First baseman and outfielder Charlie Condon and outfielder and second baseman Roldy Brito will play for the National League in the annual Futures Game at 10 a.m. July 12 at Citizen Bank Park in Philadelphia.

Condon, 23, was selected by the Rockies with the third overall pick in the first round of the 2024 MLB amateur draft. He’s slashing .286/.414/.580 for Triple-A Albuquerque this season, and is leading the team in home runs (18), runs batted in (56) and triples (5). He’s the No. 2 prospect in the Rockies system, , behind Ethan Holliday, the team’s first-round pick last year.

Brito, 19, signed with Colorado during the 2024 international signing period from the Dominican Republic. With Single-A Fresno, he’s slashing .312/.363/.477 with six home runs, 60 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. MLB Pipeline ranks him as Colorado’s No. 3 prospect.

Mickey Moniak returned from the injured list ahead of Monday night’s game between the Red Sox and Rockies at Coors Field. Meanwhile, Brenton Doyle and Jordan Beck left Denver on Monday to begin their rehab stints with Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes.

And speaking of the Isotopes, outfield prospects Charlie Condon and Zac Veen are battering Triple-A pitching and threatening to kick down the big-league door.

It will be Byrnes’ job — along with Paul DePodesta, the president of baseball operations — to make some important, franchise-shaping decisions in the coming weeks.

For a rebuilding team like the Rockies, that entered Monday’s game with a 30-48 record, the Aug. 3 trade deadline looms as a huge opportunity. Byrnes acknowledged Monday that the franchise lacks big-league-ready pitching and must build depth. Trades could be part of the equation.

“I think that, candidly, we’d like to — and it’s been done here before — build a pitching staff that’s playoff caliber and hopefully sustainable for several years,” he said. “Not just the players, but the methods behind it. I think it’s probably pretty high on the list for what we’re trying to do.”

Asked if trades could be a solution, Byrnes answered: “I think that’s spot on. I think that’s where we see it too. We need more upper-level pitching. We’ve found some, you know, in various ways.”

Byrnes pointed to right-hander Andrew Baker as an example. Colorado acquired Baker, 26, from the Phillies last month in exchange for international signing money. Baker will soon be promoted from Double-A Hartford to Triple-A, Byrnes said.

“We just have to constantly be on the hunt for pitching, hopefully, up and down the organization,” Byrnes said.

In the winter of 2015, former Rockies GM Jeff Bridich and his staff were hunting too. Venezuelan right-hander German Marquez was coming off a promising season with the Charlotte Stonecrabs, Tampa Bay’s High-A team, and the Rockies were very interested.

The Rockies and the Rays completed the trade in January 2016, with the Rockies acquiring left-handed reliever Jake McGee and Marquez in exchange for outfielder slugger Corey Dickerson and infielder Kevin Padlo. Marquez turned out to be one of the best pitchers in Rockies history and helped them make the playoffs in 2017 and ’18.

“Jack Gillis gets a lot of the credit for having done a lot of the scouting work … He had seen German pitch a number of times,” Bridich told The Post in 2019. “Jack had an instinct and gut feel for what German could become at the major-league level.”

Dickerson, a fan favorite, had a breakout season in 2024, slashing .312/.364/.567 with 24 home runs and 27 doubles. However, his 2015 season was marred by plantar fasciitis in his left foot, making him expendable in a trade.

Perhaps the Rockies are exploring trading a Dickerson-like outfielder now? To the question about trading from outfield depth, Byrnes gave a vague response.

“We’re talking to teams constantly,” he said. “I, obviously, won’t reveal too much about who or what we’re talking about. Teams usually make trades because they have depth (at a position) and trade out a bit.”

Colorado certainly has talent in the outfield, but how enticing it is to other teams remains to be seen.

Before Moniak went on the IL on May 22 with right ankle tendinitis, he was slashing .280/.335/.607 (942 OPS) with 12 home runs. There was talk of a possible trip to the All-Star Game.

Monday night, the Rockies started exciting rookie Cole Carrigg in center. He hit .250 with three homers in his first 12 games. Speedy Jake McCarthy (.295 average, five home runs, .801 OPS) started in left, and Tyler Freeman (.268, three homers, .771 OPS) started in right. Colorado also has Troy Johnston (.309, three homers, .811 OPS) on the current big-league roster.

Regarding Doyle and Beck returning to the Rockies after their rehab stints, manager Warren Schaeffer recently said that the club is in no rush to make roster decisions.

At Triple-A, Condon, ranked as Colorado’s No. 2 prospect by MLB.com, is sizzling. In 17 games in June, the right fielder has hit .262 with a 1.055 OPS and six home runs. Overall this season, he’s slashed .262/.397/.512 with 14 homers.

Veen, the No. 13 prospect, has hit safely in 22 straight games, the longest active streak in the minors. He’s slashing .419/.433/.828 with 11 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, and 18 RBI over the stretch.

So, what does Byrnes tell the hot prospects when they’re still down on the farm, biding their time?

“If you’re in Triple A and you think you should be in the big leagues, I think it’s a fair question,” he said. “I often say to players, ‘You’re not a human being if you’re not like, a little, why am I not getting a shot?’

“That’s a human reaction. So, we can explain that there’s a lot about an individual player’s readiness, what’s going on with our rosters — a lot of reasons. I also say, ‘Maybe we’re right, maybe we’re not.’ (Their instinct is), they’re ready. We’re saying not quite, not quite yet.”

