last three seasons in the Major Leagues with Chicago and is a career .215 (125-for-581) hitter with 26 doubles, 8 triples, 26 home runs and 78 RBI over 221 career games. Colvin spent the entire 2010 season on the Chicago’s Major League roster and batted .254 (91-for-358) with 18 doubles, 5 triples, 20 home runs, 56 RBI and an .816 OPS over 135 games. The 20 home runs Colvin in 2010 are the fourth-most by a rookie in Chicago history. Colvin has seen extended time at all three outfield positions, having played 65 games in left field, 32 games in center field and 103 games in right field. The former first round draft selection (13th overall) in the 2006 First Year Player Draft out of Clemson University was named the third-best prospect in the Cubs organization by Baseball America prior to both the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
LeMahieu, 23, was selected by Chicago in the second round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft and made his Major League debut for Chicago in 2011. The right-handed hitter batted .250 (15-for-60) with 2 doubles, 4 RBI and 3 runs scored in 37 games. LeMahieu has compiled a .317 (359-for-1132) average with 50 doubles, 11 triples, 7 home runs and 157 RBI in 284 career Minor League games since 2009. LeMahieu began his 2011 season in Double-A Tennessee where he batted .358 (67-for-187) with 15 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs and 27 RBI. He was then promoted to Triple-A Iowa where he batted .286 (65-for-227) with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs and 23 RBI in 58 games prior to being promoted to the Majors. The versatile defender has seen extended time at second base (126 games), third base (100 games) and shortstop (55 games) across his three Minor league seasons.
Stewart, 26, was originally drafted by the Rockies in the first round, 10th overall, in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. Stewart hit .156 (19-for-122) in 48 games for the Rockies last season and hit .275 (47-for-171) in 45 games for Triple-A Colorado Springs. The left-handed batter is a .236 career hitter with 61 doubles, 8 triples, 54 home runs and 187 RBI in parts of five seasons, all coming with Colorado.
Weathers, 26, was originally drafted by the Rockies in the first round, 8th overall, in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. Weathers spent the 2011 season at Double-A Tulsa, going 2-2 with a 5.32 ERA (45.2 ip, 27 er), 48 walks and 48 strikeouts in 44 games. Weathers has spent his entire five-year Minor League career in the Rockies organization and is 4-5 with a 4.20 ERA (135.0 ip, 63 er), 107 walks and 169 strikeouts in 132 career games.
The Rockies currently have 38 players on their 40-man roster.