Fresh off signing a seven-year, $65.3 million contract extension that foretold his status as the Rockies’ shortstop of the future, Tovar slashed .269/.295/.469 in 2024 with a .763 OPS, 26 homers, National League-best 45 doubles and 3.6 bWAR.

But amid that success, Tovar also struck out a dubious distinction that foretold his offensive struggles over the next couple seasons because of his inability to control the zone.

Tovar’s freefall last year and this one have become an unmissable blight, especially as the Rockies’ offense has demonstrated drastic overall improvement in 2026. By the traditional stats, the sabermetrics and the eye test, Tovar’s playing like a shell of his breakout self from two seasons ago.

While Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer has continually backed the shortstop, Tovar acknowledged his backslide.

“I’m not going to put my head down,” Tovar told The Denver Post through an interpreter. “I understand that a lot of people had high expectations for me, and I also had high expectations for myself. I had my goals and I’m not hitting them this year. But I’m going to continue to battle out there.

“I know I can (hit better), but I have to keep working. I have to keep improving. I have to get more out of myself. So believe me, I’m looking for a way out of this.”

°Âłóľ±±ô±đĚýlast year’s dip  this summer’s continued struggles raise the question of whether the shortstop will ever be the caliber of player the Rockies expected when they inked that contract.

How much longer can Colorado afford to wait for Tovar to figure it out? It will surely be a question the front office reckons with this offseason, especially considering how the over the next four seasons. He’ll make $8.2 in 2027, $11.2 million in ’28, $14.2 million in ’29, $16.2 million in ’30 and then has a $23 million club option in ’31 that includes a $2.5 million buyout.

What initially looked like a team-friendly deal has now become a possible payroll albatross, especially given that trading the shortstop this offseason is probably not a realistic possibility due to the combination of his contract and his performance.

The most worrisome part is, it’s not just an extended slump that’s behind Tovar’s lack of offense this season. As that 200-K campaign in ’24 foretold, it’s Tovar’s total lack of command and undisciplined approach in his at-bats. Consider the following:

Tovar chases more than anyone in baseball, and he swings too much. Entering Friday’s series in St. Louis, his swing percentage on pitches outside the strike zone the worst in MLB. He also swings at more pitches inside the zone than anyone, too, at 83.0%. Of those in-zone swings, his contact rate is 84.5%, which ranks 28th-worst. So on top of unnecessarily expanding the zone, he’s also missing pitches in the zone at a well-above average rate. His total swing rate is 61.5%, 4% higher than the next most aggressive hitter, Toronto’s Ernie Clement at 57.5%. The end result has been dwindling average (.207, including .201 at home), power (9 homers) and value (-0.8 bWAR).

Tovar isn’t dictating his at-bats and is getting dominated by two pitches. Tovar’s 71.5% first-pitch strike percentage is the highest in MLB, so he’s falling behind quicker than any hitter in the game. Nearly 80% of the pitches he sees are either fastball (51.9%) or slider (26.9%). with the high fastball, and getting him to fish on sliders low and away. He ranks last in MLB in wFB (fastball runs above average) at -16.0, hitting just .185 against the pitch, and is 16th-worst in wSL (slider runs above average) at -4.1. All of this is contributing to another season with a high strikeout rate (25.4%, bottom fourth of baseball) and much lower barrel rates than he posted in 2024 (42 barrels that season, ranked 51st, as opposed to 17 so far this year, ranked 126th).

The bat isn’t the only concern — the glove’s fallen off a cliff, too. When Tovar won the NL Gold Glove Award in ’24, he was a wizard at shortstop who was one of the most valuable fielders in the game. But the sabermetrics don’t lie — his glove has been far from that level this season. He has -2 defensive runs saved this season, so below average, after posting 10 defensive runs saved in ’24. in the 44th percentile in range with 0 outs above average in ’26, just two seasons after he was in the 98th percentile in the metric with 15 outs above average.

With those three breakdowns in mind, the Rockies currently don’t have many options to replace Tovar.

Ryan Ritter and Chad Stevens are other shortstops who are in Triple-A; beyond that, Andy Perez is a promising 22-year-old in Double-A while top prospects Ethan Holliday (out for season ) and Tyler Bell (No. 10 overall pick this year, but out for the season with shoulder surgery) are still far off from arriving in LoDo.

The most obvious solution could already be on the active roster: rookie Cole Carrigg. Colorado has beta-tested Carrigg at shortstop, where he’s played four games and had one start in addition to his duties in center field. Carrigg says he’s ready to play there more, if called upon. It’s a position he played sparingly in college and the minors.

“It’s definitely pretty wild to be playing short in the big leagues,” Carrigg said. “I think you’ve just got to play with confidence and just believe in yourself, no matter where it is, and playing everywhere is something I’ve always done. But whatever (Schaeffer) needs, I’m going to do it, and do it to the best of my ability.”

If Carrigg got more starts at shortstop down the stretch, Jake McCarthy would become the de facto starting center fielder in the post-Brenton Doyle era, with utilityman Tyler Freeman capable of also seeing more time out there to help keep McCarthy fresh.

Whatever the case, the final couple months of the season would be a good time for the Rockies to see if Carrigg, whose bat has been potent through his first 47 career games, could warrant more time at shortstop. Meanwhile, Colorado will surely keep plugging Tovar into the lineup; the 25-year-old has been hitting better lately, including a .333 average over the past couple of weeks.

“I look at every aspect of the game, not just my chase (rate), that I need to improve on,” Tovar said. “…  That’s something that every coach out here and everyone (in the organization) is trying to help me with. And that’s something that we are collectively trying to answer.”

