When the Rockies drafted Brenton Doyle in the fourth round in 2019 out of Shepherd University (Va.), making him the first Division II player selected that year, the biggest question was whether Doyle’s skills and athleticism would translate to professional baseball.
Doyle, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, has rendered those concerns moot while fast-tracking through the minors. After ending last season on a tear in Triple-A, the Rockies added Doyle to their 40-man roster in November, all but cementing the outfielder’s place at Coors Field sometime in the near future.
The 24-year-old slashed .256/.300/.473 with 82 runs, 22 doubles, five triples, 26 home runs, 77 RBIs and 23 stolen bases across Double-A Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque in 2023. After earning his promotion to the Isotopes on Sept. 20, he slashed .389/.463/.778 with three home runs and an absurd 1.241 OPS.
That eyebrow-raising Triple-A performance was another indication the Rockies might have found their future everyday center fielder.
While Doyle’s bat has impressed, his defense and speed (61 career steals) have been premium since he made his professional debut for the rookie-league Grand Junction Rockies in 2019. Doyle didn’t miss a beat after losing a season to the pandemic, as he won a Minor League Gold Glove Award with High-A Spokane after recording 13 assists over 83 games.
Doyle already has 50 home runs and 157 RBIs in his minor league career. The Cactus League will offer a good litmus test to determine whether his bat needs more seasoning in Triple-A.
