Yard Goats Broadcaster Jeff Dooley is in Scottsdale for a First Look at the 2025 Yard Goats - VOLUME 4

Dooley’s Diary (Volume 4)

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 have a road game on Sunday afternoon against the Chicago Cubs affiliate and the Rockies visit the Brewers. The Rockies front office is expected to finalize the Yard Goats roster soon and we should have it available for fans sometime this upcoming week. Chris Forbes, who is the Senior Director of Player Development for the Rockies, would like to have the rosters set so the group can be together for the final week of minor league spring training which starts tomorrow. The Yard Goats will play all night games next week.

STARTING PITCHER GABRIEL HUGHES IMPRESSIVE TO ROCKIES MEDIA
Thomas Harding who covers the Rockies for MLB.com has been impressed with right-handed starting pitcher Gabriel Hughes who is ticketed to start the season as a Yard Goat. “He is a guy I was intrigued with in spring training a couple of years ago when they put him in against the Dodgers and he confidently put down a really good lineup,” Harding said. “I like the way that he attacks, and I think the folks of Hartford will enjoy him. When he gets on the mound there is a competitive edge to him. You’re going to see a guy that I expect to see in the major leagues as long as that breaking stuff continues to come back.”

ROCKIES MAKE TRADE AND ACQUIRE INF/OF TYLER FREEMAN
Outfielder Nolan Jones, who took at bats in the minor league games for the Yard Goats and Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday, was traded to the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for INF/OF Tyler Freeman. Jones was in Colorado’s original lineup for yesterday’s game against the White Sox and was a late scratch. The trade was announced after the game. The Rockies lost second baseman Thairo Estrada, who will miss 4-8 weeks, after getting hit in the wrist by Texas Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker on Friday night.

YARD GOATS OUTFIELDER ZAC VEEN WIN ROCKIES SPRING TRAINING MVP AWARD
Outfielder Zac Veen was named the Abby Greer Award winner for the Rockies’ Spring Training most valuable player. "He’s had a good spring -- pretty consistent all spring,” Black told Thomas Harding of MLB.com. “He drove the ball, hit some doubles and a couple of home runs, took some walks and played pretty steady defense.” Veen, who played with the Yard Goats each of the past two seasons, is trying to win an outfield spot with the big-league club. Heading into Sunday’s game, Veen is batting .298 with 4 doubles, two homers and 11 RBI along with a team-high 9 stolen bases. He also ranks T-2nd on the club in hits.

SPRING TRAINING TRANSACTIONS INCLUDING YARD GOATS
March 22: RHP Zach Agnos reassigned to Minor League camp, RHP Chase Dollander reassigned to Minor League camp, RHP Jaden Hill optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. March 19th: Catcher Braxton Fulford reassigned to Minor League camp. March 12th: INF Adael Amador optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque, C Drew Romo optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. March 11th: OF Yanquiel Fernández optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque, RHP Tanner Gordon optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque, LHP Carson Palmquist reassigned to Minor League Camp. March 9th: RHP Gabriel Hughes reassigned to Minor League camp. March 7th: RHP Juan Mejia optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque, LHP Evan Justice optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque. March 5th: INF Ryan Ritter reassigned to Minor League camp, OF Benny Montgomery reassigned to Minor League camp, OF Sterlin Thompson reassigned to Minor League camp. March 3rd: RHP Justin Lawrence claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates. March 2nd: RHP Tommy Doyle reassigned to Minor League camp, LHP Sean Sullivan reassigned to Minor League camp, C Ronaiker Palma reassigned to Minor League camp INF: Julio Carreras reassigned to Minor League camp.

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 fourth potential Yard Goats player we will look at is starting pitcher Gabriel Hughes.

A closer look at Gabriel Hughes…
RHP
6-4, 220lb
23 YRS
B: Anchorage, AK
Draft: Drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 1st round (10th overall) in 2022
Gonzaga University (Spokane, WA).
High School: Rocky Mountain HS (Meridian, ID)
PROSPECT WATCH: Listed by MLB.com as Rockies #16 Prospect in 2025
*Started for Rockies and fired two scoreless innings in MLB Breakout game on March 16th at Camelback Ranch.
*Missed entire 2024 regular season with injury (Tommy John surgery) but made six starts in 2024 Arizona Fall League
*#16 Prospect (MLB.com)... Was Rockies #17 propsect (MLB..com) heading into 2024 season
2023
*Went 6-5 with a 6.21 ERA in 14 starts between Class-A Spokane and Hartford last in 2023
*Had season ending injury in July that sidelined him for rest of season
*One of the highest draft picks to play for the Yard Goats (10th overall) (T-7th highest)
*First player from 2022 draft class to reach Yard Goats and made Double-A level after just 9 MiLB games (3rd quickest, 2nd quickest starts) behind pitchers Karl Kauffmann and Seth Halvorsen
*Earned first Double-A victory, June 18th @ Reading (5.1 IP 3R 6K)
*ND in Double-A debut June 7 vs Somerset at Dunkin’ Park (Yard Goats won 5-4)
*Began season at High-A Spokane, going 4-3 with a 5.50 ERA in 8 starts for Indians... Promoted to Yard Goats on June 7
*Named Northwest League Pitcher of the week on April 16th
*Retired first 14 batters and fired five no-hit innings, retiring 15 of 16 faced (6 K’s) in 2023 season debut (April 11 @ Eugene)
*Recorded victory in one-hit six-shutout inning effort, May 9 @ Hillsboro
*Winning pitcher in final two starts at Spokane, May 24 vs Vancouver & May 31 @ Tri-City
*Registered 8 strikeouts (May 2 @ Eugene, May 9 vs Hillsboro, May 24 vs Vancouver, May 31 vs Tri-City)
In College at Gonzaga
Pitched 3 seasons at Gonzaga and in 2022 went 8-3 with a 3.21 ERA in 15 starts with 138 strikeouts... 2021: Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American and WCC All-Conference Freshman and Second Team… All-WCC Academic Honorable Mention… Two-time WCC Player of the Week… As a two-way player, made 10 starts on the mound with a 3.23 ERA, striking out 67 batters with 30 walks in a total of 61.1 innings of work… Started 31 games at first base (.247 3HR 12 RBI)