Grand Junction Rockies Playoff Preview

Grand Junction Rockies

The Rockies were in second place at the end of the first half, going a solid 26-22. In the second
half however, Bobby Jenks’ crew was firing on all cylinders, going a PBL-best 36-11 to clinch
the South Division title.

At the dish, Nico Popa was a table setter, leading all qualified hitters with a .406 batting average
and 159 hits. While most of Popa’s hits were singles, he drove in 85 runs and stole 33 bases. On
the flip side, infielder Shawn Ross was an extra-base hit machine. He hit .280/.408/.614 with 24
homers, 24 doubles, 14 steals, and 90 RBIs, while also drawing the fifth-most walks in the
league. Ross also ranked fifth in extra-base hits and was tied for second in home runs. Fellow
infielder Casey Peterson was also a force, hitting .360/.469/.621 with 14 homers, 15 doubles, and
six triples while driving in 75 runs in 74 games. Outfielders Josh Elvir and Jake Cruce both
caught fire towards the end of the season, with Elvir smacking seven homers over his last 13
games. Cruce came over in a late-season trade with Boise, hitting a scalding .430/.500/.810 with
eight homers and nine doubles while driving in 30 runs in 21 games.

On the mound, workhorse Josh Agnew led the PBL with 102 ⅓ innings pitched, 10 wins, and 98
strikeouts. The right-hander threw at least six innings in 11 of his 15 starts and went at least
seven innings seven times. Alfredo Villa worked both as a starter and a reliever, pitching to a
team-best 3.13 ERA and striking out 81 batters while allowing just two homers in 63 ⅓ innings.
Righty Trevin Reynolds anchored the bullpen, registering 16 saves with a 3.41 ERA and 44
strikeouts against 11 walks in 37 innings.