Cole Carrigg’s off to a pretty solid start in his MLB career, but why was he promoted instead of Charlie Condon or Zac Veen? Was he just playing that much better than them? Is it to manage their service time in the majors? A little of both? Thanks.

— Marshall, Parker

Marshall, since you submitted your question, Carrigg has been sensational. It’s not about service time.

In the Rockies’ excruciating loss to the Cubs on Monday night, he drove in all four runs and hit an eighth-inning, three-run home run that should have stood as the game-winner.

Carrigg plays with a swagger and an edge, and in that regard, he reminds me of Troy Tulowitzki as a rookie. I asked one of Tulo’s former teammates if he shared my opinion.

“I see some,” the teammate responded. “Tulo wasn’t on the razor’s edge of out of control like Carrigg.”

Anyway, to your question, the Rockies front office sees a lot of things that fans don’t see, and that I don’t see or consider. Paul DePodesta, the president of baseball operations, recently told me that they take a hard look at “the process” a player has in the minors as a major part of their decision on when to promote a player.

Carrigg has proven that he was ready. I think promotions for Condon and Veen could very well depend on what happens as the trade deadline nears.

Patrick, I heard you’re leaving soon. It’s been a pleasure reading your coverage all these years. The Denver sports community is losing an absolute legend. What are some of the most memorable moments of your career?

— Ryan C., Aurora

Ryan, thanks for your kind comments.

Leaving The Post after nearly 28 years is a hard and emotional decision, but it was time. The buyout I was offered made me accelerate my retirement timeline. The baseball beat, particularly covering a losing Rockies team over the last few years, has been a grind. Plus, the industry is changing fast, and I’m becoming a bit of a dinosaur.

I have far too many memories to mention here in any detail, so I will list a few: Rocktober; covering all three of the Broncos’ Super Bowl title wins; watching Nolan Arenado play third base; spending time in the dugout talking baseball and music with Bud Black; being at Todd Helton’s house in Tennessee when he got the call that he was elected to the Hall of Fame; working with some incredible colleagues, especially Kyle Newman and Troy Renck; crazy, fun times in the press box with the crew; covering games at all 30 major league ballparks; having Coors Field as my office on perfect summer nights; and forming a friendship with MLB.com’s Thomas Harding, with whom I’ve had a bromance for 25 years.

I’ll be writing a farewell story soon, so keep an eye out for it.

Did you expect T.J. Rumfield to be our breakout star this season? I certainly didn’t, but, boy, is it nice to have a solution at first base after so many years of failed experiments. Do you think he’ll win the Rookie of the Year award?

— Mike, Denver

Mike, I was excited about Rumfield after seeing him play in spring training and reading the reports on his skill set. As I wrote in February: “T.J. Rumfield was a big-league first baseman trapped in Triple-A limbo.”

But I have been surprised by the quality of his at-bats; he’s been hitting like a seasoned veteran. His glove work at first base has been outstanding.

However, I don’t think he’ll be named the National League’s top rookie, for a few reasons.

First, he plays in Colorado for a team with the worst record in baseball and he’s not going to get much attention from the baseball writers who vote for the award.

Second, he plays his home games at Coors Field, which will automatically disqualify him in the minds of some voters. That’s a shame, because he’s hit just as well on the road as at home. At Coors, he’s slashing .263/.353/.449 (.802 OPS), with five homers and 22 RBIs. On the road, he’s slashing .287/.359/.465 with four homers and 12 RBIs.

Third, there are several strong candidates, led by Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt, Reds first baseman Sal Stewart, and Mets right-hander Nolan McLean.

Are you surprised, disappointed, or comfortably numb by how the Rockies have performed so far this season?

— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.

Comfortably numb? You must be a Pink Floyd fan.

Anyway, I’m not sure my characterization is on your list. I would say mildly encouraged, but the state of the pitching staff is a huge concern.

Hey Patrick! Who do you think has the best shot at becoming our lone representative at the All-Star Game? I thought it was going to be Mickey Moniak before he went on IL. I feel like our best shots are Hunter Goodman, Antonio Senzatela or Tomoyuki Sugano.

— Ryan, Aurora

Ryan, the Rockies will have only one representative, and it’s going to be Goodman for the second consecutive season. As I write this, he’s slashing .255/.327/.537 (.864 OPS) with 27 RBIs.

It’s the catchy slogan that the Rockies conjured up for their rebuild. The trek figures to be long and steep, but just how long and how steep depends on the route that Paul DePodesta, Josh Byrnes and company take.

The next few months will be telling. DePodesta, the president of baseball operations, and Byrnes, the general manager, must decide who to trade and who to hold onto before the Aug. 3 deadline. They must also decide which prospects to promote, and when.

It’s quite a to-do list.

Let’s start with the trade deadline, something the Rockies have often been reticent to maneuver in the past. DePodesta said trade talks right now are “preliminary.”

“We haven’t canvassed the league or anything like that, but we are starting to have some conversations if there is a potential match,” he said Sunday before the Rockies hosted the Brewers.

Jeff Passan, ESPN’s national baseball writer, that the Rockies “… are years away from contending, and nobody on their roster is untouchable.”

Asked about Passan’s take, DePodesta said, “There would be certain guys that would be really, really hard for us to move. I think that’s probably true of any team. There are guys that we feel are hopefully foundational players for us going forward.

“At the same time, we need to be opportunistic. We are not where we want to be. So, if there are opportunities for us to get better, certainly both in the short-term and the long-term, I think we need to look at that. I think it’s our responsibility to do that. But there are a lot of guys that we’re not actively shopping.”

