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.”

Fulford hit a two-run, two-out, pinch-hit double in the eighth inning off Mason Montgomery to lead the Rockies to a 4-3 win over the Pirates at Coors Field in front of a Friday night crowd of 33,596.

Fulford drove in Tyler Freeman and Cole Carrigg, who scratched out back-to-back two-out singles off Montgomery.

“I had been warming up in the cage for that at-bat for a couple of innings, so I felt pretty prepared,” Fulford said. “I got an advantage count (3-1) and I knew he was going to come with the heater and I was all over it.”

Fulford caught Montgomery for three seasons at Texas Tech, so he knew the left-hander’s tendencies.

“It’s kind of unfortunate for pitchers that you catch, because you kind of get to see their stuff,” Fulford said. “You kind of understand more of who they are. So I do feel like I had the advantage there.”

In the ninth, the Pirates loaded the bases against Senzatela with no outs on a single by Marcell Ozuna and an error on a groundball by shortstop Ezequiel Tovar. But Senzatela struck out pinch-hitter Tyler Callihan and induced Jared Triolo to ground to Tovar, who started the game-ending double play.

“It was kind of a crazy ending to the game — bases loaded and no outs,” Freeland said. ” ‘Senza’ got a big punchout in that situation, picks up Tovar. Then Tovar gets another opportunity to turn a double play, and he gets it done.”

Before all of the late-game drama, Freeland pitched his best game of the season: 7 1/3 innings, two runs allowed on four hits, no walks, and eight strikeouts. It marked the fourth time in his career that he pitched 7 1/3 or more innings.

“Tonight, I thought he was absolutely exceptional,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “I thought his body language was impressive. He attacked the strike zone — relentlessly. His heater had good ‘vert’ tonight. The breaker was good. It seemed like he was in control all night.”

“Gritty” is the word often used to describe Freeland. Dominant was a more apt description on Friday night. History-making works, too. Freeland’s eight Ks gave him 1,001 for his career, joining right-hander German Marquez (1,069) as the only two pitchers in franchise history to eclipse 1,000. Freeland struck out Marcell Ozuna in the seventh for No. 1,000, and then promptly fanned Brandon Lowe for 1,001.

The hard-core Rockies fans behind the dugout gave Freeland a standing ovation.

“I’m very grateful for the fans always supporting me, and for making it this long in my career to reach some of these milestones, especially with one ballclub,”  said Freeland, who struck out eight and walked none for the second time in his career. “I definitely hear those fans when I pop out of the dugout after every inning.”

The 33-year-old Denver native blanked the Pirates for the first seven innings, giving up just two hits. Pittsburgh finally got to Freeland in the eighth, putting up back-to-back doubles by Esmerlyn Valdez and Triolo to cut Colorado’s lead to 2-1. Up to that point, it looked as if Freeland had the juice to throw a complete game, especially since he threw just 81 pitches.

Freeland was pulled in the eighth for right-hander Jaden Hill, who gave up an RBI single up the middle to pinch-hitter Bryan Reynolds, tying the game, 2-2. Then Hill hit leadoff hitter Spencer Horowitz, and Nick Gonzalez scorched a triple off the right-field wall, scoring Horowitz and giving the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

Colorado staked a 1-0 lead in the third against hard-throwing right-hander Bubba Chandler. Willi Castro’s single scored Ezequiel Tovar, who reached on a bunt single.

The Rockies extended their lead to 2-0 in the fourth on rookie first baseman TJ Rumfield’s leadoff homer. He sent Chandler’s first-pitch slider 427 feet into the right-field seats. It was Rumfield’s 11th homer and his 38th RBI.

Pitching probables

Saturday: Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (6-6, 2.85 ERA) at Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (7-4, 4.54), 7:10 p.m.
Sunday: Pirates RHP Jared Jones (1-1, 6.23) at Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-8, 7.13), 1:10 p.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

Fans saw him on Saturday’s probable list and began hitting up friends or searching online for tickets.

At the same time, a question arrives via email and text: Will the Rockies ever have their version of Skenes?

They did. In 2010.

Ubaldo Jimenez posted a 19-8 record with a 2.88 ERA.

He threw a no-hitter at Atlanta. In the span of seven starts, he allowed fewer than two hits four times.  He started the All-Star Game in Anaheim when he was 15-1 with a 2.20 ERA.

His four-seam fastball averaged 96.1 mph, per PITCHf/x data. His sinker — a bowling ball with devil’s horns — averaged 96.6 mph. For comparison, Skenes’ heater checks in at 97.1 mph this season.

