Welcome to Rockies Pitch 2025!

Yes, I remember back in August when I said Rockies Pitch would return around Labor Day — just needed some time to get my classes in order! — and then nothing happened.

I’ll spare you the details of my professional life except to note that teaching a new class always requires a lot of my mental space, and last fall, I built one new class and significantly revised another.

But that was last year — and last semester — and the spring looks more manageable on a number of fronts, so let’s take another run at things.

It’s been a slow offseason for the Colorado Rockies. So far, they have non-tendered some players (e.g., Cal Quantrill and Brendan Rodgers), signed three free agents (Thairo Estrada, Jacob Stallings, and Kyle Farmer), and agreed to some MiLB contracts. Others from the 2024 roster have declared free agency with Jake Cave headed to Korea and Peter Lambert off to Japan for 2025.

For a rebuilding team with revenue questions, these seem like appropriate — if not terribly interesting — moves.

Although I expect a few more minor signings before Spring Training games begin, it‘s pretty easy to see the team the Rockies will probably break camp with.

It’s too soon to begin making predictions, but given that we’re in the new year, setting a few resolutions for them might be helpful.

• Keep letting the kids play — Both general manager Bill Schmidt and manager Bud Black, on a one-year contract extension, stressed at the Winter Meetings they would continue to give prospects playing time. Chase Dollander, Yanquiel Fernandez, Carson Palmquist, Adael Amador, Zac Veen, bring your friends, and head to Coors Field! The Rockies have spent much of the decade rebuilding their farm system. In 2025, they will need to see what they’ve got while preparing for their window to open.

• Fix the offense — Sure, pitching at elevation is hard, but in this decade, many of the Rockies’ problems have stemmed from an anemic offense. That trend began changing — a little — in 2024 as the Rockies hit a few more homers and stole a few more bases. But in 2025, the Rockies will need to get better at manufacturing runs — and chasing fewer bad pitches. Less year, Ezequiel Tovar was historic (in a bad way), and that’s something they’ll need to address, too.

• Build consistency in the bullpen — The Rockies young bullpen is one of the best-kept secrets in baseball, even though the numbers did not reflect it. Victor Vodnik, Seth Halvorsen, and Luis Peralta have tremendous potential, especially if Tyler Kinley, Justin Lawrence, Jake Bird, and Lucas Gilbreath can get back on track. However, in 2024, this was an inconsistent crew, and that will need to improve going forward. (Also, Bud Black, please stop overusing young relievers.)

• Keep playing outstanding defense — Three Rockies were Gold Glove finalists with Brenton Doyle and Ezequiel Tovar bringing home hardware. (Sorry, Ryan McMahon!) There’s no reason to expect these players won’t continue to be effective defenders in 2025, and I’m bullish on Michael Toglia in the coming season.

• Hope for good health — Clearly, there’s not a lot the Rockies can do on this front, but if their pitching staff can stay healthy – and that includes successful returns from Germán Márquez and Antonio Senzatela — and if Kris Bryant can manage to stay healthy for, say, 125 games, that would go a long way toward pushing the team in the right direction.

Not to be one of those people, but this is probably not going to be a terrific season for the Colorado Rockies. Such is the nature of rebuilds, even if the front office is reticent to say it. (Calling it a “remodel,” Bud Black’s go-to term, does nothing to change the fact that this is a rebuild, and they’re always difficult.) But we can probably expect to see better baseball in 2025, and that’s a good thing.

Rockies Fest Is Coming!

The Rockies have not gotten serious about publicizing it yet, but Rockies Fest will take place on Saturday, January 25 at Coors Field. We don’t know many details, but I know from a good source that there will be Rockies Family Fued.

I went last year, and it was great — I learned a lot. Plus, you get to look at pretty much all of Coors Field.

Hopefully, we’ll get to see some of you there!

What I’m Reading

There hasn’t been much to work with during this offseason, but here are a few recommendations:

• “Ezequiel Tovar has another step forward to take in 2025” (Purple Row) — Evan Lang digs into just how much chasing Tovar did in 2024.

• “Determined Byrant “in a good place” (MLB.com) — If anyone needs a good offseason, it’s Bryant. Thomas Harding suggests it’s happening.

• “Rockies lose depth from Rule 5 Draft” (Blake Street Banter) — The Rockies have a little less depth than they did going into the Winter Meetings. Isaac Stevens looks into the players who will be with other organizations in 2025.

Closing Thoughts

And with that, 2025 is off and running!

Thanks for reading, and don’t hesitate to share this with any friends who might be interested.

As always, thanks for reading.

Here’s to a good 2025!

Renee

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Rockies Pitch is a newsletter that focuses on Colorado Rockies baseball and tries to tell the stories no one else is. Find me on Bluesky at @Renee.Dechert.com.