Leading the list of “foundational players” would be All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman and 2024 Gold Glove shortstop Ezequiel Tovar. The Rockies would also have to think long and hard about trading top prospects like Charlie Condon and Zac Veen.

The Rockies’ top trading chip is reborn reliever Antonio Senzatela. He’ll be a free agent after this season, and he’s the kind of pitcher contending teams can use. Despite his meltdown in Colorado’s extra-inning loss to Milwaukee Friday night, the erstwhile starter has been one of baseball’s best relievers this season. He had a 1.98 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and a .195 average against heading into Sunday. The Rockies will likely be looking for starting pitching prospects in a trade for “Senza.”

Outfielder Mickey Moniak, currently on the injured list with tendinitis in his right ankle, will draw interest, too. He’s having an All-Star-type season — .280/.335/.607 (.942 OPS), 12 homers — and he’s a team-first player. His checkered career shows that he can be streaky, but he can also be a sparkplug.

Caution signs for interested teams include Moniak’s home-road splits — .306 average, nine homers at Coors Field vs. .246 average and three homers on the road — and the fact that he has one more year of arbitration left on his contract. He’s making $4 million this season.

The other players who might draw interest include veteran utility player Willi Castro, outfielders Jake McCarthy and Troy Johnston, right-handed starter Tomoyuki Sugano, left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino, and right-handed reliever Jaden Hill.

The Rockies’ offseason trade of right-handed reliever Angel Chivilli for first baseman TJ Rumfield showed that the new front office is willing to trade talented relievers.

The Rockies’ brass has much to debate.

For example, Sugano has been the most consistent starter (5-5, 3.98 ERA over 12 starts), and he’s pitching on a one-year, $5.1 million deal. But given the shaky state of the rotation, should the Rockies move him, try to skate by with fill-in starters who aren’t ready, and risk becoming the kind of no-hope team they were last season?

Or, consider McCarthy’s situation. He’s thriving at the top of the order, can roam center field, and his speed is an asset the Rockies need. Plus, he is under team control for two more years of arbitration and won’t be a free agent until after the 2028 season.

The quandary facing the Rockies is that center fielder Brenton Doyle (currently on the IL with an oblique injury) has regressed from his 2024 season, and there are now questions about whether he’ll ever become a plus player. So, can the Rockies afford to trade McCarthy?

It depends on how much confidence the Rockies have in their prospect. Waiting to get his big-league chance is outfielder Cole Carrigg, who has the athleticism to play center field. The question facing DePodesta and Byrnes is when to call up Carrigg.

Fans, of course, want to see Carrigg sooner rather than later. The same goes for Veen and Condon. Fans see scorching numbers at Triple-A Albuquerque and clamor for promotions.

DePodesta, however, has made it clear he won’t rush players up before he thinks they’re ready. For instance, he doesn’t expect Condon to be an immediate star in the big leagues. DePodesta understands that Condon will face some tough times in the majors, but he wants Condon to be able to handle that failure and continue improving. He doesn’t want players buried by failure.

Most of all, DePodesta and his crew take a deep dive into factors other than the statistics and hot streaks that excite fans. DePodesta points to outfielder Sterlin Thompson, who made his debut on May 15.

“What really changed was the process of his at-bats,” DePodesta said. “He had very good numbers last season in Triple-A (.296 average, .911 OPS, 18 homers, 28 doubles), but his underlying numbers weren’t quite as strong. And then about mid-April of this year, he just really locked in … And I think the process of his at-bats was as good as anybody at Triple-A. That gave us conviction that he was ready to come up here and face the next challenge.”

Plus, during the Rockies’ disastrous 119-loss 2025 season, we saw what can happen when players are called up too soon. It can be disastrous. Veen’s struggles — on and off the field — are proof of that.

The Rockies have indeed begun their climb back toward respectability, but they remain a long way from being a contender. The steps DePodesta and Co. take over the next few months will be critical.

For a franchise that has had almost zero success with selecting high school pitchers in the first couple rounds of the draft — Aaron Cook and, to a lesser extent, Jamey Wright are the only notable exceptions — it still remains possible that could buck that trend.

Cox is Colorado’s highest-drafted high school pitcher since the Rockies whiffed by taking Riley Pint at No. 4 overall in 2016. Cox was selected in the second round at No. 50 overall out of Toutle Lake High School (Washington) in 2022. In the time since, he went through Tommy John surgery midway through ’23, missed all of ’24 and then was on an innings limit in ’25.

But those speed bumps haven’t dented the confidence of Cox, who is currently in High-A Spokane.

“In the next couple of years, I definitely see myself as a starter in the big leagues,” Cox said. “I’ve just got to keep working and keep chasing that hunger to be the best.”

In a sport defined by what-have-you-done-for-me-lately, Cox’s recent returns are promising.

The 6-foot-2 right-hander struggled out of the gate in ’25, with a 15.43 ERA in four April starts with Low-A Fresno. But then he dialed in his curveball and finished the season with a 3.39 ERA in 23 starts. That featured several dominant stretches, including a sizzling July in which he had a 2.74 ERA in five starts with an 11.7 K/9 ratio and an eye-popping 15.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

The 22-year-old has taken that momentum into this season in Spokane, where his K/9 rate is 12.4. He has a 4.25 ERA in six games this season heading into his next start for the Indians on Tuesday. In his last outing on May 5, he spun a career-high seven innings of one-run ball with nine strikeouts in a win over the Tri-City Dust Devils.