Jimenez became Kevin Brown with Greg Maddux’s command, working 221 2/3 innings in 2010, third-most in Rockies’ history.

It is no coincidence that Colorado made the playoffs in 2007 and 2009 with Jimenez in the rotation. Because of an awkward exit in a trade, Jimenez remains one of the most underappreciated Rockies ever. He went 56-45 with a 3.66 ERA in six seasons, including 30-19 with a 3.66 ERA at Coors Field in 67 games.

The Rockies need a fire-breathing dragon.

They thought they had one in Chase Dollander, but he is facing elbow surgery.

With Skenes set to pitch at Coors Field — he is comfortable in Colorado after starring at Air Force — I figured it was a good time to catch up with Jimenez.

He still follows the Rockies — he took the mound in Denver last August when the Savannah Bananas were in town — and has ideas on how to help.

His first suggestion: stop letting starters run from the problem.

“In my opinion, they have to develop pitchers for Coors Field. They should avoid the mistake of emulating what the rest of MLB organizations are doing when it comes to preparation. They have to implement their own way,” Jimenez said. “To be a consistent starter in Colorado, your body requires endurance to resist the hardships of altitude and adaptations of going on the road. All the pitchers who were consistent in any kind of way — Pedro Astacio, Jorge De La Rosa, Jhoulys Chacin, German Marquez, myself — we all ran distance the day after our games. I am an avid believer in running distance to stay healthy. And I always tell people who go against it, check baseball history and see how the all-time great ones lasted — running distance! ”

Jimenez understands that his advice jogs against the grain.

Today’s pitchers typically use short bursts and explosive movements in training to mimic moves made on the mound. There is no denying it has spiked velocity. It is impossible to watch a game and not see a pitcher flirt with triple digits or, in the case of Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski, live there.

But at what cost?

Dollander, if and when he has surgery, will miss the remainder of this season and possibly all of 2027.

“I know. It’s so bad to think about that. I saw him pitch a couple of games,” Jimenez said. “And he has great stuff.”

Though the upcoming draft could change things, there is no other Dollander in the Rockies’ system. Brody Brecht, drafted in 2024, brings heat, but is struggling with command at Class-A Spokane.

Jimenez prescribes “an attitude for altitude.” He looks across the sport and connects injuries to training.

Brian Jordan, a former Rockies strength-and-conditioning coach in the majors and minors for 15 years, saw firsthand how Jimenez’s program paid dividends.

“He was very gifted and a very hard worker. I would agree that his running and lifting helped with his durability, while he was still explosive,” said Jordan, the owner and director of sports performance at Peak 303 in Englewood. “While not every pitcher could or should do the program he did, I absolutely agree that generally speaking mistakes are being made with how pitchers are being trained. When you sell out solely for performance, the trade-off is less durability. We are definitely seeing that at all levels, not just at the professional level.”

The Rockies raced off to a surprising start in April because of their pitching — 4.17 staff ERA — but the transmission dropped. Due to injuries to Jose Quintana, Kyle Freeland, Ryan Feltner and Dollander, they have been forced to lean on younger arms and too hard on the bullpen. Colorado is 14-29 since May 1 with an ERA well north of 6.

“It has been a reminder that Coors Field games have more hits. And there are more home runs in the warm weather. The toll is a hard test,” Rockies general manager Josh Byrnes said on returning to work in Colorado for the first time since 2002. “We have looked at how many days off the (relievers) have had, and how many multiple-inning games they’ve had. We are still exploring and learning.”

There is no perfect formula. Even in seasons when the Rockies have pitched well, they have struggled to repeat their success.

But Jimenez is adamant that Colorado’s environment demands the proper baseline.

“I know that we should adapt to new times and use every resource to get better. And that pitchers must adjust preparation to what works for them. But you can’t eradicate the foundation of pitching longevity. Why do boxers run distance when preparing for a fight when they don’t run in the ring? To have the endurance to throw punches for 12 rounds,” Jimenez said. “In 50, 100 years from now the next generation will examine how pitching in this era changed so dramatically, and they’ll be asking who was the ‘genius’ who came up with developing every pitcher as a reliever.”

No power pitcher has ever pitched better in Denver than Jimenez. Even Skenes allowed four runs in five innings in his lone start at Coors Field last August.

It remains a baseball tragedy that Jimenez failed to become the Rockies’ first 20-game winner in 2010, a milestone missed because of bad luck, including a dropped popup, and meager offensive support.

