The Rockies’ hottest prospect has arrived at Coors Field.

Colorado called up 24-year-old Ryan Ritter on Friday ahead of its series opener against the Mets, paving the way for the shortstop’s MLB debut. Ritter has been tearing up Triple-A for the Albuquerque Isotopes and was named the Pacific Coast League Player of the Month on Thursday after slashing .381/.445/.918 with 10 doubles, 12 homers and 31 RBIs in May.

In a corresponding move, the Rockies placed Gold Glove shortstop Ezequiel Tovar on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain that he suffered during the series opener against the Marlins on Monday. It’s Tovar’s second trip to the IL this year, after he missed about a month from mid-April to mid-May with a left hip contusion.

Manager Warren Schaeffer said Friday there is no timetable for Tovar’s return.

Ritter is expecting at least 20 family members and friends to attend Friday night’s game, including his four sisters and two brothers.

Ritter received the good news from Isotopes manager Pedro Lopez, who, as minor league managers universally do, attempted to fool Ritter.

“I was at El Paso for our last game, and then (Lopez) handed me a sheet and had me read it out loud,” Ritter recalled. “I was the player of the month last month. He faked me out, (saying), ‘Here’s a letter from the PCL. Read it out.’ I read it out, and it ended up being, ‘Congrats, you’re going to the big leagues.’”

Ritter said he’s ready for his debut.

“I’m not going to change anything, just focus on playing the way I have been,” he said, referring to his sizzling May. “I just had a good routine down, and I just kept it simple every day. That was the name of the game for me. Every day was the same for me, and the same mindset.”

Ritter, a fourth-round pick out of Kentucky in 2022, leads the PCL this season with a .635 slugging percentage and 1.049 OPS. The Illinois native has hit .284/.386/.510 with 59 doubles, 10 triples, 48 home runs, 166 RBIs and 42 steals across four minor-league seasons. He will wear No. 8, while Orlando Arcia will switch his number from 8 to 11.

Ritter said he’s grown a lot as a hitter over the last two years.

“Hitting is something that takes some time,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to be really great at hitting. I know it’s going to be a day-to-day learning process of getting better. You never want to be the same. Just like wine. You know, the longer it’s in the cabinet, the better it tastes. … As I get older, the better I’m going to get.”

Schaeffer is impressed with Ritter’s skill set.

“(He’s) a line-drive hitter, competitor in the box, solid defender, (with) the ability to play all three infield positions,” Schaeffer said. “And do all of that very well.”

Schaeffer added that Ritter has “above average” speed and can steal some bases.

Stallings released, Fulford called up

In another notable move on Friday, the Rockies released veteran catcher Jacob Stallings, 35, and recalled rookie Braxton Fulford, 26, from Triple-A. Stallings had a solid debut season in Colorado in ’24 that led to the Rockies re-signing him to a one-year, $2.5 million contract, but he’s struggled this year with a .143 average and .217 on-base percentage with no homers in 28 games.

This will be Fulford’s second stint with the Rockies this season. In four previous games, he hit 1 for 8 with five strikeouts. His one hit was a home run.

“I think it just seemed like the perfect time to make a step to push a little youth,” Schaeffer said when asked to explain the move. “I think the timing is right.”

The Rockies also reinstated right-hander Zach Agnos from the bereavement list. The rookie’s been a strong addition to the back end of the bullpen with a 1.50 ERA in 16 games with four saves in four opportunities.