SCOTTSDALE — Yes, Brendan Rodgers thinks about the call-up that could’ve been.

Last September, the Rockies’ top prospect suffered what he called a “freak injury” with a couple games to go in the Triple-A season. The resulting right shoulder tightness sidelined him from a potential major league debut and kept him out of the Arizona Fall League.

“I took a weird swing, lost my footing, and instead of finishing with my bottom (left) hand on the bat, it slipped off the bat and my right hand finished the swing,” Rodgers explained. “It overextended my shoulder a little bit because I swung, kind of fell on it and jammed it up.

“It was terrible timing, because maybe I could’ve gotten a cup of coffee (in the big leagues). I was just starting to feel good at the plate after struggling in Triple-A. I had come back from my (tweaked hamstring) and I felt really good.”

But the frustration Rodgers felt last fall has, with an offseason of rehab and rest, given way to hope and confidence in spring training as the 22-year-old competes for the starting second base job alongside Garrett Hampson and Ryan McMahon.

While Rodgers’ absence from Colorado’s 40-man roster indicates he’ll likely start the season at Triple-A Albuquerque — he’s in camp as a non-roster invite — the smooth-fielding Winter Park, Fla., native could be up soon with what Nolan Arenado has described as “one of the most solid swings I’ve seen in a long time.” Related Articles Rockies Insider: Why Colorado fans should be happy the Padres signed Manny Machado

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“He’s had some tough times lately with injuries, but his head is in the right spot,” Rockies shortstop Trevor Story said. “He can hit for power, he can hit for average, he can run, he can pretty much do anything on a baseball field. His ability speaks for itself, and I think he has the potential to be one of the better players in the league.”

Rodgers, the third overall pick in the 2015 draft, has been the organization’s top prospect for the better part of two years. He is the No. 10 overall prospect in all of baseball, per MLB Pipeline.

“He’s always been a top, top prospect,” said Hampson, Rodgers’ roommate in Class-A Advanced. “He takes it with a grain of salt, but at the same time, he knows he’s one of the best players on the field every single day. He always brings that mindset.”

After hitting .268 with 17 home runs in 114 games across Double-A and Triple-A last season, there’s plenty more room for improvement as Rodgers also works on enhancing his defensive versatility to include third base.

“From my vantage point, from 2018 to 2019, I’ve seen some growth,” manager Bud Black said. “I expect to see growth into 2020 as well … He comes with some obvious fanfare, because people are talking about him, and that’s what you want. You want people talking about players in your organization, but Brendan’s handled it well.”

Tracking Brendan Rodgers’ rise

2015: Drafted 3rd overall out of Lake Mary (Fla.) High School

2015: In 37 games with rookie-level Grand Junction, hits .273 with 3 HR, 20 RBIs

2016: First complete pro season — 110 games with Class-A Asheville, .281/19/73

2017: Split time between High-A Lancaster and Double-A Hartford, .336/18/64

2018: Started at Double-A, called up to Triple-A Albuquerque on July 31, .268/17/67