Joe

Koshansky

Even though Ryan Shealy was promoted from Triple-A and then traded, Koshansky has been left in Double-A all year long. The 24-year-old is batting .297/.387/.568 with 100 RBI in 414 at-bats. He’ll replace Shealy as the Rockies’ insurance for Todd Helton beginning next year.

Koshansky, who turned 24 last month, is hitting .323/.412/.606 in 226 at-bats. We don’t like him quite as much as Ryan Shealy, but he’s a similar prospect for a club that still appears to have no intention of making a change at first base over the next few years.

Koshansky is hitting .300/.378/.599, but he’s doing it as a 23-year-old in the South Atlantic League. He’s not the next Todd Helton. He’s probably not even the next Ryan Shealy.

Koshansky, who hit 31 homers in Double-A last year, had been a real disappointment in the power department this year, hitting five long balls through the first two months. He has picked it up lately, delivering three in three games to get him to 10 on the season. He’s batting .328, so he was still doing fine even when the homers weren’t coming.

The Rockies will give Todd Helton a few days off this month to get Koshansky some playing time, but the 25-year-old will be used primarily as a pinch-hitter after batting .295/.380/.490 for Colorado Springs. Away from the excellent offensive environment in Colorado, he hit .273/.364/.442.

The 25-year-old Koshansky is batting .317/.403/.683 with five homers in July. His 924 OPS for the year isn’t so impressive considering his age and home ballpark, but he’s doing enough to be considered for a starting job in the future. Still, that Ryan Shealy was a bust for Kansas City this year won’t help his case if the Rockies pitch him in trade talks.

The Rockies didn’t necessarily need the 40-man roster spot, but they did the right thing and gave Koshansky a chance to go to a team that might be able to use him. The 26-year-old has 25-homer power and has posted quality OBPs in Triple-A, though it was at a great environment for hitters. He’ll probably have only a small window of opportunity in Texas, which also has Max Ramirez as insurance at first base and DH and Justin Smoak on the way. Maybe he’ll get a chance this year if Hank Blalock gets traded or goes on the DL.

Blocked at first base by Todd Helton, Koshansky has hit .297/.380/.542 with 52 homers and 220 RBI in 258 games at Triple-A over the past two seasons. With many organizations he would have gotten a chance in the majors a year or two ago, but Koshansky is turns 27 years old in May and has just 50 career at-bats with the Rockies.

The Brewers could have nabbed him before the Rangers did last week, but they weren’t willing to use the 40-man roster spot on him then. Now that Tony Gwynn Jr. no longer needs to be carried, they were. He’ll replace Brad Nelson in the middle of Nashville’s lineup, but he has no easier part to the majors with Milwaukee than he did with Colorado.

The Rockies have to be extremely upset with Tulo, who injured himself during an act of frustration on Friday. Still, there’s not much that can be done about it, other than hoping he’s learned his lesson. With Tulowitzki out, the Rockies will go to Clint Barmes at shortstop and Jeff Baker at second, opening up first base for Joe Koshansky. Koshansky now looks like a worthy short-term pickup in NL-only leagues.