Rejuvenated Rodgers raking for Tourists

Having never played more than 37 games in a season, Brendan Rodgers was happy to get to the South Atlantic League All-Star break, even though he took part in the midseason classic.

"Oh yeah," he said, "Just to put the bat, put the balls down for a few days and regroup. Then get off to another fresh start."

The effects have been tangible for Colorado's top prospect. Rodgers homered and plated four runs Sunday as Class A Asheville downed Greenville, 5-2, at Fluor Field.

The 6-foot, 180-pound shortstop struck out in his first at-bat against Drive starter Dedgar Jimenez, then smacked a two-out RBI single to right field in third. Seeing the left-hander twice helped prepare him when he came to the plate with two on and two outs in the fifth.

"I was seeing the ball well out of the pitcher's hand," MLB.com's No. 10 overall prospect said. "The first two at-bats, he tried to come in on me with a fastball, so I knew he was going to come again."

As he expected, Jimenez did go with the fastball on the first pitch and Rodgers crushed it over the fence in left-center. The blast gave the third overall pick in the 2015 Draft his fourth game with four or more RBIs for the Tourists.

Though Rodgers has come on strong of late, he entered July coming off his roughest month of the year. In 23 June games, he slashed .247/.320/.371 with two homers and six RBIs. The Lake Mary High School product said fatigue was a factor in the decline.

"I mean, 140 games, it's a long season," Rodgers said. "Everybody's told me, all my buddies and my friends who have played multiple full seasons, they say it's just a grind. You've got to keep playing hard and doing what you can."

The midseason classic break gave him the opportunity to regroup. The Southern Division All-Star found that the laid-back environment didn't interfere with his rest.

"It was really fun," he said. "I met a lot of good guys and it was a good experience. A lot of good fans. Hopefully, I get to go to a few more of those All-Star games. Got to just keep playing hard."

Rodgers did just that once the second half began. He went 0-for-10 in the first three games out of the break, but found his stride over the next three while collecting six hits and five RBIs.

"I think it's good for me to have this little hot streak I guess you could say," the 19-year-old said. "Going back home in front of our fans, especially for the Fourth of July and stuff, it's going to be a packed house the next few days. I'm looking to play hard and help contribute to get some wins this homestand."

Colorado's No. 15 prospect Jesus Tinoco (2-1) gave up a run on six hits while walking three and fanning four over five innings for Asheville. Alexander Guillen yielded two hits and struck out one over the final two frames to earn his fourth save.

Jimenez (3-2) yielded five runs on five hits while walking two and striking out eight over six frames.

Luis Alejandro Basabe went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI for the Drive.