“Outings like that, I’m just trying to show that that’s the standard I hold myself to and that’s what the Rockies can expect when I walk out onto the mound,” Cox said.

Cox’s goals for this season include 200 strikeouts and a sub-3.00 ERA. With swing-and-miss stuff, Cox’s fastball sits in the mid-90s and he can reach back to hit 98 mph when needed. His curveball is in the low 80s, and his four-pitch mix is rounded out by a changeup (which he added during his Tommy John rehab) and a cutter (which he added in this offseason as a bridge between the fastball and curveball), both of which sit in the high-80s.

“I’ve definitely implemented the curveball a lot more over the past couple seasons, especially earlier in the game, because that’s always been my best pitch,” Cox said. “But the development of my changeup and recently adding the cutter has been two weapons that I really like relying on now as well, just making sure that I’m not getting too predictable by throwing too many fastballs to hitters.”

Five more updates on Rockies prospects

While Cole Carrigg is one of the hottest hitters in the minors, Charlie Condon is knocking on the door of his debut, and Zac Veen waits for another shot in the bigs, here are five other  to watch entering the heart of the season.

SS Ethan Holliday

The No. 1-ranked Rockies prospect, drafted fourth overall last year, scuffled in his debut last season with Fresno. He’s back in High-A in 2026, and hitting better: .258 with six homers through 26 games. He still needs to work on striking out less, but he projects to be in Spokane by season’s end.

2B/CF Roldy Brito

Brito signed with the Rockies in 2024 as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic, was the Arizona Complex League MVP in ’25 and then tore up Fresno after getting called up. Back in Fresno in ’26, the switch-hitter continues to hit for average (.315) and show off plus-speed.

RHP Brody Brecht

Colorado’s No. 38 overall pick in 2024 out of Iowa, developing command has been a focal point over his first two pro seasons. At 6-foot-4, Brecht sits around 96 with his fastball and can touch triple-digits, with a nice slider to match. He has a 4.91 ERA in six starts this season for Spokane.

OF Sterlin Thompson

One of two minor-league outfielders on along with Veen, Thompson has played right and left in Triple-A this year. The lefty’s hitting .336 with a .473 on-base percentage in 33 games; given left fielder Jordan Beck’s offensive struggles, Thompson’s debut could be imminent.

LHP Konner Eaton

The 6-foot-3 southpaw turned a lot of heads with his performance last year in Spokane, when he posted a 3.56 ERA in 23 starts before a late-season call-up to Hartford. He came back down to earth there, with a 5.30 ERA in four starts, but has a 3.00 ERA in six starts so far for the Goats in ’26. ]]> 7755819 2026-05-12T15:56:41+00:00 2026-05-12T16:10:58+00:00 /2026/05/04/colorado-rockies-depodesta-promising-start/ Mon, 04 May 2026 22:13:03 +0000 /?p=7655304 Judging by Paul DePodesta’s state-of-the-ballclub address, the Rockies are on the right track.

“We’re certainly encouraged by a lot of what’s going on, but at the same time, far from satisfied,” the president of baseball operations said Sunday morning during a Q&A with the media. “I think there are a lot of things we know we can do better, and that we’re going to work to continue to get better. But, but all in all, I think sort of a positive first month.”

DePodesta, hired last November in the wake of Colorado’s 119-loss season, faced a major reconstruction project, not just with the roster but with the front office and coaching staff.

After getting swept by the Braves at Coors Field over the weekend, the Rockies were 14-21 entering Monday’s game against the Mets. Not great, certainly, but significantly better than last season when they were 6-29 after 35 games.

The following are highlights from DePodesta’s session with the Rockies media:

Assessment of the three veteran free-agent pitchers

Colorado signed right-handers Tomoyuki Sugano and Michael Lorenzen, and lefty Jose Quintana for a combined $18.85 million to stabilize a rotation that posted a 6.65 ERA last season, the worst since ERA became an official statistic in 1913. Entering Monday’s game, Colorado starters had a 4.81 ERA, though over the last 15 games, it was 3.97.

“I think by and large, probably the most consistent thing over the first month has been our pitching,” DePodesta said. “I mean, our pitching is giving us a chance to win virtually every night. Every team will have a bad start here and there, but for the most part, they’re giving us a chance to win. And I think those three guys have been central to that.”

Using an ‘opener’ in the first inning ahead of Dollander

Right-hander Chase Dollander is off to an excellent start, despite his hiccup on Saturday night in Colorado’s 9-1 loss to Atlanta. After eight games, including one official start, Dollander is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA. He’s struck out 42, walked just 12, and has a 1.15 WHIP.

“It’s actually about trying to get him as much length as possible in a game,” DePodesta said. “So it’s not so much about having him avoid certain hitters, because he’s been pretty good against the top of the lineup. We think he certainly has stuff that will play the third time through a lineup.

“But I think at least initially, this was about trying to, sort of, lengthen him out as much as we possibly could.”

Left-hander Brennan Bernardino started ahead of Dollander in Saturday’s game and gave up hits to the first three Atlanta batters, including Drake Baldwin’s two-run homer. It’s an extremely small sample size, but openers have a combined 10.80 ERA (5.0 innings pitched, six earned runs), and Colorado’s record when they used an opener is 1-5.

Faith in slumping outfielders Beck and Doyle

Jordan Beck entered Monday’s game hitting .167 with a .469 OPS and one home run. Brenton Doyle was hitting .213 with a .567 OPS and one homer.

