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Tuesday
WHO: Reno Aces at Albuquerque Isotopes
WHEN: 6:35 p.m.
RADIO: 610 AM/95.9 FM
STREAMING: MiLB.TV
PROBABLES: Isotopes RHP Gabriel Hughes (0-0, 0.00, 0 K) vs. Aces RHP Thomas Hatch (0-0, 0.00, 0 K)
A minor league player is "blocked" when his path to the majors is hindered by a well-established big leaguer at his position in the organization.
Use of that word hits different people at the Triple-A level differently.
Cole Carrigg is a 23-year-old rising star for the Colorado Rockies whose journey to the majors might be "blocked" by shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and centerfielder Brenton Doyle.
Carrigg, a 2023 second-round draft pick out of San Diego State and the organization’s No. 6 overall prospect, relays a California-cool response when asked if his path is blocked.
“It’s definitely a great challenge,” said Carrigg, who makes his home debut with the Albuquerque Isotopes on Tuesday night against the Reno Aces after having made his Triple-A debut in a three-game series last week on the road at Oklahoma City.
“It’s awesome when you have two guys to learn from in spring (training) like Ezekiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle. I learned a lot from them. And I’ve always felt like if you can play shortstop and you can play center field, then you can play left or right, and you can play third or second,” he said. “Obviously, fine-tuning that stuff comes with reps. ... It’s just awesome to have a challenge like that.”
For Isotopes manager Pedro Lopez, a baseball lifer, “block” might as well be up there with those other types of bad words you shouldn’t say.
“I just don’t want to say it," Lopez said. “Nobody’s blocking nobody right now. I think Cole and I think Charlie (Condon, the Rockies’ No. 2 prospect) and a lot of guys that we got in that clubhouse, their intent should be trying to push some of those guys out (up in Denver). If I was a player, that's what I would be trying to do. I’m going to try to play my best so I can push some people out. We need to understand that this is business.”
Carrigg has shown flashes of versatility that could help him carve out new paths to the majors as an injury replacement at one of several positions.
Lopez said fans can expect to see Carrigg play four games at centerfield for every two at shortstop.
“Super happy for the plan going in,” Carrigg said. “Didn’t play much short last year — it didn’t take the utility piece away, but just didn’t do it very much last year. ... I like moving around the yard. It keeps the game interesting. I’m just really excited to get back into short playing infield in the regular season.”
Trivia time!
*
QUESTION: What is the Isotopes’ 22-game home opener record at Isotopes Park?
*
ANSWER: See below.
Know the foe
The Isotopes host the Reno Aces for a six-game homestand — the same team they hosted for the final six-game homestand last season — in Pacific Coast League action Tuesday through Sunday.
*
Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies: 1-2 overall, t-6th place PCL
*
Reno Aces, Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks: 1-2 overall, t-6th place PCL
It's a challenge
MLB, in its opening week, seems to have fallen in love with the new Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System for a couple of reasons.
First, it has proven to be effective and efficient.
Second, it provides a reveal on the big screen that fans are eating up when they see the computer-generated replay of the pitch.
If only there were a way to know these things before this past week at the MLB level.
Oh wait. That's right. We did all this at the Triple-A level throughout last season and we knew then it worked well.
I'm not suggesting most of the country was closely following the ABS guinea pig season in Triple-A, but I am saying this shouldn't be a total surprise.
For those scoring at home (why are you doing that?), here is how the Isotopes finished the 2025 season in terms of challenges:
*
Isotopes challenges: 279
*
Isotopes were right: 127
*
Isotopes were wrong: 152
*
Isotopes success rate: 45.5%
Three up, three down
Looking good:
*
1B/OF Charlie Condon, the 2024 third overall pick was 5-of-10 in his first Triple-A series, including two homers on Saturday and two singles on Sunday in a three-game set in Oklahoma City.
*
P Tanner Gordon threw 5.0 innings of three-hit ball with no earned runs last Friday. Twice in 12 games last season, he didn't allow an earned run in a start of at least 5.0 innings, but he allowed more than three hits in both.
