What We Learned from Bill Schmidt’s Cactus League Presser

Renee Dechert

Feb 23, 2024 — 6 min read

On Tuesday, the Cactus League held its media day with various front office personnel taking questions. Among those were Bill Schmidt, who spoke with beat writers about the 2024 Colorado Rockies. While never one to be overly loquacious, here’s some of what Schmidt had to say about the coming season.

Where Will Elehuris Montero Play?

Schmidt was clear that “consistency” at the Major-League level is what he’ll need to see from the young first baseman.

In September, Montero began to turn a corner. According to Schmidt, this happened during the Rockies series with the Tampa Bay Rays when Montero worked with Clint Hurdle and made some swing adjustments. To illustrate, Montero finished the season with an 82 OPS+. In August, his OPS+ was 73; in September and October, that improved to 139.

“I think that helped him the last month of the season,” Schmidt said. Expect to see him as a corner utility player or designated hitter.

The question is if Montero can pick up where he left off — and if the Rockies will give him regular at-bats. He will be behind Kris Bryant for playing time at first though Schmidt says the Rockies will “figure it out as the spring goes on” — and Schmidt did not rule out Bryant taking an occasional turn in the outfield.

But, he stressed, Montero will “have to earn his spot — he’s out of options.”

What About All Those Young Pitchers?

It’s no secret that the Rockies struggled on the hill in 2023. (Worst ERA in baseball, anyone?) Schmidt is positive about the future, though.

“I think we have some talent,” he said. “I mean, we've acquired 37 pitchers in the last twenty-something months, and somebody's gonna surprise us in that group. And then we're going to develop a couple of them.”

Schmidt pointed to Chase Dollander as a pitcher with potential and noted that Gabriel Hughes and Jordy Vargas will return as well.

“They’ll make the steps and help us going forward,” he said.

Additionally, the Rockies continue to watch Riley Pint.

“We believe in the talent. We believe in the person, and we’re going to play it out until the very end,” Schmidt said. The Rockies especially like Pint’s slider, which Schmidt termed “a quality, Major League pitch.”

Still, they recognize he must master fastball command.

But Schmidt sees reason for hope.

“That’s the great thing about young kids: You don’t know what to expect, and somebody in that group — it could be Justice. You know, he went through some growing pains coming up. Hollowell. Someone’s going to step forward. I’m going to be anxious to see who that is.” Victor Vodnik is also in the mix.

“The foundation is going to be our young players,” Schmidt said, and he hopes this group will provide a “longer window of opportunity.”

What Will Happen with All Those Young Outfielders?

Schmidt likes the competition between Jordan Beck, Yanquiel Fernandez, Hunter Goodman, Benny Montgomery, Sterlin Thompson, Michael Toglia, and Zac Veen, but he also knows decision time is coming.

”It's good any time there's competition,” Schmidt said. “And then at some point, we're going to have to make some decisions on which ones we‘ll keep and which ones we’ll use to try to help us in other areas that we need help.”

Having to make these kinds of decisions, he said, is “a very good thing.”

Incidentally, the Rockies were open to trading some of their young outfielders during the offseason. However, as Schmidt put it, “The right thing didn’t come about.”

This season, it‘s likely that Benny Montgomery, Yanquiel Fernandez, and Zac Veen, Jordan Beck will begin in Double-A. As Schmidt put it, “One night, one guy can DH, and the other three can play the outfield.”

Could some start the season in Triple-A? Yes. But, Schmidt said, the Rockies would “do what’s best for the player.”

What’s the Word on Top Prospect Adael Amador?

The Rockies continue to be all-in on the young second baseman.

“I foresee him starting at Hartford in Double-A,” Schmidt said. “He's in good shape, played Winter Ball a little bit the two months he when he was coming off the hamate.” He added, “I thought he struggled with Double-A, so we'll see how he handles Double-A, but I think he's very, very talented player.”

They also like his demeanor.

“He always has a smile,“ Schmidt said, “his baseball IQ, his ability to understand the strike zone. He walks more than he strikes out. He brings unique skill set for us, and that's being a good table setter, but just a unique, innate ability to hit.“

The Rockies have also not ruled out his returning to shortstop though they think they may have better options at that position.

“But first and foremost, I think he's just a solid, solid player.”

“I’m looking for good hitters,” he said, and he sees Amador as checking that box.

Here’s Amador in action:

Pretty, pretty good.

Reading Between the Lines

Here’s what struck me as interesting in Schmidt’s comments:

Clearly, it's make-or-break time for Montero -- Although Schmidt did not say it, surely he's one of those players the Rockies were willing to trade during the offseason. Now if the Rockies can allow him enough consistent playing time to show what he can do.
Some of the young outfielders will be moved -- Schdmidt's comments suggest that this season is about letting the kids play, getting sense of what the Rockies will need in 2025, and making the moves to acquire those players.
Missing from this conversation? Sterlin Thompson and Hunter Goodman -- I left RockiesFest most curious about their fates in the near term. Hopefully, we'll know more as Spring Training unfolds.

We’ve got our first Spring Training game this afternoon against the National League Champion Arizona Diamondbacks, and you can watch for free on Rockies.TV.

Bring it on.

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