“First of all, we don’t want to be reactionary,” DePodesta said. “We also don’t want our players thinking that, ‘Boy, if they 0 for 4 tonight, they’re not in the lineup tomorrow.’ Or worse, they’re going to Triple-A tomorrow, right? Or if they give up a run, or something like that. We believe in these guys. We also believe in a lot of the guys we have in Triple-A right now, but we want to give them ample opportunity to play.”

The chance of calling up prospects Condon and Carrigg 

Cole Carrigg, who plays both infield and outfield, was named the Pacific Coast League player of the week on Monday after going 9 for 13 with two doubles, one triple, one homer, and seven RBIs over three games. He’s riding a PCL-best 13-game hitting streak, during which he slashed .521/.574/.729 with three doubles, two triples, one home run, 14 RBIs, and nine stolen bases.

After a monster start, Charlie Condon has cooled off. He hit four home runs in his first 10 games, but none since. Through April 17, he posted a line of .339/.456/.589, but now he’s slashing .250/.403/.406.

“Something we talked about all winter was sort of creating enough competition and depth with our big-league roster that we never want to call a player up just because we didn’t have anybody else,” DePodesta said. “We want to call players up when they are banging down the door, where we have to make room for them because they’re just playing so well, and they have the underlying foundation in place to be successful up here. Not just to survive, but to be successful.”

Do the Rockies have enough power in the lineup?

Led by red-hot Mickey Moniak’s 11 home runs to go with his .327 average, and catcher Hunter Goodman’s nine homers, the Rockies had hit 35 homers entering Monday’s play, tied with the Tigers and Phillies for 17th-most in the majors.

Asked if the Rockies have enough power in-house now, or need to develop sluggers over the next few seasons, DePodesta answered, “I think probably a combination of two. I think we’ll hit for more power as the year goes on. You look at some of our guys right now, who traditionally hit 15- 20-plus homers, and they have one right now.

“So I’m confident those guys will end up hitting for more power as the year goes on. At the same time, Mickey and ‘Goody’ both have (hit homers). And Mickey missed the first week (with a finger), so I think, as a team, we feel like we have enough.”

Veen, Colorado’s No. 9 overall pick in the 2020 draft, hit just .118 in that stint while striking out at a 37.8% clip. The outfielder’s at-bats were largely undisciplined, and judging by the entirety of his turbulent 2025 season, Veen clearly lacked the off-field maturity to be ready for his call-up.

Enter Paul DePodesta, the Rockies’ first-year president of baseball operations, and his belief that even the organization’s most prized minor leaguers needed more seasoning before getting a chance in LoDo.

“One of the things we really did purposely this winter was to try to help stabilize the big-league team,” DePodesta said. “The ancillary benefit of that was, and we’ve talked about this extensively (since I was hired), that it was going to force our young players to really earn their spot, to force their way onto the team, and not sort of skip part of what we think is really foundational experience at both Double-A and Triple-A.

“Sometimes players that are extremely talented will show up in the big leagues just a little too quickly.”

That philosophy is being exercised in real time this season with Veen as well as first baseman/outfielder Charlie Condon. Both players opened the season with Triple-A Albuquerque, and the Rockies seem in no rush to get Veen back up to the majors or to debut Condon, the club’s No. 3 overall pick in ’24.

Veen’s newfound sobriety

For , his biggest hurdle back to the bigs — a substance abuse issue — is now out of the way after the 24-year-old got sober in the offseason.

As Veen first detailed during spring training the outfielder was smoking marijuana every day last season and drinking excessively, too. Veen further explained those issues in an interview this week with The Denver Post, noting he got in trouble with the organization last season after getting caught smoking marijuana during a game at Isotopes Park.

“There where times last year where I had the world in the palm of my hand, or so it seemed, and I wasn’t feeling as fulfilled as I am since I stopped doing all that stuff,” Veen said. “I’m more fulfilled now, even if baseball or other things aren’t going my way, than if I was with the world seemingly in the palm of my hand when I was drinking and smoking.”

Veen, who says substance abuse issues are prevalent in his family, understands addiction recovery is not a straight line.

He’s been intentional with his actions to maintain sobriety this season, including attending Bible studies, recovery groups in Albuquerque and consistent calls with his pastor from his church back in his home state of Florida. Veen also leaned heavily for guidance on his former high school and club coach, Johnny Goodrich, whom Veen called “the closest thing to a father figure I have in my life,” considering the outfielder has not seen his biological father since the age of 15.

“I have gone to a few random (recovery) meetings since I’ve been in Arizona or I’ve been here (in Albuquerque),” Veen said. “And that’s kind of how I stay on that (sobriety). I just really appreciate being around people who want to better themselves and be the best they can be, which is what I want for myself.”

On the field, Veen is hitting .258 with two homers through 25 games. He’s played all three outfield spots this season, and DePodesta believes that finding the balance between being a free swinger and being selective when the situation or count calls for it will help Veen take the next step offensively.

“If he can rein in that (aggression) in a little bit because big league pitchers are better equipped to take advantage of that, he can do so much damage on so many pitches,” DePodesta said. “So if we can bring him in a little but still allow him to be aggressive on the right pitches, he has a really, really bright future. He’s still showing all the same tools. He’s got big power, he can run. He’s versatile defensively.”

Veen, who was limited to just 46 games in 2023 and 65 games in ’24 due to injuries, says his goal is to stay on the field all season.