That he remains the zenith explains the problem. The Rockies need more like him. It has been 19 years since Jimenez, along with left-hander Franklin Morales, was promoted from the minors and helped Colorado win 21 of 22 games to reach the World Series.

The Rockies have made significant year-over-year progress this season, but are still losing more games than anyone else.

This can change. But not without better starting pitching.

They need another Ubaldo. Or two.

“They have one of the greatest fan bases who support them and wait for the team every year (to improve),” Jimenez said. “They have many staffers in the organization who have worked so hard to reach the goal of winning a championship in Denver. Hopefully, they put it all together soon and God opens the door once again.”

The club’s prized right-hander is likely facing surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament, most likely Tommy John surgery.

“It����ap looking like surgery on the UCL,” manager Warren Schaeffer told reporters in Las Vegas. “Nothing is set in stone, but that����ap the way it����ap trending.”

As trends go, that’s about as bad as it gets. The Rockies, once again, have the worst starting rotation in the majors, owning a 5.88 ERA heading into Saturday night’s game vs. the A’s in Las Vegas.

Dollander, selected out of the University of Tennessee with the ninth overall pick of the 2023 draft, was supposed to author Colorado’s bright new chapter. But for all of his 100 mph firepower and talent, Dollander’s big league career had a rocky start.

As a rookie last season, he posted a 2-12 record with a 6.52 ERA, including a 9.98 mark at Coors Field. It was a bitter taste of reality for a pitcher that many in the organization believe can become the best pitcher in franchise history.

One reason for belief is a mentality that seems to prepare Dollander for success and the ability to cope with failure. As The Denver Post’s Troy Renck wrote during spring training, “Dollander believes the worst season of his life will be the best thing that happened to him.

“I will take the lessons I learned from it through the rest of my career,” Dollander said, looking back on Colorado’s 119-loss debacle. “I think if you don’t take it personally, you are not in a good spot. I definitely did. No. 1, we are too good to be getting tossed around like this. And No. 2, I am too good to be getting tossed around like this.”

But now Dollander’s career is being flipped upside-down. He is scheduled to be examined by Dr. Keith Meister next Friday. Meister, based in Texas, is an orthopedic surgeon and a specialist in elbow reconstruction. If Dollander undergoes surgery, he’ll be done for the rest of this season and most of next year. An internal brace procedure usually means a 12 to 14-month recovery. If Dollander requires a full elbow reconstruction, there’s a chance he’ll miss the entire 2027 season.

Either way, it’s a huge blow and presents a Mount Elbert-sized challenge for the Rockies’ front office.

More than seven months ago, in a suite at the Cosmopolitan Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, Paul DePodesta made a light-hearted but prophetic statement.

“I’ve used this phrase before, but I’m a bit of a sucker for a challenge,” DePodesta said with a laugh.

The Rockies’ president of baseball operations was less than a week into his new job when he made that quip during Major League Baseball’s general managers’ meetings.

“I have been part of (a rebuild) a number of different times,” DePodesta continued. “And I actually really enjoy it. I love winning — don’t get me wrong, that����ap ultimately where I want to get to — but building that, getting to the winning, is incredibly gratifying. So that was absolutely part of the attraction.”

Now, however, DePodesta and Co. have to figure out how to handle this glitch in their blueprint. The Rockies have some intriguing pitching prospects, including lefty Sean Sullivan (who made his debut Friday night), and right-handers Gabriel Hughes, Eiberson Castellano and Jackson Cox. But there is no pitcher in the system that has Dollander’s talent or wow factor.

DePodesta, general manager Josh Byrnes, and their lieutenants must work a trade like the one that landed right-hander German Marquez. He was acquired in one of the best deals in franchise history.

In January 2016, former GM Jeff Bridich engineered a trade for Marquez and reliever Jake McGee from Tampa Bay in exchange for outfielder Corey Dickerson and minor-league infielder Kevin Padlo.

Marquez debuted in late 2016 and made 29 starts in 2017 (4.39 ERA). In 2018, at age 24, he blossomed into a star with one of the best seasons ever by a Rockies starter. He struck out 230 in 196 innings and finished with a 3.77 ERA. Over his final 14 starts, Marquez struck out 124 in 93 innings, posted a 2.61 ERA, and had six double-digit strikeout games — including four 11-K games in September as the Rockies qualified for the playoffs and came one win away from unseating the Dodgers from the National West throne.

The Rockies look like they are at least two seasons away from being a playoff contender. Without Dollander, that timeline gets dicey — unless DePodesta and Co. can work some magic before the Aug. 3 trade deadline and during the offseason.

