Meet the players heading to the Rockies via the Nolan Arenado trade
Feb 1, 2021, 9:34 PM | Updated: 10:30 pm
It’s official, Rockies fans. Nolan Arenado is a St. Louis Cardinal.
Though news of the trade broke over the weekend, the clubs announced the trade on Monday.
And with the transaction on the books, we now know the exact haul Rockies received from the Cardinals in exchange for the future Hall of Fame third baseman.
Let’s meet the newest members of the club:
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Austin Gomber | Age: 27 | LHP
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The only player the Rockies received who played in 2020, Gomber made 14 appearances for the Cardinals in the shortened 60-game season last year.
In four starts, he went 1-0, combing to allow just one run on 11 hits in 15 2/3 innings with six walks and 17 strikeouts.
Since his MLB debut in June 2018, Gomber has combined for a 7-3 record with a 3.72 ERA, 47 walks and 94 strikeouts in 43 Major League games.
Originally selected by St. Louis out of Florida Atlantic University in the fourth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, Gomber was named an MiLB.com Organizational All-Star for three consecutive seasons (2015-’17). In five minor league seasons, he’s posted a 43-22 record with a 3.01 ERA, 157 walks and 526 strikeouts.
Analysis from MiLB.com reporter Tyler Maun:
“His body of work seems good, but it’s a lot put on a guy to make him the centerpiece of a trade for a potential future Hall of Famer.”
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Mateo Gil | Age: 20 | INF
Gil did not play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but in 53 games in 2019 (51 at the rookie league level) he batted .262 with eight doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 30 RBI.
Over 98 career games spanning two professional seasons, Gil has batted .257 with 14 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 50 RBI.
Out of Timber Creek High School in Keller, Texas, Gil was selected by St. Louis in the third round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft.
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Tony Locey | Age: 22 | RHP
(Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The least experienced of the lot heading to the Rockies, Locey has just 17 innings under his belt in 12 total appearances with the Gulf Coast League Cardinals and Low-A Peoria.
Locey went 1-2 with a 5.29 ERA, 12 walks and 31 strikeouts in that 2019 season, his first professionally after being drafted in the third round of the First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Georgia.
He did not play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Elehuris Montero | Age: 22 | INF
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The other non-pitching prospect in the deal, Montero was named the Low-A Midwest League MVP in 2018 after batting .322 with 28 doubles, three triples, 15 home runs and 69 RBI.
In five professional seasons since signing with the Cardinals as a non-drafted international free agent in August 2014, Montero owns a .269 average with 84 doubles, seven triples, 32 home runs and 192 RBI in 360 games.
Montero also did not participate in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous season, he batted just .188 with eight doubles, seven home runs and 18 RBI between Double-A Springfield and the Gulf Coast League Cardinals.
Analysis from MiLB.com reporter Tyler Maun:
“He is still young but has a lot of potential at the plate, especially power-wise. A lot of it will depend on if he can improve his plate discipline as he climbs in the minor leagues. And it still remains to be seen if he can stick at third base.”
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Jake Sommers | Age: 22 | RHP
Originally selected by the Cardinals in the 10th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Sommers went 2-3 with a 4.18 ERA, 19 walks and 55 strikeouts in 12 appearances his first professional season at the rookie league level.
Sommers, however, did not play in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
