AFL Update

[RockieBill]

The Rockies have six players participating in the Arizona Fall League, Major League Baseball's top development league. All six prospects play for the Mesa Solar Sox.

Third baseman Ryan Owens, who reached Double-A Carolina during the regular 2001 season, leads the Colorado contingent at the plate so far in the AFL. Owens has appeared in five games, going 5-for-15 with a double and three walks.

Kevin Nicholson, who played at Triple-A Colorado Springs this year, has responded more slowly to the top-caliber pitching of the Fall League. Nicholson, a first-round draft pick by the Padres in 1997, is hitting .250 (5-for-20) in five games, with a double, triple and three RBI. He's also committed two errors, most on the club.

Two Colorado pitchers have distinguished themselves in the early going: Southpaw Chuck Crowder and right-hander Cam Esslinger, teammates at Carolina earlier this year. Neither has a record yet, but neither has allowed a run yet, either. Crowder has allowed two hits and no walks while striking out four in three innings out of the bullpen (two appearances).

Esslinger has appeared in three games, once as a starter and twice in relief. He has allowed four hits in three innings, walking none and fanning three. Josh Kalinowski (0-0, 3.00 ERA) did not pitch poorly in his one appearance to date, a start. In three innings of work he allowed a run on four hits, hitting one batter, walking none and striking out six.

Colin Young (1-1, 9.00 ERA) has been roughed up a bit in his three relief appearances. Young has allowed five earned runs on three hits in five innings pitched, walking two and fanning six.

[RockieBill]

Cam Esslinger has emerged as Colorado's standout hurler in the AFL. Esslinger, who pitched at Double-A Carolina during the regular 2001 season, is 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA in seven appearances -- including one start -- for Mesa. In 8.1 innings, Esslinger has given up two runs on 10 hits. Particularly impressive is his strikeouts-to-walks ratio; Esslinger has issued just one free pass while fanning 12.

Southpaw Josh Kalinowski (1-1, 3.86) has had some solid outings and remains well above the Mesa team ERA of 5.14. Kalinowski, a teammate of Esslinger's at Carolina, has made three starts and one relief appearance so far, has allowed six runs on 13 hits in 14 innings. He has struck out 13 and walked four.

Lefties Colin Young (1-1, 5.25) and Chuck Crowder (0-2, 7.07) continue to struggle against the great talent represented in the Fall League. Young does have 14 strikeouts, tied for second on the staff.

Third baseman Ryan Owens is among the Mesa team leaders in games (16) and at-bats (55). He's hitting .273 with two doubles, two triples and a home run, plus seven runs and six RBI.

The Rockies' other infielder in the AFL, Kevin Nicholson, has also played a great deal. In 16 games Nicholson is 9-for-57 (.158), with a pair of doubles and a pair of triples. EDIT: He was also outrighted off of the 40-man roster a few days ago. He did clear waivers, however, and will remain in the farm system.