Colorado (6-9) wasted an early 4-0 lead, walked seven Padres batters, and lost, 9-5, at Petco Park. Four of the seven walks turned into runs.

Three consecutive losses to the Padres have erased the feel-good vibes from Colorado’s four-game winning streak.

Key moments: The Rockies led 4-3 in the fourth when starter Ryan Feltner gave up a one-out double to Miguel Andujar, a walk to Freddy Fermin, and a two-out, three-run home run to Ramon Laureano.

Colorado loaded the bases in the ninth, but San Diego super closer Jason Adam got Ezequiel Tovar to pop out to second, ending the game. Adam has yet to give up a run this season.

Who’s hot: Mickey Moniak, who started in right field and hit third, hit a two-run homer in the first and a solo homer in the third. He also drove in Ezequiel Tovar with a single in the eighth for his fourth home run of the night. Moniak has a team-leading four home runs.

Leadoff hitter and second baseman Edouard Julien is hitting .344 after a 2-for-3 night that included a solo home run and two walks.

Jordan Beck continues struggling at the plate (0 for 3, his average down to .103), but he made a sensational, running, leaping catch in left field to rob the Padres’ Nick Castellanos of a three-run homer in the first inning.

Who’s not: Starting pitcher Ryan Feltner was not sharp. He fell behind in counts, and it cost him, especially in the third inning when Manny Machado ambushed Feltner’s 3-0 fastball for a two-run homer. Feltner gave up seven hits and six runs over four innings as his ERA rose to 7.30.

Right-handed reliever Zach Agnos walked three straight batters — and walked in a run — in the sixth. He was charged with three runs (two earned) in 1 1/3 innings. His ERA rose to 7.56.

Worth noting: Right-hander German Marquez, the former Rockies All-Star, started for San Diego. The Rockies beat him up pretty good, hitting three homers, but he hung around for five innings and picked up the win.

Pitching probables

Sunday: LHP Kyle Freeland (1-1, 2.30 ERA) at Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (1-2, 5.54), 2:10 p.m.

Monday: Off day

Tuesday: Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (1-1, 9.00) at Astros TBD, 6:10 p.m.

TV: Rockies.TV

Radio: KOA NewsRadio 850 AM & 94.1 FM

It happened again Friday night in a 5-2 walk-off loss to the Padres. Gavin Sheets ripped a three-run home run to deep center off reliever Juan Mejia in the ninth.

On Thursday, Colorado lost 7-3 in 12 innings when Xander Bogaerts hit a walk-off grand slam off right-hander Valente Bellozo. The Rockies’ second straight gut-punch loss in San Diego took considerable shine off their recent four-game winning streak.

Key moments: Mejia entered the ninth with the game tied 2-2, but he gave up a leadoff single to Jackson Merrill and walked Manny Machado to put himself in deep trouble. Bogaerts flew out to deep right field for the first out, but Sheets destroyed Mejia’s 1-0 fastball to win the game.

Colorado tied the game, 2-2, in the eighth on a redemption hit by Jordan Beck. After getting picked off second base in the seventh, Beck came back to deliver. Still, he’s in a deep early-season slump, is hitting just .115.

Who’s hot:  Starter Tomoyuki Sugano pitched six innings, allowing just four hits and no walks. However, he did give up solo home runs to Sheets and Luis Campusano in the fifth when the Padres took a 2-0 lead. After three starts, the veteran right-hander owns a 2.16 ERA.

Who’s not: Third baseman Kyle Karros continues to scuffle at the plate. He went 0 for 3, dipping his average to .205.

Worth noting: Catcher Hunter Goodman, whose right middle finger was lacerated by a hit by pitch on Thursday night, did not start Friday. However, he came through with a pinch-hit single in the eighth to push across Colorado’s first run.

Pitching probables

Saturday: Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (1-0, 4.32 ERA) at Padres RHP German Marquez (1-1, 4.50), 6:40 p.m.

Sunday: Sunday: LHP Kyle Freeland (1-1, 2.30) at Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (1-2, 5.54), 2:10 p.m.

Monday: Off day

Xander Bogaerts hit a walk-off grand slam off right-hander Valente Bellozo to win the extra-inning chess match and halt Colorado’s four-game winning streak.

With ghost runner Jake Cronenworth perched on third with one out, Colorado intentionally walked Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado to load the bases, hoping to get a double play and send the game into the 13th inning. Instead, Bogaerts ripped Bellozo’s 1-0 sinker deep into the left-field seats.

