Get yourself some peanuts and Cracker Jacks because baseball season is nearly upon us.
Spring training is about to kick off in Scottsdale, Arizona, for the Rockies, who are looking to rebound from their abysmal 68-94 record last year.
Here’s a look at the Rockies’ top prospects entering spring training with a breakdown of who they are from Denver Post beat writer Kyle Newman.
Zac Veen, OF
Age: 21 | Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 190
After tearing up last season’s Futures Game and then earning offensive player of the year in the Arizona Fall League, the Zac Veen hype train is pulling into spring training with a full head of steam.
Veen, 21, is Colorado’s top overall prospect and the centerpiece of the Rockies’ rebuild. He’s in Scottsdale as a non-roster invite to major league spring training, and is set to make his Cactus League debut. Read the full story.
Drew Romo, C
Age: 21 | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205
Drew Romo has two years to get ready to take over as the Rockies’ starting catcher. If all goes according to plan, that spot will be his — no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
Romo, 21, is in his first major league spring training as a non-roster invite. Set to make his Cactus League debut, the Rockies are looking to the 2020 first-round pick (No. 20 overall out of The Woodlands High School in Texas) to take another leap forward in 2023. Read the full story.
Case Williams, RHP
Age: 21 | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 210
Can Case Williams, the homegrown pitcher with an already twisty minor-league tale, be a steady hand in the Rockies’ future rotation? This spring, the club will start to find out.
Williams, 21, is in major league camp as a non-roster invite. Colorado’s fourth-round draft pick in 2020 out of Douglas County, the right-hander is coming off a strong 2022 in which he pitched at three minor league levels, culminating with Double-A Hartford. Read the full story.
Michael Toglia, 1B/OF
Age: 24 | Height: 6-5 | Weight: 226
After 2022’s promising prelude, the Rockies are expecting big things from Michael Toglia’s true rookie season in 2023.
Colorado’s switch-hitting first baseman of the future will vie for a spot this year behind C.J. Cron. And, Toglia could also see action in right field, where he made 17 starts last year. Read the full story.
Brenton Doyle, OF
Age: 24 | Height: 6-3 Weight: 200
When the Rockies drafted Brenton Doyle in the fourth round in 2019, making him the first Division II player selected that year, the biggest question was whether Doyle’s raw tools and athleticism would translate from that level to professional baseball.
Four years later, Doyle rendered those concerns moot while fast-tracking through the minors. After ending last season on a tear in Triple-A, the Rockies added Brenton Doyle to the 40-man roster in November, all but cementing the outfielder’s place at Coors Field sometime in the near future. Read the full story.
Gabriel Hughes, RHP
Age: 21 | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 220
When it comes to highly touted starting pitching prospects, the Rockies have a dearth of promising arms in their pipeline. Thatap where Gabriel Hughes comes in.
Hughes was the Rockies’ first-round pick last year at No. 10 overall out of Gonzaga.The right-hander is Colorado’s top-ranked pitching prospect, per MLB Pipeline, checking in at No. 5. Read the full story.
Warming Bernabel, Third base
Age: 20 | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 180
In four years, Warming Bernabel has gone from a fringe Latin prospect to one of the most intriguing young hitters in the Rockies organization.
Bernabel, 20, was added to the Rockies’ 40-man roster in November as a result of his rapid rise through the lower minor leagues. Now the third baseman is ready to climb through the upper minor leagues as he’s likely to break camp with Double-A Hartford. Read the full story.
Benny Montgomery, Center field
Age: 20 | Height: 6-4 | Weight: 200
Montgomery’s got a funky swing. But he just keeps hitting.
The Rockies’ first-round draft pick in 2021 at No. 8 overall out of Red Land High School in Pennsylvania tore up Low-A Fresno in his first true professional test last year. Montgomery slashed .313/.394/.502 in 56 games and projects to start 2023 in High-A Spokane. Read the full story.