*
3B Vimael Machín, an offseason free agent signee, drew four walks in nine plate appearances (in two games) last week. The top Tope in the PCL standings in walks last season was Blaine Crim, who had 56 of them in 109 games with two teams — 43 in 83 games with Round Rock and 13 in 26 games with the Isotopes.
Look away:
*
The Isotopes have had 11 consecutive losing seasons over the past 12 years (no season in 2020).
*
The 23 earned runs over 25.0 innings last week at OKC are the second most in the PCL after the opening weekend, and their 8.28 ERA is the second-highest.
*
The Isotopes were outscored 19-1 in innings 4-9 in three games last week.
Fast food
Tuesday's main event at Isotopes Park, obviously, is the first chile race of the season.
Taco, Green Chile, Red Chile and defending champion Salsa Jar all return for another year of fast food at the ballpark. Look for the new video board feature related to the races.
2025 season's final chile race standings, for those who somehow forgot, were:
*
23 wins — Salsa Jar
*
19 wins — Green Chile
*
17 wins — Taco
*
15 wins — Red Chile
Homestand highlights
Here's a look at some of the homestand highlights for Tuesday-Sunday's games at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park.
*
Tuesday (first pitch, 6:35 p.m.): UNM Lobos football coach Jason Eck throws out the ceremonial first pitch, Isotopes scarf giveaway to first 2,000 fans, UNM marching band performs before game outside front of stadium.
*
Thursday (first pitch, 12:05 p.m.): Day baseball!
*
Friday (first pitch, 6:35 p.m.): Magnet schedule giveaway to first 3,000 fans, pregame autographs with players inside third base gate from 5:40 to 6 p.m.
*
Saturday (first pitch, 6:35 p.m.): Mariachis de Nuevo México night with an adult Mariachis jersey hoodie giveaway to the first 3,000 fans 16 and older.
*
Sunday (first pitch, 1:35 p.m.): Pregame Easter candy hunt on field from 12:30 to 1 p.m. (weather permitting).
Trivia answer
The Isotopes have a 14-8 all-time record in home openers, but have lost five of their last six after.
Reach Geoff Grammer at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.
Continue reading...
WHO: Reno Aces at Albuquerque Isotopes
WHEN: 6:35 p.m.
RADIO: 610 AM/95.9 FM
STREAMING: MiLB.TV
PROBABLES: Isotopes RHP Gabriel Hughes (0-0, 0.00, 0 K) vs. Aces RHP Thomas Hatch (0-0, 0.00, 0 K)
A minor league player is "blocked" when his path to the majors is hindered by a well-established big leaguer at his position in the organization.
Use of that word hits different people at the Triple-A level differently.
Cole Carrigg is a 23-year-old rising star for the Colorado Rockies whose journey to the majors might be "blocked" by shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and centerfielder Brenton Doyle.
Carrigg, a 2023 second-round draft pick out of San Diego State and the organization’s No. 6 overall prospect, relays a California-cool response when asked if his path is blocked.
“It’s definitely a great challenge,” said Carrigg, who makes his home debut with the Albuquerque Isotopes on Tuesday night against the Reno Aces after having made his Triple-A debut in a three-game series last week on the road at Oklahoma City.
“It’s awesome when you have two guys to learn from in spring (training) like Ezekiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle. I learned a lot from them. And I’ve always felt like if you can play shortstop and you can play center field, then you can play left or right, and you can play third or second,” he said. “Obviously, fine-tuning that stuff comes with reps. ... It’s just awesome to have a challenge like that.”
For Isotopes manager Pedro Lopez, a baseball lifer, “block” might as well be up there with those other types of bad words you shouldn’t say.
“I just don’t want to say it," Lopez said. “Nobody’s blocking nobody right now. I think Cole and I think Charlie (Condon, the Rockies’ No. 2 prospect) and a lot of guys that we got in that clubhouse, their intent should be trying to push some of those guys out (up in Denver). If I was a player, that's what I would be trying to do. I’m going to try to play my best so I can push some people out. We need to understand that this is business.”
Carrigg has shown flashes of versatility that could help him carve out new paths to the majors as an injury replacement at one of several positions.
Lopez said fans can expect to see Carrigg play four games at centerfield for every two at shortstop.
