As Spring Training concludes, we will feature the Rockies, Tigers, Twins, White Sox and Yankees in the last week of ‘NWL Alumni in Spring Training’. Spring Training officially ends Wednesday, March 30th, but the majority of Major League players have already finished playing in Spring Training games and are headed towards their respective Major League cities. As ‘Opening Day’ approaches Major League teams must reduce their roster to 25 players meaning various demotions or promotions throughout the league.
The Colorado Rockies had three former NWL players on their 40-man roster this spring as well as three non-roster invites. The Rockies Ryan Spilborghs, Matt Reynolds, and Jordan Pacheco are all listed on the 40-man roster while Adam Jorgenson, Matt Pagnozzi and Tim Wheeler were all non-roster invites.
Ryan Spilborghs was a member of the Madison Mallards in 2001 before making his Major League debut in 2005. The California-Santa Barbara alum is currently listed as a backup outfielder for the Rockies. The athletic righty had a very successful Spring Training as he hit .354 in 48 at-bats. Spilborghs will likely split time with right fielder Seth Smith in 2011.
Matt Reynolds played in the Northwoods League in 2006 for the Rochester Honkers. The 6’5’’ left handed pitcher appeared in 21 games for the Rockies in 2010 and finished with a 2.00 ERA in 18.0 innings pitched. Reynolds was a Colorado draft pick in the 20th round of the 2007 MLB Draft and attended Austin Peay State. Reynolds struggled in Spring Training in 2011, but is expected to see meaningful innings out of the Rockies bullpen this year.
Former Mountain West Player of the Year, Jordan Pacheco, made a positive impression on Colorado Rockies General Manager Daniel O’Dowd. Pacheco hit .286 with eight RBI’s in only 28 at-bats for O’Dowd whose son, Chris, played for the La Crosse Loggers in 2010. The catcher had a breakout 2010 season in the Minor Leagues as he played for the Modesto Nuts (Single-A) of the California League and the Tulsa Drillers (Double-A) of the Texas League. In nearly 600 plate appearances in 2010, Pacheco hit .323 with 89 RBI’s and 23 doubles while being named a member of the Arizona Fall League for the MLB’s top prospects.
Adam Jorgenson, Matt Pagnozzi and Tim Wheeler are all non-roster invites for the Rockies in 2011, but saw limited action this Spring Training. Pagnozzi, the former Madison Mallard, is listed as the Rockies number three catcher on their website. Jorgenson was a member of the Honkers in 2006 and has a career Minor League Baseball record of 5-8 with a miniscule 2.60 ERA. Wheeler played for St. Cloud in 2007 before being picked in the 1st round of the 2009 MLB Draft. Wheeler played with Pacheco for the Modesto Nuts in 2010 and cranked 12 home runs and 21 doubles in 2010.
Follow ‘NWL Alumni in Spring Training’ as we have four more teams to feature as Spring Training culminates.