Key moment: Aside from Bogaerts’ slam, the game’s tipping point came in the top of the 12th with ghost runner Willi Castro on third and one out. Brenton Doyle hit a hot shot to second baseman Jake Cronenworth, who made a perfect throw to nail Castro at home for the second out. Kyle Karros grounded out to short to end the inning.

Who’s hot: Doyle, who entered the game hitting .139, finally looked comfortable at the plate. He hit a 408-foot solo homer to center in the third to give the Rockies a 1-0 lead. Doyle added a sharp single in the fifth.

Right-handed reliever Jimmy Herget, who started the game as an opener, pitched a perfect first inning. Through six appearances, Herget has a 1.29 ERA.

Right-hander Chase Dollander followed Herget and pitched 4 1/3 innings. He gave up one run in the third, but was charged with just four hits, while walking one and striking out three.

Who’s not: Castro, who got the start at third base, struck out five times in five at-bats, and his early-season average tumbled to .222.

Worth noting: Starting catcher Hunter Goodman left the game in the sixth inning after getting hit by a pitch. Goodman tried to stay in the game, but his finger was bleeding. Manager Warren Schaeffer said that although Goodman suffered a laceration to the right middle finger, X-rays were negative. The Rockies hope that Goodman won’t miss much time.

Pitching probables

Friday: Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (1-0, 1.69) at Padres RHP Walker Beuhler (0-1, 9.45), 7:40 p.m.

Saturday: Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (1-0, 4.32) at Padres RHP German Marquez (1-1, 4.50), 6:40 p.m.

Sunday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-1, 2.30) at Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (1-2, 5.54), 2:10 p.m.

Monday: Off day.

TV: Rockies.TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

Playing push-the-envelope baseball, combined with solid pitching and timely hitting, the Rockies beat the Astros 9-1 on Wednesday afternoon at Coors Field to polish off the three-game sweep. Last season, en route to 119 losses, the Rockies managed one sweep, taking three games in Miami from June 2-4.

And get this: The heretofore swing-happy Rockies had more walks (nine) than strikeouts (seven) for the first time since July 1, 2024, vs. Milwaukee, when they walked five times and struck out four times.

“We are playing in a ballpark that is like no other, right?” said All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman, who smacked a bonus solo home run in the fourth inning. “So, getting guys on base and in scoring position is huge. We’ve been doing that. When you get guys on base, you are going to score a lot of runs here.”

The irony here is that Wednesday’s announced crowd was 15,189, marking the lowest home attendance in franchise history, excluding pandemic-affected seasons. The previous low crowd came on Monday night, with an announced crowd of 16,301.

Starter Michael Lorenzen rebounded from his debacle against the Phillies in last Friday’s home opener — nine runs allowed on 12 hits, including two homers over three innings — to turn in a quality start. He allowed one run on seven hits across 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four, walked two, and sliced his ERA from 14.73 to 9.00.

Lorenzen credited the Rockies’ pitching coaches and analytics team for the turnaround.

“We have some smart people here, and we all put our heads together and tried to figure it out,” he said. “I have a lot of good data from today that we can build off of. It’s not all there yet, but it’s a good, good start.”

Manager Warren Schaeffer said he never doubted that Lorenzen would produce. Colorado signed the veteran right-hander to a one-year, $8 million contract that includes a $9 million club option for 2027. The Rockies need him to deliver.

“He located better today, and he had all of his pitches working,” Schaeffer said. “He was getting ahead in counts. He was big for us today … saving our bullpen.”

Colorado’s five-run second inning was a prime example of the Go-Go Rox style of baseball that Schaeffer has been preaching since spring training.

“That (inning) was fundamentally sound, with sac bunts involved, base-hit bunts involved, and sac flies involved,” Schaeffer said. “We were taking our walks — some really, really tough walks today.

“That’s what we want to do. We want to pass the baton; we want to execute with runners on third with less than two outs. That was very good today.”

The Rockies sent 10 men to the plate in the second, beginning with a leadoff double by Troy Johnston. Included in the track meet were a two-run single by Edoward Julien, a bunt single by Brenton Doyle, an RBI double by Ezequiel Tovar, a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Freeman, a sacrifice fly by Mickey Moniak, three walks, and two stolen bases.

Julien, who’s taking over the leadoff spot, went 5 for 12 with four RBIs during the three-game set.

Lorenzen wasn’t the only pitcher to rebound on Wednesday. Right-hander reliever Zach Agnos, who had allowed 11 hits combined over his last two outings and owned a 12.27 ERA coming in, pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up one hit and striking out two.