“Best-case scenario is I get 500 to 600 at-bats and I play in the most games that I’ve ever played in,” Veen said. “That is the ultimate scenario for me. In a perfect world, I’m obviously in the major leagues (at some point in ’26), but in an even more perfect world, I’m just being the best version of myself every day. And at the end of the year, the pieces fell right where I wanted them to.”

Condon stacking ‘healthy reps’

While Veen bides his time, fans have been clamoring for the arrival of , who followed up a torrid spring training with a solid start to the season in Triple-A.

The 23-year-old is batting .269 with four homers through his first 21 games, but DePodesta says the debut of Colorado’s behind shortstop Ethan Holliday (who is currently in Low-A) likely isn’t imminent.

“It’s hard for any of us to say exactly what that time is or how long that takes, but we all want to make sure that he has that (base),” DePodesta said. “And I think he’s certainly showing signs of that. He’s doing all the right things. Now it’s just a matter of being able to do that longer and get even more experience under his belt so he feels really, really good about it before he gets a chance to come up to Coors Field. Hopefully, at that point, he never goes back.”

After struggling in his debut pro season in 2024, where Condon hit .180 with one homer in 24 games while dealing with a finger injury, he fractured his wrist at the start of the ’25 campaign. So ’26 has been his first fully healthy season as a pro, which Condon is relishing as he waits for the call that’s been expected since the day he got drafted.

“It’s been nice to be able to stack healthy reps,” Condon said. “There’s something to be said for being able to be healthy for an extended period of time and really finding a groove. And so that’s been refreshing for sure.

“Whenever that time comes (for my debut), I will 100% be ready.”

Condon, who led the NCAA with a BBCOR-era record 37 homers has yet to find consistent power in the minors. He has 19 homers in 145 games, and while DePodesta lauded Condon’s “mature approach” at the plate, Condon acknowledged he’s still searching for the right combination of average and power.

“For me, it’s really about blending the hit tool and the power tool,” Condon said. “I don’t want to be a guy that’s just all one or the other. I want to be a guy that handles the bat well but also runs a fair amount of balls out of the yard every year.”

In the field, Condon has split his time this season between first base and right field. He also played third base in college and briefly in the minors, but that position seems to be tabled for now.

“It comes pretty easy to him in the outfield — he feels comfortable there, he tracks the ball well,” DePodesta said. “He’s working hard in pregame in terms of getting even better jumps and covering more ground. But given his athleticism and his length (at 6-foot-5), he’s going to get some balls both down the line and in the gap. He’s got a chance to be a pretty good corner outfielder.”

Veen, Condon fit in 2026

With the Rockies outperforming critics’ expectations through the first month-plus of 2026 — Colorado is 14-18, matching the win total the club didn’t get to until June 15 of last year’s disastrous 119-loss season — the question becomes of how Veen and Condon could fit into the big-league roster.

Veen is on but Condon is not, so the latter would require designating someone for assignment. Triple-A outfielder is also on the 40-man roster, and given he’s currently hitting .308 with a .438 on-base percentage, he very well might get the call before Veen or Condon.

There could be a performance-based opening for one of those players sometime in the near future if current trends hold. In the outfield, Troy Johnston (who also plays first base) and Mickey Moniak have been two of the strengths of the lineup so far. But left fielder Jordan Beck (hitting .153 with one homer) and center fielder Brenton Doyle (hitting .220 with one homer) are struggling.

Both Beck and Doyle have options, though it’s unlikely Colorado would send Doyle down to Triple-A, given the importance of his two-time Gold Glove Award defense in the wide Coors Field outfield. DePodesta gave a vote of confidence to both players, especially considering the platooning that has been going on in the outfield with Johnston, Jake McCarthy and Tyler Freeman also seeing time out there.

Meanwhile, at first base, T.J. Rumfield is hitting .264 with three homers and is playing well enough to warrant an extended opportunity to keep that job for the time being. Rumfield tore up spring training to earn the job after being acquired via a January trade with the Yankees for reliever Angel Chivilli.

Condon, like Veen, isn’t putting extra weight on himself to force the Rockies’ hand for a call-up.

“This game is hard enough by itself, and it becomes even harder when you start putting external pressure like that on yourself,” Condon said. “So for me it’s about focusing on the day-to-day. Obviously (debuting this season) is a goal of mine. That’s something I’m working very hard for. But will I be upset and disappointed in myself if that doesn’t happen? Yeah, sure, probably a little bit. But it’s not something that I can focus too much on because so much of that is out of my control.”

If my informal eight-man panel is correct, the Rockies will join Gil Hodges, Don Lock, and Claude Osteen in an infamous chapter in major league history. Hodges was the manager, Lock was the best hitter, and Osteen was the best pitcher for the 1964 Washington Senators. losing 100 or more games for the fourth consecutive season.

No major league team has done that since. But the 2026 Rockies will, at least according to my panelists.  Add up their predictions, divide by eight, and you get a 59-103 record.

I’ll start. I’m encouraged by the long-overdue front-office shuffle led by new team president Walker Monfort. And I’m intrigued by young players like third baseman Kyle Karros and Charlie Condon. But the reality for this season is that the starting pitching is still too thin over the long haul, and the offense too punchless to improve by 20 games over their 119-loss 2025 season.

Saunders’ prediction: 60-102.

Sean Keeler, Denver Post columinst

The season highlight might well be those long-overdue statue unveilings for Todd Helton and Larry Walker. Beyond that? Meh. The best thing about 2026 for the Rox is also the worst: The record won’t mean much. It’s a free hit for Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes. A honeymoon year. A transition year. A throw-everything-at-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks year. It would be great to give a long-abused fan base some good vibes before Dick Monfort and his fellow Lords of the Realm torpedo 2027, but I wouldn’t count on it.

