Yard Goats Broadcaster Jeff Dooley is in Scottsdale for a First Look at the 2025 Yard Goats - VOLUME 2

Dooley’s Diary (Volume 2)
Spring Training 2025

Scottsdale, AZ- Greetings from Salt River Fields, the official Spring Training home of the Colorado Rockies and Hartford Yard Goats. The Yard Goats started their spring training game schedule on March 11th and it will conclude on March 28th. I spent some time today with Yard Goats manager Bobby Meacham and he said that camp is going well and he is excited about the upcoming season. “It looks like we are going to have a really competitive team,” Meacham said. “I like the way they work and I like some of the leadership qualities that I have seen.”

YARD GOATS GET HELP FROM BIG LEAGUES
Thursday’s Yard Goats game featured Rockies star Kris Bryant and Outfielder Nolan Jones. Both were getting extra at-bats and going back and forth between the Yard Goats and Triple-A Albuquerque games on the back fields. It was really fun for the fans to see the two big leagues up close.

CONNOR STAIN IMPRESSED ON THE MOUND FOR GOATS
RHP Connor Staine was very impressive in Thursday’s start for the Yard Goats against the Angels affiliate. Staine was one pitch away from an immaculate first inning before missing his spot on a high fastball. However, the hard throwing righty still struck out the side. He is a strong possible candidate to be in Hartford this season. Staine made 19 starts for High-A Spokane last season and was a two-time pitcher of the week in the Northwest League. The former UCF star won 10 games in Fresno in 2023.

YARD GOATS SELECTED IN SPRING BREAKOUT GAME
The Yard Goats were well represented in the recent annual Spring Breakout but together by MLB. The event spanned four days and 15 games and showcased the future of baseball with exciting prospects facing off in Grapefruit and Cactus League ballparks. In total, 68 of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects participated in the event. The Rockies prospects beat the White Sox prospects 3-1. RHP Gabriel Hughes started and pitched two scoreless innings with two strikeouts, and Adael Amador smashed a two-run home run. Other Yard Goats to play included: RHP Zach Agnos, RHP Jaden Hill, C Drew Romo, INF Adael Amador, INF Warming Bernabel, INF Ryan Ritter, OF Benny Montgomery, OF Sterlin Thompson.

POTENTIAL YARD GOATS PLAYER FOR OPENING DAY ROSTER:
The spring I thought it would be cool to profile a potential Yard Goats player that fans may have the opportunity to see play in Hartford this season. The second potential Yard Goats player we will look at is third baseman Cole Carrigg. Carrigg started in left field for the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night against the Texas Rangers.

Cole Carrigg
Pronounced: CARE-igg
22 YRS
Rockies 2nd round pick in 2023 (San Diego State University)
Awards: ‘24: BA High-A All-Star, NWL All-Star, 3X NWL POW
Prospect: Rockies #3 (MLB.com)

* Invited to MLB Spring Training as non-roster player
*3rd MiLB season... Spent last season at Spokane and batted .280 with 16 doubles, 11 triples, 16 HR, 60 RBI & 51 SB in 11 games
*Led all High-A hitters in triples, led Northwest League in homers, 2nd in runs (80), SB, SLG (.475), OPS (.833), 3rd in TB (209), 4th in batting & OBP (.358), T-4th XBH (43), 5th hits (123), 6th RBI, and ranked T-9th in walks (50)
*In 2024: Named Baseball America High Class A All-Star, NWL Post Season All-Star, 3X NWL Player of Week (6/2, 7/7, 9/8)
*Reached base safely in 23 consecutive games, April 24-May 28th
*Cranked two homers, July 6 vs Tri-City.. Had five 4-hit games... Stole three bases in game 4X