“It started with (Lorenezen) today, but I just went out there and attacked the zone today,” Agnos said. “Pitching, like hitting, can be contagious. People have picked me up plenty of times, so it was fun to be able to pick them up.”

His biggest moment came in the sixth inning when he relieved Lorenzen with two outs and the bases loaded. He got Christian Vasquez to ground out to third.

“With the way we are playing, you want to get in on the fun,” Agnos said.

The Rockies take their momentum on the road beginning Thursday night when they open a four-game series against the Padres in San Diego.

“The attitude of this club is, every day, no matter where we are, we want to play good baseball,” Schaeffer said. “We are not going to make it a thing and worry about the road as opposed to home. We are just going to go to San Diego tomorrow and try to play a really good baseball game.”

Rolling Rox

The Rockies won their fourth consecutive game and completed a three-game sweep of the Astros on Wednesday. Not a big deal for most teams, but it was for the Rockies, who:
• Captured their first sweep at Coors Field since May 10-12, 2024, vs. the Rangers.
• Won a home series in April. Last season, they didn’t want their first home series until taking two of three from the Twins on July 18-20.
• Improved to 6-6, the latest in the season they’ve been .500 since 2022, when they were 17-17 on May 15.
• Have won four straight games, matching their longest winning streak of 2025, which they did twice.

Pitching probables

Thursday: Rockies TBD (opener) at Padres RHP at RHP Randy Vasquez (1-0, 0.75 ERA), 7:40 p.m.

Friday: Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (1-0, 1.69) at Padres RHP Walker Beuhler (0-1, 9.45), 7:40 p.m.

Saturday: Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (1-0, 4.32) at Padres RHP German Marquez (1-1, 4.50), 6:40 p.m.

Sunday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-1, 2.30) at Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (1-2, 5.54), 2:10 p.m.

TV: Rockies.TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

Short-term memory and mental toughness are prerequisites for a major league pitcher, particularly for one who must ply his trade at Coors Field.

Last Tuesday night in Toronto, the Blue Jays’ Andres Gimenez scorched a 106 mph line drive back to the mound and off Feltner’s right hip.

I immediately recalled that chilling moment on May 13, 2023, at Coors Field when the Phillies’ Nick Castellanos hit a 92.7 mph comebacker. Feltner had just enough reaction time to dodge getting hit in the face, but the baseball struck Feltner in the back of his head, just above the right ear. He suffered a skull fracture and a major concussion.

I asked Feltner if that traumatic moment came roaring back when he got hit in Toronto.

“There wasn’t any thought of what happened before, none at all,” he said. ‘Once I got hit, I just wanted to make sure I had enough feeling in my leg to keep going. There was no association with what happened in 2023.”

Feltner finished the third inning in Toronto, but his right glute tightened up, and he was unable to continue. But the 29-year-old right-hander is fine and will make his scheduled start on Monday night against the Astros at Coors Field.

In those three innings vs. the Blue Jays, Feltner showed what he’s capable of. He allowed no runs, one walk, and struck out four. He mixed all six of his pitches: four-seam fastball, changeup, slider, sinker, sweeper and curveball. His strikeouts came via his fastball, slider, sinker and sweeper.

“He pitched awesome,” catcher Hunter Goodman said. “He had command of all of his pitches. That was the best I have seen him throw this year, including spring training. I’m excited for his next few outings. I think he can build momentum off those.”

Feltner did not have a great spring training — 9.65 ERA, 11 walks, 17 strikeouts over 16 innings — and his command was erratic. He barely beat out Chase Dollander for the fifth spot in the rotation.

“I think pitching in a regular major league game sharpens me up a little bit,” he explained. “It’s nice to be in the flow of a real game. I don’t look at spring training results, hardly at all. It’s about working on things. It’s about the process.”

Against the Blue Jays, Feltner looked very much like the pitcher who dominated hitters during the second half of the 2024 season. Over his last 15 starts, he posted a 2.98 ERA, the first Rockies starter with a sub-3.00 ERA through a 15-start span since German Marquez during his All-Star campaign in 2021.

The Rockies are waiting for Feltner to pitch like that again.

“He has what it takes to be an All-Star in this league,” new pitching coach Alon Leichman told me early in spring training. “He has some really cool pitches, and once he puts it all together, he will be a force in this league.”

Goodman concurred.

