HARTFORD, Conn. — Consistency is key for Rockies prospect Aidan Longwell, even if it involves some juggling from time to time.

Now in his first season with the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats, Longwell continues to be a force at the plate, something that has been his calling card since he arrived in the Rockies organization after being selected in the 17th round of the 2023 MLB draft.

The 24-year-old Longwell entered Wednesday’s action with a .268 batting average through his first 149 Eastern League at-bats. This year marks his third season playing at a new level in the Rockies farm system, but nothing has slowed him down. He has a career .291 batting average, one of the reasons why he was quickly advanced to Low-A Fresno shortly after being drafted.

“Everything has been pretty consistent throughout the first couple years here in pro ball,” Longwell said of his productive swing after Yard Goats batting practice at Dunkin’ Park. “I’m just continuing to work.”

One of the secrets to Longwell’s hitting could come from an unlikely source.

During the COVID-19 pandemic when government restrictions ground baseball to a halt, Longwell was missing out on his senior season at Ohio’s Massillon High School. Bored and trying to find something to do, Longwell took up juggling. He still shows off the talent sometimes during Yard Goats rain delays, juggling baseballs or anything of that shape, he said.

“I was sitting around the house, having some fun and messing around with the family,” Longwell said of his discovery. “I learned it from there. It definitely helps with the hand-eye coordination.”

While the hand-eye coordination has helped Longwell continue to hit at a solid pace, there are many in Ohio who wondered why he chose baseball over football.

Massillon has produced several pro football players, including Chris Spielman, the all-time leading tackler for the Detroit Lions. Longwell looked to perhaps be in line to have a glory-filled football career, earning scholarship offers from nine Division I programs after setting school records for passing yards, completions and touchdowns as a three-year starting quarterback.

However, Longwell always held baseball as his first love, choosing Kent State and leaving the gridiron behind.

“It’s always been baseball, since as long as I can remember,” Longwell explained. “Just playing in the backyard with my dad and my brother, it’s always been baseball. I just happened to be good at football growing up.

“It was fun to entertain that a little bit, the recruiting process and going through that time, but it was always baseball. I always knew that that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a professional baseball player.”

Even though Longwell couldn’t give up his first love, he admits people were shocked by the decision.

“I come from a very heavy football town, so there were a lot of people that when I committed to Kent State as a freshman in high school, they went, ‘Wait, you play baseball too?’” Longwell said with a smile.

The Rockies gave him the opportunity to pursue his dream on the diamond, using him in the minor leagues primarily as a first baseman. There have been a few appearances in the outfield, including two in left field this season in Hartford, but Longwell’s primary focus is in the infield.

While Longwell isn’t listed among Colorado’s top 30 prospects by MLB.com, there is an appreciation within the organization for Longwell’s hitting skills. With the organization focusing on putting the ball in play under the new front office’s guidance, and emphasizing that at every level, Longwell’s approach at the plate fits into what the Rockies are hoping to see more of in the future.

The art of hitting is something Longwell said motivates him daily.

“It’s a challenge every day,” Longwell said. “Every day something new is going on. Your swing might not feel great that day, and you have to find a way to get it done. Or you’re seeing a great arm that night, and you have to be ready to compete. Every time you step into the box, it’s a battle. It’s a one-on-one battle between the pitcher and the hitter. I love that one-on-one competition.”

Longwell also said he loves the challenge presented by each level of the minor leagues, including what he sees in Hartford.

“In Double-A, you don’t get a night off. Every night, you’re seeing an elite arm with good stuff. And out of the bullpen they all have good stuff as well. Plus, they all throw hard up here,” Longwell said. “There is a lot more consistency in Double-A as well. They execute their pitches a lot more, which has been a little bit of an adjustment now for me.”

Yes, it’s another adjustment. But if the past is any indication, Longwell will handle the juggle just fine.