Keeler’s prediction: 62-100.

Kyle Newman, Denver Post sportswriter

The Fightin’ Rox will be better in 2026, but they are attempting to climb out of the abyss. This is going to take years to get competitive again, so book a fourth consecutive 100-loss season.

The starting pitching will be better, but the Rockies’ depth at that critical position remains thin. After an inevitable injury or two to starting pitchers, the season will unravel quickly. Also, the Rockies won’t hit for enough power once again, even though they’ll play better at home. Look for 2027 to be a true turning point year where Colorado can perhaps sniff a win total in the 70s.

Newman’s prediction: 60-102

Nate Peterson, Denver Post sports editor

Looking for a purple-and-silver lining for 2026, Rockies fans? Here it is: Colorado’s hard-luck MLB franchise will again be the worst team in baseball, but it will somehow, someway avoid the historical ignominy of four-straight 100-loss seasons.

No, Ted Lasso isn’t the skipper, but the arrival of Paul DePodesta, the addition of some crafty veterans on the mound and the development of young talent on the field will be enough to avoid the century mark for losses. The Rockies won’t be the 1962 Phillies, who improved by an MLB-best 34 wins. But they’ll be 20 wins better, which will feel like a miracle. 

Peterson’s prediction: 63-99

Troy Renck, Denver Post columnist

The Rockies will be terrible, but a light will replace an incoming train at the end of the tunnel. With a veteran starting rotation, improved health of shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle, and a versatile lineup that strikes out less, the Rockies will look like a major league team again. That is not meant as a backhanded compliment, but an indictment of the past regime. As the use of analytics and improved coaching takes hold as prospects develop, hope will return.

Renck’s prediction: 60-102

Jorge Castillo, ESPN baseball writer

Will they flirt with the wrong kind of history again?

Colorado finally hit the front-office reset button, hiring longtime executive Paul DePodesta as president of baseball operations to replace general manager Bill Schmidt to course-correct. … DePodesta didn’t overhaul the roster over the winter, instead signing four players to contracts of one or two years and making minor trades. The Rockies will look to avoid disaster.

Keith Law, national baseball writer, The Athletic

I have the Rockies finishing with the worst record in baseball again, but winning 11 more games, and I’m not sure how strongly I can even defend that other than to say that it����ap very hard to be 119-loss bad two years in a row. They do have new people calling the shots in the front office, including Paul “The Revenant” DePodesta, and I expect some gains on the margins, but they’re going to need more than an Ezequiel Tovar breakout to get back to even 60 wins this year.

Dan Szymborski, FanGraphs baseball writer

If another NL West team shocks the Dodgers, it won’t be wearing purple-and-black.

Here are the top 10 most intriguing Rockies prospects to watch in 2026, with their estimated times of arrival to the big leagues.

SS Ethan Holliday

The 4-1-1: Last year’s No. 4 overall pick hit .239 with two homers in 18 games for Low-A Fresno. He’ll likely start 2026 in Fresno or High-A Spokane and brings a recalibrated offensive approach into the season, including an adjusted stride to help with timing. For fans looking for light at the end of the Rockies’ dark tunnel, a solid sophomore pro season from Matt’s son would be a great sign.

ETA to LoDo: 2028

1B/OF Charlie Condon

The 4-1-1: Along with Holliday, Condon is the other primary reason to believe that star power is on the horizon for Colorado. The 2024 No. 3 overall pick turned in a stellar spring training, and the first half of 2026 should be his final test in the high minors. If he can stay healthy — Condon had a thumb injury in ’24, and a wrist injury in ’25 — he’s tracking to debut sometime this summer.

ETA to LoDo: 2026

UTL Roldy Brito

The 4-1-1: The Dominican is a switch-hitter who plays middle infield and center field, and had a dominant season in ’25 across rookie ball and Low-A. The 18-year-old was the Arizona Complex League MVP, an ACL postseason all-star, a Baseball America rookie all-star and the Rockies’ minor-league player of the year. He hits for average with sneaky pop, too. A fast-riser to keep tabs on.

ETA to LoDo: 2029

OF Sterlin Thompson

The 4-1-1: The 2022 first-round pick swung a solid bat over 120 games in Triple-A Albuquerque last season, batting .296 with 18 homers and a .911 OPS. That led Colorado to add Thompson to its 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. He’ll start 2026 in Albuquerque again, and if he stays consistent, an injury could open the door to his debut this season.

ETA to LoDo: 2026

OF Cole Carrigg

The 4-1-1: When Carrigg was picked in the second round in 2023, there was a question about where he would fit defensively. That question has been answered, as Carrigg played outfield exclusively with Double-A Hartford in 2025, primarily in center. A switch-hitter with speed, Carrigg will need to bring down his strikeout rate (27% in ’25) in order to take another step in ’26.

ETA to LoDo: 2027

RF Robert Calaz

The 4-1-1: The other most intriguing international prospect in the system besides Brito, Calaz tore it up in ’24 in rookie ball and Low-A, before getting humbled in Fresno last year with a regressive season. But there’s still hope the righty with raw power can develop a more seasoned approach starting in ’26. He’ll likely start in High-A; getting back on track could land him in Hartford.