“I think you saw spurts of that the other night,” he said. “I 100% agree with Alon. I think it’s about Ryan taking that next step forward. It’s about being more in the attack mode instead of trying to be too fine. I think he did that well the other night. When he got to two strikes, he was putting guys away. I definitely think he has the stuff to be an All-Star.”

Manager Warren Schaeffer knows what he must see from Feltner.

“Baseball is a game of consistency,” Schaeffer said. “The greatest players are all consistent. ‘Felt’ needs to do exactly what he did the other night, in terms of his mentality. He was aggressive and got ahead in counts. That’s his formula. He knows that. He doesn’t need to change.

“It’s just a matter of putting it together, outing after outing, like big-league pitchers do.”

There is no question that Feltner has the want-to. Four months after fracturing his skull, he pitched five scoreless innings vs. the Padres in San Diego. Last season was a lost season due to back and shoulder injuries, but he revamped his offseason game plan to become a stronger pitcher and a better athlete.

Perhaps this season can be the season. 

“I think I’m in a good place,” he said. “I’m ready to put a full season together.”

Pose a Rockies- or MLB-related question for the Rockies Mailbag.

Is Zac Veen going to make the team? If so, will he play?

— Chris Haag, Cincinnati

Chris, you are not the only one asking about Veen. He’s an intriguing player because he was a first-round draft choice (No. 9 overall in 2020), and because he has prodigious power potential.

But Veen, 24, did not make the Opening Day roster for Friday’s game at Miami because he’s dealing with a knee injury that slowed him for much of spring training. Even if Veen had been healthy, I doubt he would have made the team. He has a lot of work to do to become a better outfielder, and he needs work as a hitter, too. There are a lot of holes in his swing. The hope is that he doesn’t turn into a strikeout machine like the departed Michael Toglia.

Like a lot of people, I’m rooting for Veen, who’s had to deal with a lot in his young life, including substance abuse issues.

I have been following the Rockies since their 2007 run to the World Series. What a ride that was. My younger stepson learned baseball at Coors Field. He saw Chris Iannetta hit a ninth-inning grand slam against the Houston Astros and has gone with me since. My question is this: What in the world does everyone see in Jordan Beck? I see a lot of strikeouts. I see an impossibly uncontrollable swing. His head turns completely on his shoulders. He cannot possibly see the ball after he swings. Yes, he has gotten better in the outfield on defense and has a really good, accurate arm. But at the plate? Please help me out here.

— Ari Nixon, Brush

Ari, I think the best word to describe Beck is “streaky.” But when he’s hot, he’s a force, so I understand why so many fans and members of the front office and coaching staff believe he has All-Star potential. Plus, you have to remember that Beck is only 24.

Consider this little statistical nugget: per OptaSTATS, Beck became the second player in major league history to have his first five home runs of a season all come in two days (April 24-25), joining Ty Cobb on May 5-6, 1925. Beck was also the first Rockie in history to have five home runs in any two-day span.

But also consider this: He opened the 2025 season with the Rockies but was quickly optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on April 7 after starting the season 3 for 20 (.150) over nine games.

And then there are his dramatic home/road splits. He slashed .303/.348/.466 with 18 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, and 36 RBIs in 76 games at home, while slashing .204/.280/.355 with nine doubles, three triples, eight home
runs and 17 RBIs in 72 road games.

Finally, Beck needs to cut down on the K’s. He struck out 80 times in 251 plate appearances in the second half last season, a 31.9 strikeout percentage that was the eighth highest in the majors post All-Star break.

I’m not as critical of Beck’s plate approach as you are. He wouldn’t have gotten this far without a decent approach. He still has a solid chance to be a very good big-league player.

For the first time in years, the Rockies have changed their front office personnel and incorporated new ways to play baseball and win games. Even if the new regime is successful (75-80 wins) and analytics take hold, how many years can we wait to consistently get .500 baseball? How far is the Rockies’ analytics department behind the league? I predict 75-87 (maybe my last prognostication). Cheers!

— Robert Emmerling, Limon

Robert, I salute your optimism. But 75-87 this season?! In the name of the late Harry Caray, “Holy Cow!” I don’t see it.

Like you, I applaud the Rockies’ willingness to change their process. It’s way past time. As far as consistent, .500 baseball? I would think 2028 would be reasonable.

Hi Patrick, I have enjoyed your insights for a long time for both baseball and football. I also enjoyed reading your dad’s articles for many years. The Rockies have historically done well developing Latin American players (Ubaldo Jimenez, German Marquez, Ezequiel Tovar, etc.). Are there any young Latin American players we should be looking for in the near future to make an impact? Why don’t I ever see the Rockies being named as a possible suitor in the Asian market? Both Japan and Korea have produced many quality MLB players in the last few years, but I never see the Rockies as a possible landing spot. Thanks.

