Source: Rockies calling up outfielder Zac Veen
Hot-hitting Rockies outfield prospect Zac Veen is being called up from Triple-A Albuquerque and will join the Rockies on Tuesday, a major league source confirmed Sunday night.
admin
Hot-hitting Rockies outfield prospect Zac Veen is being called up from Triple-A Albuquerque and will join the Rockies on Tuesday, a major league source confirmed Sunday night.
Veen could make his big-league debut Tuesday night at Coors Field when the Rockies host the Brewers. The Rockies have an off day on Monday.
To make room on the 26-man roster, outfielder Jordan Beck will be optioned to Albuquerque.
The Rockies have not announced the moves.
Veen, 23, the Rockies’ first-round draft choice in 2020, had an excellent spring training, and there was speculation that he would break camp with the team. Instead, he opened the season with the Isotopes.
But Veen hit 5 for 5 with a home run, two doubles and four RBIs in Albuquerque’s 14-3 home victory over Salt Lake on Saturday night. In seven Triple-A games, he’s hit .387 (12 for 31) with a 1.149 OPS that includes one homer, four doubles, a triple, and one stolen base.
Beck, who’s been starting in left field, is off to a slow start, hitting 3 for 20 (.150).
Veen’s promotion signifies that the Rockies’ youth movement is in full swing. Right-hander Chase Dollander, the club’s No. 1 prospect, made his major league debut Sunday in Colorado’s 12-5 victory over the Athletics.
Veen appeared to be close to making the majors two years ago, but injuries limited him to 65 games (270 plate appearances) over the last two seasons. In Triple-A late last season, he had just 92 plate appearances.
That was one of the reasons why the Rockies resisted promoting Veen at the end of spring training.
“He will go to Triple-A to hone his skills,” manager Bud Black said near the end of camp. “Zac hit .220 in Triple-A, and there are still some things he needs to focus on.
“The strikeout rate was a little high here (29.6%) facing major league pitchers in Arizona. Zac realizes that (there’s) probably a little more time needed in the minors before he potentially gets an opportunity. Hopefully, he’ll force that by how he plays.”
Want more Rockies news? Sign up for the Rockies Insider to get all our MLB analysis.
