Rodgers jacks two for JetHawks

On May 16, Brendan Rodgers went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts, earning himself the figurative "golden sombrero." The next day, the Rockies' top prospect took infield practice wearing an actual golden sombrero.
It turns out the hat, supplied by Class A Advanced Lancaster hitting coach Derrick May, may have brought a bit of extra luck for Rodgers.
Since donning the sombrero, Rodgers has hit safely in seven of eight games. On Friday, he smacked two homers to help power the JetHawks to an 8-1 triumph over Inland Empire at The Hangar.

"I was the first one on the team to have four strikeouts, so that was great," Rodgers said. "The next day, Derrick May whipped out a golden sombrero that he spray painted and bejeweled. So I was lucky enough to wear it first. It's all about having fun, so after a game like that, when you're frustrated, it's fun but also is a reminder that you don't want to put that thing back on."
Gameday box score
After striking out in the first inning and grounding out in the third, Rodgers made an adjustment for his third encounter with Inland Empire starter Luis Pena. The plan worked and the 20-year-old jumped on a first-pitch cutter for a solo homer to left-center in the fifth. 
"The first at-bat, I swung over a few cutters and missed on a good slider," MLB.com's No. 12 overall prospect said. "In the next at-bat, he threw me another good cutter and I thought I was right on it, but it got the end of the bat and went right back to him. So I had a feeling that he was going to challenge me with that cutter. He started it on my front hip, but it came back over the plate and it got barrel."
In the sixth, the 2015 first-round pick came up eliever Nathan Bates with Garrett Hampson on second after a stolen base. With the count 1-1, Hampson got a good jump toward third, but Rodgers made the point moot by launching one over the left-center field wall.
"He was throwing pretty firm and had a good curveball, too," Rodgers said. "He went first-pitch curveball and left it up, so I took it for ball one. The next pitch was a curveball and Garrett Hampson stole second. After Garrett stole second, I saw him take off for third and usually, if I see a guy get a good jump and I'm in a good count, I'll let him get the base, but he left a fastball over the plate and I hammered it to left-center."
After making an impact with his bat in the sixth, Rodgers flashed some leather in the seventh with a diving catch to take away a hit from Connor Justus.
"We bought Sam Thoele in and he worked hard to battle back to 3-2 against Justus," Rodgers said. "He smoked it to my left and I got a good first step and laid out. It was just instinct, it happened so quick. It was probably one of the better plays I've made all year, so that felt good.
"It's always good picking your pitcher up. They're busting their butt to keep hitters off-balance, so when they leave a pitch over the plate and you make a great play, it boosts their confidence and yours." 
In 29 games this season, Rodgers owns a .369/.388/.648 slash line with six homers and 28 RBIs. If he had enough at-bats to qualify, the 20-year-old would lead the California League in batting, slugging and OPS (1.035). 

Wes Rogers reached base three times and stole three bases without getting caught for the JetHawks. The 23-year-old center fielder leads the league with 26 thefts. Mylz Jones and Rockies No. 27 prospect Sam Hilliard also swiped a bag apiece for the JetHawks, who have 100 steals in 49 games.
"We have a stacked lineup of hitters, but we also have a lot of great base stealers on the team," Rodgers said. "Of the top 10 base stealers in our league, I'd say we have about five or six of them."