This Rockies prospect's fire matches his tools

This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

DENVER -- Rockies No. 7 prospect Cole Carrigg displayed speed and power while helping lead High-A Spokane to the Northwest League championship last year.

A second-round pick out of San Diego State in 2023, Carrigg slashed .280/.358/.475, led the Northwest League with 16 home runs and stole 51 bases in his first full professional season. And the switch-hitting center fielder didn’t mind leaving opponents a little hot under the collar. Carrigg, 22, also brings personality.

“I know a lot of other teams don’t like me, because I get very fired up during games,” Carrigg said. “I love being a competitor and that style of play. That style of play came from watching my brother [Matt Carrigg, who played at Modesto Junior College and the University of Portland]. He was more quiet-spoken but definitely a competitor.

“I basically play with my hair on fire. I don’t really think too much out there.”

The competition was internal and friendly, as well. Last season, Carrigg and third baseman and Northwest League MVP Kyle Karros could have moved to Double-A Hartford on merit. But the Rockies decided they could further their careers by being counted on as leaders in Spokane’s late-season push, which resulted in a Northwest League championship.

But during the final regular-season weekend, Carrigg popped his 16th homer to lead the league. Karros finished in a tie for second with 15.

"I don't think any of us really knew -- our team wasn’t really focused on stats because we were winning so many games,” Carrigg said. “At some point during that last series against Everett, somebody pointed it out. In my own head, I was like, ‘I’m going to get it.’ Not that I was trying to, but I was lucky enough to find two homers at Everett and steal it from him.

“Props to him for everything, but it was nice to have a little piece of that.”

Higher-level challenges will come soon enough, since both will receive their first invitations to Major League Spring Training in 2025.

Carrigg -- who trains in the offseasons with Athletics first baseman Tyler Soderstrom -- represents an increased value on athletes who play with an edge.

“It’s energy and it’s edgy,” said Jesse Stender, the Rockies’ assistant player development director. “Honestly, it’s a lot of the characteristics that we don’t have a lot of in the organization, with the tools to match. He’s as tooled-put as they come.

“Obviously, there’s the speed. It’s between him and Yanquiel Fernandez [the Rockies’ No. 4 prospect] for the best arm in the organization. He switch-hits and the power is in there. He’s going to continue to grow and gain strength.”

Carrigg, listed at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, combines his edge with athletic tools that can cut the opposition in many ways.

“He’s really unique in how he plays the game -- one of the most dynamic players I’ve ever coached,” Spokane hitting coach Tom Sutaris said. “It’s his ability to hit balls that shouldn’t be hit. He’s hard to pitch to because you can throw a fastball out of the zone and he can get to that ball, and he uses the whole field.

“And he brings incredible passion for the game. Learning to harness that in the right direction is going to be key for him. But he absolutely is going to bring it every single day. He doesn’t punch a time clock some days.”

Carrigg grew up passionate about catching. But going back to his travel ball days, with his father coaching him, his teams needed his speed and top-level arm at other positions.

After the ‘23 Draft, the Rockies started Carrigg’s career in the Arizona Complex League and at Class A Fresno for 36 combined games, including seven behind the plate. But they – and ultimately, Carrigg – determined that there were better uses for his tools. Carrigg had a defensive impact in the outfield, but also made 17 appearances at shortstop. The plan is for position not to be an obstacle should his offense warrant a promotion in the Minors or even to the top level.

The Rockies have a dynamic, young outfielder picture featuring two-time Gold Glove-winning center fielder Brenton Doyle, Nolan Jones, 2024 rookie Jordan Beck, Fernandez and recent first-round picks Zac Veen (MLB No. 83 prospect/Rockies No. 3) and Benny Montgomery (Rockies No. 16). Carrigg is firmly in the outfield snapshot.

“I can’t control that, so I push it to the side,” Carrigg said. “I know I can play any position on the field. If I’m swinging it, I know they're gonna find me a spot in the lineup whenever that day comes. Who knows? Hopefully we have six outfielders that can all start in the big leagues. If that's the case, we'll be a pretty good team."