— Gene Ryan, Green Valley, Ariz.

Ryan, thanks so much for the compliment and for remembering my dad, Dusty Saunders.

A quick, bittersweet anecdote about my dad, who was a big baseball fan. My dad died at age 90, almost four years ago. I was with him on the day he died, and I was watching a Rockies road game when he passed. In his eulogy, I joked that my dad woke up briefly, saw that the Rockies were getting rocked again, and said, “I can’t take it anymore.” Then he passed away.

OK, on to your question. The Rockies’ best Latin players right now are outfielder/second baseman Roldy Brito (Dominican Republic), outfielder Robert Calaz (Dominican), and third baseman/shortstop Wilder Dalis (Venezuela).  I think 2028 would be the earliest we see any of them in the big leagues.

As for the Rockies’ presence in Asia, they used to simply punt, believing they couldn’t compete. But Paul DePodesta, the new president of baseball operations, plans to change that.

“I absolutely think it’s important,” DePodesta said during baseball’s winter meetings in December. “We’ve talked about a necessity for us to be sort of active in every possible avenue to acquire talent. So whether it’s Latin America, whether it’s Asia, whether it’s the waiver wire, you have Major League free agent [and] trades. I mean all of it. I think we have to be actively involved in all of those to try to find some potential solutions for us. And so I do think that’s an area where we’ll probably ramp up our efforts to some degree.”

At this point, it is pretty obvious to everyone, including Kris Bryant and the bat boy, that he will never play baseball again. With the highest annual player salary on the team, you would think he would be inclined to initiate a contract renegotiation to provide some relief to our current payroll. Seems like I remember Todd Helton doing this, which was a pretty stand-up and classy move to help the team.

Do you think these discussions may be possible at all?

Looking forward to all your 2026 Rockies articles!

— Troy, the biggest Rockies fan in Virginia

Troy, thanks for reading. It’s very much appreciated.

You’re correct, Helton did defer part of his contract. In March 2010, Helton signed a two-year extension ($9.9 million 2012–13) that also reworked his 2011 salary and 2012 buyout, totaling $13.1 million in deferred money.

However, the Bryant situation is much different. Helton was still playing, and he was a Rockies icon, with deep ties to ownership. Bryant is not playing and is still owed $81 million over the next three seasons. Plus, Bryant’s agent is Scott Boras, one of the most powerful men in sports, and he’s going to get all of that money for his client.

At some point, a deal will likely be worked out. This is what I wrote last November:

“Retirement, with a financial agreement worked out with the Rockies, seems like the sensible course of action. It����ap what former Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg eventually did when he finally retired in April 2024. Strasburg, who had not pitched since June 9, 2022, is receiving all the remaining $105 million owed from his original seven-year, $245 million contract.

“His original contract was heavily deferred — $11.4 million annually, according to USA Today — with Strasburg scheduled to receive $26.5 million in 2027, ’28 and ’29. When Strasburg retired, the contract was restructured to spread out the deferrals further into the future.”

Who will be doing the Rockies radio broadcasts in 2026? On the spring training simulcasts, I thought I understood they were auditioning three possible partners with Jack Corrigan. Who employs them? Are the TV broadcasters the same as before? Thank you.

— Steve, Aurora

Steve, funny you should ask. I had just reached out to David Tepper, the program director at 850 KOA. He told me that it has not yet been decided who will work with Corrigan in the radio booth. For now, Corrigan will team with longtime producer Jesse Thomas when the Rockies open their season on Friday in Miami.

During spring training, the Rockies auditioned Zach Goodman (announcer for the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles and son of Drew Goodman, the Rockies’ longtime TV play-by-play man), Albuquerque Isotopes announcer Josh Suchon, and Hartford Yard Goats announcer Jeff Dooley. I believe one of those three will join Corrigan.

KOA is looking to replace Jerry Schemmel, the longtime Colorado broadcaster, who was laid off for the second time by iHeartMedia last October. Schemmel now works as an ambassador and chief fundraiser for Best Day Ministries in downtown Longmont.

Do the Rockies have enough to win 50 or 60 games this season?

— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.

Ed, you’re not a glass-half-full kind of guy, are you? At least not when it comes to the Rockies. They will be improved, so yes, they can win 60 games. In fact, my preseason prediction is a 60-102 record.