The Colorado Rockies have a lack of depth in the outfield. They have a couple of exciting options but more talent needs to break out. Brenton Doyle is one such prospect that could help in the next few seasons. Current veterans Charlie Blackmon and Ian Desmond will be closer to retirement by the time Doyle is ready to debut.
Brenton Doyle Prospect Report
Small School Stud
Doyle is a well-built 6’3″, 200-pound outfielder originally from Warrenton, Virginia. He attended Division II Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia from 2017-2019. The Rockies selected Doyle is the fourth round of the 2019 Amateur Draft. Doyle was dominant at the small program with a career .380/438/647 with 32 home runs in 699 plate appearances.
Minor League Debut
Doyle showed no signs of being intimidated by professional pitching when he joined the organization’s rookie affiliate in the Pioneer League. He hit .383/477/611 with eight home runs in 215 plate appearances. He added 17 stolen bases and was caught stealing only three times. Doyle showed excellent plate discipline with a 14 percent walk rate. His strikeout rate did jump from 12 percent in college to 21 percent in the Pioneer League but that is perfectly fine. He transitioned from DII pitching to some of the best he’d faced to that point in his career.
Doyle also played in the outfield where he had just one error in 368 innings. He played most of his defense in centerfield but Grand Junction also tried him in right where he survived just fine. His overall speed gives him a chance to stick in centerfield for the long term.
What Makes Doyle a Top Prospect
Doyle brings a little bit of everything in his game. He can make contact, has average power, and can run well. He needs more exposure to professional pitching to get a better sense of his contact ability but Doyle has looked good in small samples. The power might come in the form of doubles but it’s also possible he can hit 15-20 home runs in a season with the environment at Coors Field. The running ability is perhaps the most exciting aspect of Doyle’s game. It gives him a real shot to be a 20 home run/20 steals-type of player.
What to Expect from Doyle in 2020
A lack of a minor league season is a major blow to someone like Doyle. He probably would have moved up to Single-A Asheville in the Carolina League for 2020 but it is unknown what he will do this year as an alternative. He doesn’t have the experience to crack the Rockies’ 60-man player pool. The team also doesn’t need Doyle to contribute to the 60-game sprint. Its current outfield is well-equipped to make a run in a shortened season.
Doyle will have to wait and see what teams do to ensure prospects get some sort of development time under their belts in 2020. That could take the form of extended summer training and intrasquad games with other minor leaguers. The Rockies have yet to announce plans for its un rostered prospects but they will not let them go an entire year without some sort of exposure to game-like conditions and development personnel.
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