Rodgers homers to lead Rockies in rout

It's been a long season for top Rockies Draft pick Brendan Rodgers, but any season, like any batting practice session, can be finished off right by ending on a good one.

In his latest strong showing, Rodgers belted his third professional home run and added a double as Rookie-level Grand Junction routed visiting Idaho Falls, 10-2, on Monday.

Since being taken third overall in June's First-Year Player Draft, Rodgers has seen regular action without being thrown into the everyday fire of the Minor League season. The shortstop joined Grand Junction for his first game on June 25 and has played 32 games total. After bursting onto the scene with a 4-for-6 night in his pro debut, it took Rodgers seven more games to surpass that hit total.

Monday night was Rodgers' fourth multi-hit showing in his last six games however, and the Rockies' top prospect has boosted his average from .235 to .258 and his OPS from .668 to .726 in that span.

"It's been a roller-coaster ride so far, but I'm having a blast," Rodgers told the Denver Post recently. "It has been a little more difficult than I thought it would be. But hopefully I can finish a little stronger over these last couple of weeks. My defense still is there."

Rodgers cranked his solo shot to left field with one out in the first inning and cashed in Myles Jones' one-out single to center with an RBI double to right in the fifth. In between, MLB.com's No. 9 prospect added his 14th walk in the fourth.

Over his last three games, Rodgers has powered three extra-base hits, after not having recorded one in his previous nine.

Every member of the Grand Junction lineup posted at least one hit in Monday's win. Pioneer League All-Star Jonathan Piron doubled twice and drove in a game-high three runs out of the sixth spot in the order.