Rockies' No. 8 prospect is embracing defensive flexibility

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies switch-hitting No. 8 prospect Cole Carrigg’s key attributes are speed and athletic ability -- both of which are reasons he isn’t often used at his favorite position, catcher.

But don’t suggest to Carrigg that his blessing is anything but.

“It’s definitely a blessing -- I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” said Carrigg, 21, who will be part of the Rockies’ roster for their Spring Breakout game against the D-backs on Saturday. “It helps me play other positions, which helps the team and helps myself.”

In college at San Diego State, Carrigg played primarily center field, where he turned heads not only with his feet but with his throwing arm, and he saw considerable time at shortstop. But he rarely was used at catcher.

During the MLB Draft Combine at Chase Field last summer, he fired consecutive 100-plus mph throws from the outfield and reached triple digits on a throw from shortstop. But he was just as happy that the Rockies entertained his vision of being behind the plate, and announced him as a catcher when they selected him 65th overall.

While the catching gear has a hold on Carrigg’s heart, it can’t grip his bat or his feet. In the 36-game start to his pro career -- 13 games in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, the rest at Single-A Fresno -- Carrigg batted .350 with five home runs, 10 doubles and five triples, and he went 13-for-16 on stolen-base attempts.

Carrigg split his time between center field (15 games), shortstop (10) and catcher (seven). He still got some of his wish, but more often he was making plays in the middle of the infield and outfield -- and out of the way of the mental grind, the occasional foul tip and the kneeling and squatting that happens behind the plate.

And Carrigg, who is listed as an outfielder on the Minor League camp roster, is embracing the changes in scenery.

“I do something different every day, not to necessarily take it easy but to save the legs, save the arm,” Carrigg said. “I’ll do outfield one day, short the other and get in some ‘pens [catching].”

There are many routes to the Majors, and the Rockies want Carrigg fresh enough to use all his tools as he climbs the Minors ladder.

“We’ve had a long conversation with Cole,” Rockies player development director Chris Forbes said. “The athleticism is off the chart. The aggressiveness, the mindset -- he’s a very aggressive, hair-on-fire type guy.

“In the professional game, with the catching skill set part, it’s hard to see a guy like that having to go check other boxes, the intangible boxes. The way he plays center field, the way we’ve seen him play shortstop, he’s much more of an intriguing guy in the middle of the diamond -- out on the dirt or out in the outfield.”

Carrigg batted .333 with seven home runs over three seasons (133 games) at San Diego State, and he hit .299 with two homers in 73 games over two seasons of summer wood-bat ball. Forbes said his hit tool proved “a lot more than anticipated” in his small snippet of pro ball, and during his participation in instructional league action after the season.

“He’s got some power,” Forbes said. “He’s got an intriguing approach, both sides. Obviously he is a very aggressive hitter. Sometimes there isn’t a pitch he doesn’t like, but I think he has adjusted to the pro game a lot faster than we thought.”