Notes From Star-Studded Rockies-A’s Instructional League

Back from vacation, I returned to the field Monday for an Instructional League game between the Athletics and Rockies. How is the Instructional League different from the Bridge League, which I’ve covered previously? Both are unofficial leagues with a scrimmage-style setting, but “Instructs” take place after the rest of the minor league schedule has concluded, and typically includes a handful of select players from the various affiliates that the parent club wants to see more of, and maybe the best couple of guys from each org’s DSL squad. So, Bridge League (which takes place after the Draft and Complex League seasons are over but before the rest of the minors are done) features rookie-level players, new draftees, and rehabbers, while Instructional League has more select talent from several different minor league levels, and often includes Arizona Fall Leaguers who are getting ramped up for their looming slate. There isn’t the same kind of internal team video or shared data for this window as there is for regular season affiliated ball, so this makes Instructs particularly useful to see in person.

And Monday that was apparent, as the scouts section on the Rockies side of Salt River Fields was packed for this game against the A’s. There weren’t competing games at other locations across the Phoenix metro on Monday, so most of the pro scouts in town were at this one. Plus, both the Athletics and Rockies were having organizational pow wows and had several folks in attendance. Scouting director Eric Kubota, longtime executives Grady Fuson (who brought his own lawn chair, a pro move), and Chris Pittaro, as well as player development director Ed Sprague Jr., were all there for the A’s. There were about 15 Rockies front office personnel at this game, including farm director Chris Forbes, scouting vice president Danny Montgomery (whose ear Ethan Holliday was bending throughout most of the game), both pro and amateur scouting directors Sterling Monfort and Marc Gustaffson, as well as a court-holding Clint Hurdle.

The lineups for this game were pretty good. High-profile teenage Latin American Athletics prospects Edgar Montero and Breyson Guedez (who both skipped a level and played full-season ball this year, to middling results) were in there, as well as first-round pick Drew Burress and Japanese two-way project Shotaro Morii. For Colorado, late-first-round catcher and 2026 Golden Spikes winner, Daniel Jackson, was the headliner, while volatile infield prospect Wilder Dalis (lots of whiffs in this game) and interesting 2026 late-round college draftees Lorenzo Carrier and Ryan Niedzwiedz were in the lineup. The Rockies were otherwise composed mostly of players who have been in Arizona for a while.

On this day, it was one of those guys, righty starter Gregory Sanchez, who looked the best. Sanchez, a 6-foot-4, 19-year-old, has dealt with shoulder trouble and barely pitched during the last two regular seasons, but when healthy, his fastball has touched 101 mph. On Monday, he was more in the 95-98 range, with the best feel for slider (usually 85-87 mph) and changeup (91 mph) location he’s had in the three outings of his I’ve seen this year. Here is his first inning against the big-named A’s hitters:

Sanchez has been added to the Rockies list at the bottom of the 40+ FV tier. He has special arm talent, prototypical size, projection, a chance for a plus slider, and what might be burgeoning strike-throwing ability. His lack of durability and distance from the big leagues impact the way he’s graded, but he’s a high-upside pitcher in the org who folks should know about.

The rest of the day offered glimpses at what several players could do, bits and pieces of skill sets but not enough to write an entire report. Drew Burress made a couple great throws (I’ve updated his throwing grade on The Board) and hit a pull-side double in his final at-bat (my camera battery had died by then). Boy, is he small. Edgar Montero made several impressive (if technically unsound) plays at shortstop and showed off what I consider to be a 70-grade arm (also updated), then hit a ball 111 mph in the middle of the game (great catch by Rockies center fielder Juan Collazo).

For the Rockies, Complex-level third baseman Eriel Dihigo had the most effective game, with multiple hits, a stolen base, and two nice plays on defense. He was a late addition to Colorado’s lineup, which initially featured Oklahoma State senior sign Adrian Meola at third. Dihigo, a 19-year-old who slashed .351/.475/.523 in 38 regular season games, is a very projectable athlete with sufficient feel for contact to weaponize his burgeoning pull power. He’s short to the ball, uses the whole field, and is a quality third base defender (who has also played some first base and left field). This is the sort of player who needs to be cross-checked before we place him on the Rockies list, and Brendan Gawlowski will be here in Arizona next week to see more of that group. For now, settle for Dihigo’s two hits from Monday.

Other Rockies highlights included University of Pittsburgh senior sign Lorenzo Carrier (who had the most athletic build and physicality on the entire field) hitting a single 111 mph…

And first rounder Daniel Jackson (who had a tough day on defense) clubbing this hanging curveball out to left field.

Tomorrow I’ll publish notes from Tuesday, which will include insight and video on two rehabbing Padres starters, Joe Musgrove and Lucas Giolito, plus my first in-person look at Royals outfield prospect Angeibel Gomez.