Monday Farm Report: Rodgers Rising Rapidly

Brendan Rodgers, the top-ranked prospect in the Rockies organization, struggled early this season but in the last three weeks he has reaffirmed his potential as an impact player with Double-A Hartford.

Rodgers drove in five runs with two home runs and a single in the Yard Goats 12-4 victory against Portland on Saturday, and has hit .377 in his last 18 games.He opened the season with only five hits in his first 35 at-bats. Rodgers has been a catalyst to a Hartford turnaround, as well.

The Yard Goats opened the season losing eight of their first 10 games. They are 15-4 since. Rodgers has appeared in 18 of those games.

Rodgers is third in the Eastern League with 22 RBI, one behind Peter Alonso of Binghamton, and eight shy of league-leading Valdimir Guerrero of New Hampshire. Rodgers' six home runs are tied for third. 

Sunday's Minor League Report

AAA Albuquerque (14-17) 14 El Paso 12. Michael Tauchman was 3-for-4 with a seventh-inning grand slam that lifted the Isotopes from a 12-10 deficit. Tauchman also had two doubles, and another RBI. Jeff Hoffman, meanwhile, continued to struggle. He gave up six runs on eight hits and three walks, striking out five, in four innings. He is 1-3 with a 6.04 ERA in the minor leagues this year, having allowed 34 base runners in 25 1/3 innings. 

AA Hartford (17-12) 12 Portland 4. The Yard Goats ran their home winning streak to 11 games. Jesus Tinoco claimed his fourth victory. In addition to the two home runs by Rodgers, Yonathan Daza and Ryan Metzler also homered.

High A Lancaster (16-15) 12, San Jose 5. Roberto Ramos was 4-for-5 with five RBI and his ninth home run, his fifth in six games. Rico Garcia (4-2) became the first Jethawks pitcher to work eight innings.

A Asheville (10-18) 8 at Rome 3. The Tourists rallied for a five-run seventh in which Casey Golden singled home one run and stole home to score another. Lucas Gilbreath (3-0) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk, striking out nine in six innings.