Doyle

SHEPHERDSTOWN — After 57 plate appearances and a .306 batting average at Class AAA Albuquerque, former Shepherd University outfielder Brenton Doyle has been called up to the major leagues by the Colorado Rockies.

Doyle’s first-ever appearance in the big leagues was brought about by injuries to two current Rockies — Kris Bryant (injured on April 22) and Yonathan Daza (injured on April 23).

Doyle was the fourth-round selection by the Rockies in the 2019 draft of free agents, while still at Shepherd and signed a lucrative contract with the team in June of that year.

He has played at minor league way stations Grand Junction, Colo.; Spokane, Wash.; Hartford, Conn.; and Albuquerque, N.M. in his short professional career.

Last season, in stops at Hartford and Albuquerque, Doyle hit a combined .256 with 26 home runs and 23 stolen bases.

Beginning the 2023 season with the Isotopes in Albuquerque, he had played in 12 games and had five home runs and eight RBIs while scoring 12 runs.

Because of the injuries to a pair of its non-pitchers, the Rockies had space on their 26-player major league roster and recalled Doyle from Class AAA.

Colorado was playing the Cleveland Guardians this past Monday when they promoted Doyle to the big league club.

Doyle is currently 24 and will celebrate his 25th birthday on May 14.

After signing his professional contract, Doyle had his best season in 2019 when he batted .383 at Grand Junction in a Class A beginning to his career.

Colorado has been impressed with Doyle’s defensive skills and believe he can be an asset as a center fielder, right fielder or left fielder because of his above-average speed and throwing arm.

When Bryant and Daza return from injury, Doyle’s status with the Major League Baseball team will be evaluated again, and he could be returned to Albuquerque to play on an everyday basis.

Doyle’s strikeout rate has been over 30 percent in his professional career and he had 19 strikeouts in his 57 plate appearances this season, so his running speed and defensive proficiency might be what the Rockies are looking to use while he is in the big leagues this spring.