ETA to LoDo: 2028

RHP JB Middleton

The 4-1-1: Following a high workload with Southern Miss ahead of Colorado taking Middleton in the second round, he’s set to make his professional debut in ’26. For an organization in desperate need of starting pitching depth at all levels, Middleton has a repeatable delivery, a three-pitch mix and competes with an edge. This summer will be the start of the test of his potential as a pro starter.

ETA to LoDo: 2028

OF Jared Thomas

The 4-1-1: The 2024 second-round pick raked last summer with a .330/.427/.495 slash line in High-A Spokane, earning a promotion to Double-A. Then he carried that momentum into the Arizona Fall League, batting .302 in 17 games. He has the wheels to rack up steals and play center field. He had surgery to fix a broken left hamate after last season; likely starts ’26 in Hartford.

ETA to LoDo: 2027

RHP Gabriel Hughes

The 4-1-1: The No. 10 overall pick in 2022 has been through the wringer, including on-field struggles (7.14 ERA in Double-A in 2023) and Tommy John surgery. Last year was his first full season back from the procedure, and he made to Triple-A. He’s on the 40-man roster and in spring training. The Rockies will soon see if he can fulfill his first-round potential.

ETA to LoDo: 2026

LHP Konner Eaton

The 4-1-1: After taking a flier on Eaton in the sixth round in 2024, early returns suggest the Rockies got a steal. In his first full pro season in ’25, the southpaw dominated High-A before earning a promotion to Hartford. He led all Rockies minor leaguers with 149 Ks, and also led the organization in Ks/9 (9.58) and was second in WHIP (1.26). The Rockies’ 2025 MiLB pitcher of the year.

ETA to LoDo: 2027

The club’s No. 2 prospect is having a splendid spring. The 23-year-old entered the weekend slashing .414/.471/.828 (1.299 OPS) with three home runs and three doubles in 15 games. His K-rate was just 17.6% (six strikeouts in 34 plate appearances).

But that doesn’t mean Condon has kicked down the big-league door to the majors. Not yet. The first baseman is unlikely to break camp with the Rockies because the club wants to ensure he has a solid foundation across all areas of his game.

Still, I would not be surprised if Condon is playing in the majors before the All-Star break. But if they wait until August and he stays with the team for the rest of the season, the club doesn’t waste one of his minor league options.

Regardless, the third overall pick in the 2024 draft isn’t shy about his aspirations for 2026.

“I think about that a lot,” Condon said early in spring training when I asked him about debuting this season. “But it����ap not what I’m worried about, it����ap not what I’m playing for. I’m trying to play the best baseball I can.”

The Rockies want to see several things from Condon this spring, especially his ability to consistently hit major league fastballs. So far, at least, he’s passed that test.

The club is also testing Condon’s skills as an outfielder. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder is a terrific athlete, but he’s still a work in progress as a corner outfielder. Keep in mind that rookie T.J. Rumfield, acquired from the Yankees in a trade, looks like he’s played his way into a starting position at first base.

Rumfield, 25, entered the weekend hitting .367 with a team-high four home runs. And keep in mind that Rumfield has played 430 games in the minors. Condon, slowed by injuries in each of his two professional seasons, has played in just 124, including 22 in the Arizona Fall League.

The Rockies front office — like many front offices, past and present — is hesitant to throw a player into the fire too soon. The road to hell is paved with rushed prospects.

That’s because baseball is filled with false springs. Young hitters blossom when they face big-league pitchers who are still working on their changeup or saving their gas for the regular season. Prospects rake against minor league pitchers who leave sliders hovering over the heart of the plate.

But, often, promoted prospects fade under the majors’ harsh spotlight. Jackson Holliday, the oldest son of former Rockies star Matt Holliday, is a prime example. In April 2024, Jackson made his debut at the tender age of 20, but spent just 16 days with the Orioles before being shipped down to Triple-A Norfolk. Jackson hit 2-for-34 (.059) over his first 10 games for Baltimore.

There are, of course, exceptions to the rules of baseball promotion.

In spring training 2013, Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado’s glove work was already golden. He hit .278 with four home runs in 19 Cactus League games, and many thought he should have made the team. He didn’t.

But Arenado couldn’t be kept down for long. He debuted on April 28 at age 22 and 12 days. He ended up hitting .267 with 10 homers and 52 RBIs in 133 games. Plus, he won the first of his 10 Gold Gloves.

And there is precedent for a terrific spring training translating into a direct ticket to the show: Trevor Story.

In 2016, the 23-year-old shortstop blasted his way onto the Rockies’ major league roster by slashing .340/.407/.792 (1.199 OPS) with six home runs, four doubles, and a triple in 20 Cactus League games.

He didn’t slow down. In April, Story crushed 10 home runs, six of which were 425 feet or longer. He was named National League rookie of the month after rapping out 17 extra-base hits. The only other players in modern history (since 1901) with as many extra-base hits during the month in which they made their major-league debut were Joe DiMaggio, then 23, with the Yankees in May 1936, and Albert Pujols, then 21, with St. Louis in April 2001.

Story’s 12 home runs in his first 40 games were the most in big-league history. Before a left thumb injury ended his season at the end of July, Story hit .272 with 27 homers and 72 RBIs in 97 games.

I’m not predicting that Condon is the next Arenado or the next Story. Arenado played 432 games in the minors before his debut; Story played 537.

But Condon has similar star potential, and remember, he was a great player at the University of Georgia. That’s a big deal.

I’m eager to watch him rake at Coors Field. If we don’t see that until June, July, or even August, I’m fine with that.

It will be up to Condon to prove there’s nothing false about his spring. I’m confident that’s going to happen.