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Rockies' top pick Rodgers dazzles in minor-league debut

Ron Chenoy / USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Brendan Rodgers, the Florida high schooler selected third overall by the Colorado Rockies in the 2015 MLB Draft, officially started his professional baseball career Thursday night in the rookie-level Pioneer League.

So far, so good.

The 18-year-old shortstop went 4-for-6 in his first ever minor-league game, notching a home run and a double while scoring three times for Grand Junction in a 15-11 loss to the Orem Owlz.

"I was just in shock, like, wow, just to get my first hit, and then, two at-bats later, getting my first hit and my first professional home run in one game," Rodgers told Alex M. Smith of MiLB.com. "It was unbelievable. I'm still shaking."

Rodgers, who agreed to a $5.5-million signing bonus from the Rockies in lieu of attending Florida State University, joined Grand Junction last Thursday, but spent six games on the bench acclimating to professional baseball.

"It was actually good to learn the pro ball game and pro ball way, to see the right way and the wrong way to do things on and off the field as a pro," Rodgers said. "It was really good to get to watch six games and have a good debut."

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