Here’s five players to watch in Isotopes-51s series
The Albuquerque Isotopes come to Cashman Field on Saturday to begin a four-game series with the Las Vegas 51s. Here are five players to watch:
Jeff Hoffman
Hoffman, Colorado’s No. 4 prospect per Baseball America, has adjusted to Triple A well, going 2-0 with a 1.62 ERA in his first three games this season.
Hoffman has struck out 14 in 16 2/3 innings pitched.
That’s good news for the team that boasts the worst ERA in Major League Baseball at 5.52.
Hoffman, who takes the mound Sunday, was drafted ninth overall in the 2014 draft by Toronto but traded to the Rockies as part of the deal for shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in July.
Mike Tauchman
Tauchman might not be a top Rockies prospect, but he’s adjusted well to Triple A.
The outfielder leads the Isotopes, hitting .349/.400/.413 through 16 games.
Tauchman is hitting .469 in the past eight games with hits in all but one and two or more hits in all but two of those games.
Ty Kelly
The 51s’ offense has been struggling to score runs, with one run each in three of the four games at Sacramento.
But Kelly had a solid road trip, going 6-for-14 (.429) in the six games he played in, and has provided the 51s with flexibility, playing three positions — left field, third base and first base — in four games against Sacramento.
Gabriel Ynoa
Ynoa has been the 51s’ most consistent starter.
He’s given up three runs in 17 2/3 innings and put the 51s in a position to win all three starts.
Ynoa is 0-0 on the season, though he’s left with leads in his past two starts only to see them blown late.
He’s slated to start Sunday.
Travis Taijeron
The 51s right fielder has just one home run this season — a shot on opening night.
He hit 25 a year ago with the 51s, 15 two years ago at Double-A Binghamton and 23 at two levels the season before.
Returning to Cashman Field, a known hitters’ park, could help end the slugger’s power drought.
Betsy Helfand can be reached at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @BetsyHelfand
