PHOENIX -- This callup to the Majors for Chad Stevens, who joined the Rockies on Thursday night, was more private than the first. But because of his biggest fan, it had a new level of sweetness.
Last year when the Angels called up Stevens from Triple-A Salt Lake, he was given the news on the field by the teammate who was replacing him. Stevens shared all the hugs with his coaches and teammates in front of fans who came for a game and were treated to a dream come true.
This spring, Stevens joined the Rockies on a Minor League contract and appeared in 22 Spring Training games -- one behind the 23 played by three other players. And because his grandmother, Pat Stevens, lives in the Phoenix area, she was a constant presence at the games.
Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer became a fan of Pat Stevens. So while informing Chad Stevens that he would start at second base against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field, Schaeffer had one question:
“He texted me: ‘Is your grandma coming?’” Stevens said.
Before his trip to let his grandmother see him in a Major League uniform, Stevens, 27, built active Minor League on-base streaks of 49 games dating back to last year (when he finished at Salt Lake) and an Albuquerque-record 39 games this season. His active 17-game hit streak is the second-longest in the Minors.
Stevens went 2-for-13 in five games with the Angels last season. To enhance his chances to stick with the Rockies, Stevens delved into all manner of information during Spring Training and with Albuquerque hitting coach Matt Snyder.
“I really worked on my hands with him, and on controlling my pelvic hip slides -- it’s helped me hit fastballs better and have more length through the zone,” Stevens said. “I wanted to dig into [advanced information]. I felt some things, and they were able to match that with biomechanics and sequencing.
“It’s objective feedback. There’s so much feel to hitting, which is great, but if you want to make a change, I feel like I want some data.”
Stevens, whose contract was selected so he could replace injured center fielder Brenton Doyle (left oblique contusion) on the active roster, had plenty of company. The Rockies recalled righty pitcher Blas Castaño, who pitched on Sunday against the Diamondbacks before being optioned Monday.
And Albuquerque manager Pedro Lopez, who informed Stevens of his promotion before Albuquerque’s game on Wednesday, was called up to coach third base for Colorado because Andy González is with family attending his daughter’s high school graduation.