Spring training doesn’t start for a few weeks, but some players are getting a jump-start on the competition.

On Friday, the Colorado Rockies finished their Winter Development Program for top prospects.

The two-week program, which was implemented in 2001 and occurs every other year, is meant to prepare minor league players for the big leagues.

The players who took part were right-handed pitchers Samual Deduno, Jhoulys Chacin, Connor Graham, Brandon Hynick, Shane Lindsay, Ryan Mattheus, Chaz Roe, Esmil Rogers, and Casey Weathers; left-handers Christian Friendrick and Franklin Morales; infielders Hector Gomez, Joseph Massey, Chris Nelson, Corey Wimberly, and Eric Young Jr.; outfielders Charles Blackmon and Carlos Gonzalez; and catchers Michael McKenry, Jordan Pacheco, and Wilin Rosario.

“We’ve learned a lot – whether it be baseball, financial or media related,” said McKenry, a 2006 draft pick who spent last season in Modesto, Calif. “We took a tour of Coors Field and got to see everything from ticket sales to media relations and what goes on behind the scenes and what goes into our paychecks.”

Players were chosen based on the likelihood of reaching the majors within two years.

They participated in daily workouts and meetings and coordinators called the event a success.

“It went really well; the guys loved it,” player development assistant Walter Sylvester said. “My pitching coordinator (Bo McLaughlin) was really happy with the way the guys were throwing strikes down in the zone.”

Besides workouts, players were treated to many activities in Denver, including a visit to the children’s hospital, a Nuggets game and a rodeo.

“I’ve been to a couple of rodeos, but the Latin guys haven’t been so it was fun to see their reactions,” Mattheus said.

This was an opportunity for players to impress coaches before arriving next month at spring training.

“This was really a treat for me,” Mattheus said. “I know I’m ahead of the game now, at least from where I was last year.”

Morales, who has the most experience of the group having made several starts for the Rockies and Sky Sox, was there to learn but also to give advice.

“I try to help out the other Latin players,” he said. “I know what they are (feeling) like away from home.”

Chacin, who was named Minor League Pitcher of the Year by mlb.com after leading the minors in wins (18) during his time in Asheville and Modesto, has his eyes set on pitching in Colorado.

“I like Denver, I like Colorado,” Chacin said between smiles. “I am just working on keeping that energy I had last year and staying strong in my pitches.”

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