The Colorado Rockies had strong representation at the Arizona Fall League (AFL) Rising Stars game, sending a trio of position players and a pitcher to the early-winter all star game: 3B Nolan Arenado, 1B Ben Paulsen, LF Tim Wheeler, and RHP Casey Weathers.
The Rockies infielders hit a combined 1 for 10 with a Tim Wheeler single being the only occasion any Colorado farmhand reached base. Wheeler, a left fielder who broke out this year in Double-A, hit 33 homers and an impressive .287/.365/.535 slash in 2011, but has yet to transfer that success into AFL numbers, hitting .239/.337/.386 and 2 HR through 88 ABs.
Nolan Arenado, ranked the Rockies' second best prospect by FranGraph's Marc Hulet, hit 20 homers and .298/.349/.487 in High-A this year. Arenado has thus far dominated the AFL, hitting .407/.421/.692 and 5 HRs in 91 AB.
Ben Paulsen struggled in Double-A in 2011, hitting .241/.296/.413 despite launching 19 homers. He has yet to homer in the 2011 AFL season, hitting just .232/.312/.290.
Former first round draft pick Casey Weathers only got one out during the Risings Stars game, hitting a batter and getting charged for an earned run. Weathers struggled in 2011, sporting an unimpressive 5.32 ERA and 5.56 FIP.
For more on this, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more in-depth coverage of the Colorado Rockies, be sure to visit Purple Row.