Winter has given way to spring and April is here once again. Along with it, is the return of Isotopes Baseball. The Isotopes are entering their fourth season as the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies and return a number of familiar faces from last year’s squad.
Once again the Isotopes will be led by manager Glenallen Hill, who has been the Rockies Triple-A manager since the 2013 season. The Rockies made their return to the playoffs last season for the first time since 2009, in part because of a farm system that was ranked as highly as fourth in baseball by MLB.com prior to the 2016 season.
While the system is not as highly ranked this year, many of the faces on the list will be spending time with the ‘Topes this season. Among that group are the No. 10 and 11 prospects in the system, starting pitcher Yency Almonte and catcher Tom Murphy. Both spent time with the team last season, Almonte recorded a 3-1 record and a 4.89 ERA in eight appearances (seven starts) with the Isotopes last season after being called up from Double-A Hartford. Murphy split his time between Albuquerque and Denver last season, slashing .255/.312/.426 with four home runs and 19 runs batted in in 38 games for the Isotopes.
The team also returns pitcher Sam Howard and first baseman Jordan Patterson from last year’s team. Howard and Patterson fall at No. 17 and No. 21 on the Rockies top prospect list, respectively and will look to build on the solid seasons that they produced for the team last year.
In the outfield, David Dahl and Raimel Tapia will patrol with the Isotopes lone Triple-A All-Star game representative, Noel Cuevas. Both Dahl and Tapia have seen extended time in Denver and featured in the top five of past prospect lists for the team. Dahl lost his 2017 season to injury, but hit .315/.359/.500 with seven home runs and 24 RBI in 63 games for the Rockies after debuting in July 2016.
Austin House, a graduate of the University of New Mexico and La Cueva High School, who was named as last year’s fan favorite by his teammates also returns to his hometown team. A relief pitcher, House appeared in 49 games for Albuquerque last season, going 8-2 with a 1.85 ERA, recording 53 strikeouts and 23 walks on the season.
After a few weeks following the end of spring training on March 27, Hill said he is ready to get the season underway.
“We are ready to get going and play some baseball,” Hill told reporters during media day. “I think this year overall in baseball is going to be an exciting year...I don’t like to wait and play.”
The Isotopes season begins on Thursday, April 5 in Salt Lake City against the Salt Lake Bees. They will play their home opener on Tuesday, April 10 at 6:35 p.m. against the Las Vegas 51s.
Cameron Goeldner is a sports beat reporter and photographer for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers men’s soccer and softball, but also contributes content for baseball, basketball, football and track and field. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @goeldfinger.
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