“Super happy for the plan going in,” Carrigg said. “Didn’t play much short last year — it didn’t take the utility piece away, but just didn’t do it very much last year. ... I like moving around the yard. It keeps the game interesting. I’m just really excited to get back into short playing infield in the regular season.”
Trivia time!
*
QUESTION: What is the Isotopes’ 22-game home opener record at Isotopes Park?
*
ANSWER: See below.
Know the foe
The Isotopes host the Reno Aces for a six-game homestand — the same team they hosted for the final six-game homestand last season — in Pacific Coast League action Tuesday through Sunday.
*
Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies: 1-2 overall, t-6th place PCL
*
Reno Aces, Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks: 1-2 overall, t-6th place PCL
It's a challenge
MLB, in its opening week, seems to have fallen in love with the new Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System for a couple of reasons.
First, it has proven to be effective and efficient.
Second, it provides a reveal on the big screen that fans are eating up when they see the computer-generated replay of the pitch.
If only there were a way to know these things before this past week at the MLB level.
Oh wait. That's right. We did all this at the Triple-A level throughout last season and we knew then it worked well.
I'm not suggesting most of the country was closely following the ABS guinea pig season in Triple-A, but I am saying this shouldn't be a total surprise.
For those scoring at home (why are you doing that?), here is how the Isotopes finished the 2025 season in terms of challenges:
*
Isotopes challenges: 279
*
Isotopes were right: 127
*
Isotopes were wrong: 152
*
Isotopes success rate: 45.5%
Three up, three down
Looking good:
*
1B/OF Charlie Condon, the 2024 third overall pick was 5-of-10 in his first Triple-A series, including two homers on Saturday and two singles on Sunday in a three-game set in Oklahoma City.
*
P Tanner Gordon threw 5.0 innings of three-hit ball with no earned runs last Friday. Twice in 12 games last season, he didn't allow an earned run in a start of at least 5.0 innings, but he allowed more than three hits in both.
*
3B Vimael Machín, an offseason free agent signee, drew four walks in nine plate appearances (in two games) last week. The top Tope in the PCL standings in walks last season was Blaine Crim, who had 56 of them in 109 games with two teams — 43 in 83 games with Round Rock and 13 in 26 games with the Isotopes.
Look away:
*
The Isotopes have had 11 consecutive losing seasons over the past 12 years (no season in 2020).
*
The 23 earned runs over 25.0 innings last week at OKC are the second most in the PCL after the opening weekend, and their 8.28 ERA is the second-highest.
*
The Isotopes were outscored 19-1 in innings 4-9 in three games last week.
Fast food
Tuesday's main event at Isotopes Park, obviously, is the first chile race of the season.
Taco, Green Chile, Red Chile and defending champion Salsa Jar all return for another year of fast food at the ballpark. Look for the new video board feature related to the races.
2025 season's final chile race standings, for those who somehow forgot, were:
*
23 wins — Salsa Jar
*
19 wins — Green Chile
*
17 wins — Taco
*
15 wins — Red Chile
Homestand highlights
Here's a look at some of the homestand highlights for Tuesday-Sunday's games at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park.
*
Tuesday (first pitch, 6:35 p.m.): UNM Lobos football coach Jason Eck throws out the ceremonial first pitch, Isotopes scarf giveaway to first 2,000 fans, UNM marching band performs before game outside front of stadium.
*
Thursday (first pitch, 12:05 p.m.): Day baseball!
*
Friday (first pitch, 6:35 p.m.): Magnet schedule giveaway to first 3,000 fans, pregame autographs with players inside third base gate from 5:40 to 6 p.m.
*
Saturday (first pitch, 6:35 p.m.): Mariachis de Nuevo México night with an adult Mariachis jersey hoodie giveaway to the first 3,000 fans 16 and older.
*
Sunday (first pitch, 1:35 p.m.): Pregame Easter candy hunt on field from 12:30 to 1 p.m. (weather permitting).
Trivia answer
The Isotopes have a 14-8 all-time record in home openers, but have lost five of their last six after.
Reach Geoff Grammer at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.
Continue reading...
