Lefthanded reliever Welinton Herrera has been as dominant at Double-A Hartford as he was at High-A Spokane. That explains why the 21-year-old was chosen for the Futures Game.

The Rockies promoted Herrera on May 20 after he had racked up 10 saves in 15 Northwest League appearances while allowing one run in 18.1 innings to go with 29 strikeouts.

He continued dominating in the Eastern League, where he struck out 33 through 19.1 innings, allowing two runs in 17 appearances.

In the first half, Herrera struck out 42% of batters and had a 0.72 ERA. Opponents hit .150 with zero home runs in 37.2 innings.

Herrera’s fastball sits 97 mph and has reached 99. Rockies assistant farm director Jesse Stender termed it “an overpowering fastball that honestly could get big league hitters out right now. It’s a special arm from a little bit lower slot, low three-quarters.”

That arm slot enables Herrera to repeatedly pitch up in the zone and thrive there. His repertoire also includes a slider that ranges from 84-90 mph and averages 86 and an 87-91 mph changeup that averages 89.

Getting Herrera to throw his secondaries more has been a point of emphasis this season.

Stender said of the changeup, which has late sinking action: “As long as the arm speed mimics that of the fastball, it’s going to be a very, very lethal weapon for him.”

His slider shape can be unpredictable. It sometimes gets longer and more horizontal. But when it’s right, it has a sharp late break. 

“Everything he throws, it just moves,” Stender said. “From that arm angle, it’s either late armside action or late natural cut across. And that on top of the velocity, it makes it pretty lethal.”

Because he’s pitching up in the zone from a low arm slot with plus velocity, it’s almost impossible for hitters to get on top of Herrera’s ball. Rockies pitching strategist Flint Wallace put it best.

“He’s difficult to square up,” Wallace said. “The slider gets below the barrel, and the fastball stays above it. And he keeps guys in between pretty well with both of them.”

ROCKY ROADS

— First baseman Charlie Condon was promoted to Double-A Hartford after hitting .312/.431/.420 in 35 games at High-A Spokane with three home runs and 17 RBIs. The third overall pick last year out of Georgia, Condon didn’t make his Spokane debut until May 21 after suffering a non-displaced fracture in his left wrist in his first exhibition game. Condon had started a combined 29 games at first base at Spokane and Hartford, as well as five at third base and eight in left field. He primarily played third base and outfield but saw action in 42 games at first base in his two seasons at Georgia.

— Outfielder Jared Thomas was promoted to Double-A Hartford after hitting .330/.427/.495 in 73 games at High-A Spokane with 11 home runs, 45 RBIs and 22 stolen bases in 24 attempts. The Rockies drafted Thomas in the second round last year out of Texas.

— High-A Spokane lefthander Konner Eaton, who was 5-4, 3.15 in 17 starts, went 2-0, 0.68 in four starts from June 20 to July 9, with four walks and 38 strikeouts in 26.2 innings. The Rockies drafted Eaton in the sixth round last year out of George Mason.

— Outfielder Braiden Ward was promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque after hitting .259/.360/.333 in 53 games at Double-A Hartford with one home run, 16 RBIs and 22 stolen bases in 27 attempts. Ward, 26, was the Rockies’ 16th-round pick in 2021 out of Washington. Third baseman Blake Wright was promoted to High-A Spokane after hitting .297/.370/.370 in 69 games at Low-A Fresno with three home runs and 33 RBIs. Wright was the Rockies’ fourth-round pick last year out of Clemson.