In the News
9/8/06.. addition.. MLB.com
"We're very comfortable in evaluating the other two players out there [center fielders Cory Sullivan and Choo Freeman] and what they've brought, what they've done to this point, and we want to give Salazar the opportunity to play and see what he can do," Hurdle said of his plans for the rookie in the season's final month. "We want to make sure he's not a cookie-cutter, same thing as Sullivan. [Bats] left, [throws] left. Center fielder. We'll see. The only way to find out is let him play."
Salazar can hope to make a strong impression in center for the Rockies, getting a shot at a spot that has been a consistent area of concern for the club this season. "Defensively he can go get the ball and he's probably got as good a throwing arm as either of the other two guys, if not better," Hurdle said.
"Offensively, he's still a work in progress. They've tried to shorten his stroke [in Triple-A] so he can be quick to the ball. He can keep the ball out of the air. He's got gap power. He can catch the ball with the barrel and hit it out of the ballpark also. He needs to work on his bunting game, and he needs to work on his stolen base game. He has speed. I'm curious to see how it plays out in the course of a game."
6/27/06.. addition.. minorleaguebaseball.com
"He is a tremendous centerfielder with great instincts. He makes a big outfield look small sometimes because he covers so much ground," Runnells said. "Offensively, he kind of makes things go. He is a true lead-off man. If Jeff goes we go. It has definitely turned this ball club around since he has been back in the lineup. He's very much a strong competitor. He loves to go out there everyday and battle. He's a player every manager would like to have on his club."
6/5/06..addition.. Rocky
After missing 55 games, center fielder Jeff Salazar made his 2006 debut Saturday. He had been in extended spring training recovering from a partial tear of a ligament in his left (throwing) elbow .
5/10/06.. addtion.. MLB.com
Outfield prospect Jeff Salazar, who suffered a strained left elbow in Spring Training, is serving as designated hitter in extended Spring Training games in Tucson and doing outfield work, but isn't quite ready for game action.
3/11/06.. addition.. MLB.com
Salazar, 25, is getting closer to pushing for a little space in Colorado's crowded outfield picture. A left-handed swinging leadoff man, who has been called the organization's best defensive outfielder, Salazar is expected to start 2006 at Triple-A Colorado Springs, but he should be bucking for a promotion if he maintains the hitting stroke he brought to camp this spring.
2/28/06.. analysis.. FOXSports.com
Salazar couldn't match his excellent .347/.419/.586 line from Single-A Visalia at either stop in 2005, but his Double-A numbers were pretty good, and he'll get a chance to bounce back from a terrible AFL campaign when he returns to Triple-A this season. Keeping Salazar in the Rockies' top 10 is his quality defense in center field. His offensive upside is limited, but he should prove to be a better all-around player than the Rockies' current stopgap, Cory Sullivan. His eagerness to take a walk will make him a superior fit in the leadoff spot, and while his power spike at Visalia appears to have been a fluke, he could be good for 12-15 homers per year while playing at Coors Field. If he gets off to a good start this year, he should get a chance to overtake Sullivan in the second half.
2/8/06.. analysis.. Top Prospect Alert.com
Potential -- Everyday Player. Salazar burst onto the prospect scene in 2003 when took Asheville by storm and battered inexperienced pitching for a .284-29-98 season while swiping 28 bases as well. Salazar has spent the past two seasons trying to recapture that magic and prove that season was the result of his abilities not just outclassing Single-A pitching. 2006 will be the tell tale season for Salazar as another year of struggles will put him all but out of contention to be the Rockies' center fielder of the future, while regaining that touch will make him a leader to become a valuable fantasy player as an everyday player in Colorado.
Risks: Yellow. Like Shealy, Salazar is in his last year as a possible prospect as 26 year old fourth outfielder's don't impress many fantasy league owners. He played at Oklahoma State and has been old for his level his entire career. On the other hand, Salazar has never been injured and there have never been complaints about his work ethic either.
Offense -- At this point you really can't count on him to reproduce that 29 home run 2003 season (he's only hit 26 in the two years since) but Salazar shows flashes of being a .300 hitter with a little pop in his bat. If he does get a chance in the Rockies lineup he should be a high run scoring and batting average guy who steals some bases and hits 10-15 homers in the thin air.
Defense -- Good enough to start. Salazar has the speed and the ability to cover centerfield, even in Denver, and will make enough plays to keep a job once he earns it.
Position Change -- None in sight.
Blocked By -- Cory Sullivan, Choo Freeman. Sullivan has emerged as the table setter for the Rockies. If he plays like he did last year it will be tough for Salazar to take the job from him, as there's no skill that Salazar seems to do that much better than Sullivan. Freeman has more potential as a center fielder and as long as he continues to show flashes of that potential, he will be given the opportunity to play in Colorado.
ETA -- Late 2006 if all goes well, but must be in the mix in 2007.
Comparison -- Jason Ellison, A little bit extra boost playing in Coors Field but figures to play a similar role to what the Giants outfielder did last year.
