Jack

O'Dowd

O’Dowd currently leads the AFL with six home runs and is second with 21 RBI in 17 games. He’s also slashing .313/.343/.687 but does have an 18/2 K/BB ratio, which is something to keep an eye on. He’ll likely begin next season at Double-A, but he’s 25 years old, so the Rockies could be aggressive with promoting him if he continues to hit.

O’Dowd was a light-hitting prospect at the University of Texas and went undrafted. However, he hit .307/.383/.564 with 23 home runs and 91 RBI in 107 games across three levels in his first professional season. He’s also now hitting .313 with a 1.103 OPS, four home runs, and nine RBI in the Arizona Fall League while playing primarily first base and catcher. He should begin next season at Double-A.

There’s no reason to read much into it, but it’s still hilarious that the Rockies, finally having broken away from the old guard on the baseball operations side, are starting off the Paul DePodesta era by signing the son of their long-time GM Dan O’Dowd. Jack never hit as a second baseman and utilityman at the University of Texas, but he excelled in indy ball last season, batting .333/.449/.642 for Billings in the batter friendly Pioneer League. The 24-year-old has also been doing a little catching, though it’s unclear whether the Rockies will go forward with him there.