Tovar will have all offseason to dig into his issues, make changes, and attempt to bring a fresh approach into 2027. Barring a big surprise, he’ll remain the starting shortstop going into next season. But the clock is now ticking. If the Rockies are going to truly turn the corner into contenders over the next few years, a weak-hitting shortstop can’t be part of the plan.

The Rockies added three veteran starters — Michael Lorenzen, Tomoyuki Sugano, and Jose Quintana — to stabilize a rotation that posted an all-time worst 6.65 ERA last season. A new front office, led by the president of baseball operations, Paul DePodesta, also added outfielder Jake McCarthy, second baseman Willi Castro, and first baseman TJ Rumfield, all of whom will likely start on Opening Day.

Here is the Rockies’ 26-man roster for Friday’s game vs. the Marlins in Miami:

Starting Rotation

LHP Kyle Freeland

Freeland, the longest-tenured Rockie on the roster and a clubhouse leader, faces a critical season. The Denver native is entering what could be the final year of his contract, so he needs a solid season, not only for the team’s rebuild but for his own future. The lefty was 5-17 with a 4.98 ERA last season.

Key 2025 number: 14. Number of quality starts, most on the team. Freeland was 5-4 with a 2.65 ERA in those starts.

Worth noting: Freeland must pitch 170 innings this season to trigger his $17 million vesting option with Colorado.

RHP Tomoyuki Sugano

The Rockies signed the 36-year-old veteran to bring a veteran presence to the rotation. During his legendary career in Japan, he was known for his durability. He made 30 starts for Baltimore last season, his first in the majors, while posting a 4.64 ERA.

Key 2025 number: 33. Home runs he gave up last season with the Orioles, the most in the American League. How is that going to play at Coors Field?

Worth noting: Sugano pitched 12 seasons for the Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball, where he won two Sawamura Awards (Japan’s equivalent of the Cy Young Award) in 2017 and 2018, and three MVP Awards in 2014, 2020 and 2024.

LHP Jose Quintana

He’s 37, but he’s crafty and considered a clubhouse leader. That’s why the Rockies signed him to a one-year $6 million contract in hopes he can improve a shaky rotation.

Key 2025 number: 3.96. His ERA across 24 starts for Milwaukee, which helped the Brewers post the best regular-season record in the majors.

Worth noting: Since 2022, the lefty has a 3.53 ERA that ranks in the top 40 among any pitcher with at least 300 innings over the last four seasons.

RHP Michael Lorenzen

The 34-year-old journeyman was Colorado’s biggest offseason expenditure, signing a free-agent deal that pays him $8 million this season and includes a club option worth $9 million in 2027. He’s the poster boy for Colorado’s plan to have its pitchers expand their repertoires. According to Lorenzen, he throws eight different pitches: three different fastballs, two kinds of changeups, a slider, a sweeper, and a curve.

Key 2025 number: 8.1. Strikeouts per nine innings last season with Kansas City, a career high.

Worth noting: He threw a no-hitter for the Phillies against the Nationals on August 9, 2023, walking four and striking out five.

RHP Ryan Feltner

The Rockies have long believed that Feltner has the stuff to dominate hitters. New pitching coach Alon Leichman says the right-hander has All-Star potential. But Feltner must stay healthy and needs to command his pitches better than he did in spring training.

Key 2025 number: 30.1. Big-league innings pitched last season, when injuries limited Feltner to just six starts.

Worth noting: In 2024, Feltner posted a 2.98 ERA over his last 15 starts, the first Rockies starter with a sub-3.00 ERA in a 15-start span since German Marquez during his All-Star campaign in 2021.

Bullpen

RHP Victor Vodnik

The right-hander throws hard (98.7 mph fastball) and attacks hitters. The Rockies love that about him, even if they aren’t going to start the season with a designated closer. Vodnik had some ups and downs last season, but he posted a 1.07 ERA with eight saves in nine opportunities over his final 17 appearances.

Key 2025 number: 10. Saves last season in 15 opportunities.

Worth noting: Posted a 1.33 ERA in 26 games at Coors Field last season, the lowest home ERA in franchise history (minimum 25 innings pitched).

RHP Zach Agnos

The Rockies expect big things from the right-hander in his second season. He had a terrific spring training, posting a 0.82 WHIP as he pounded the strike zone.

Key 2025 number: 12.33. ERA over his final 16 appearances as he battled an elbow injury.

Worth noting: Was 4 for 4 in save opportunities last season, becoming the first player in franchise history to record a save in his first four career save opportunities.

RHP Jimmy Herget

The veteran with the unique delivery was Colorado’s best pitcher last season. His 2.48 ERA was the 10th-lowest by a reliever in franchise history, the lowest since Daniel Bard’s 1.79 ERA in 2022. Herget could play several roles this season, including opener or piggyback reliever if the Rockies use that strategy.

Key 2025 number: 1.67. Road ERA in 31 appearances was the fourth-lowest among all relievers (minimum 30 innings pitched).

Worth noting: Rob Friedman, an analyst who runs The Pitching Ninja website, nicknamed Herget “The Human Glitch.”

LHP Brennan Bernardino

Desperate for a left-hander in the bullpen, the Rockies acquired Bernardino from the Red Sox in exchange for outfield prospect Braiden Ward. Bernardino, 34, put up a solid 3.14 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 55 outings last year. Opponents hit just .205 against him.

Key 2025 number: 4.5. Walks per nine innings last season, a high number that would haunt him at Coors Field.

Worth noting: During his early years in the minors, Bernardino worked as a Lyft driver, warehouse stocker, and construction laborer to supplement his income.

RHP Jaden Hill

He made the team when hard-throwing right-hander Seth Halvorsen was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs late in spring training. Hill made his debut last season and fared well, posting a 3.38 ERA in 28 games.

Key 2025 number: 5.28. His ERA at Coors Field in 15 appearances vs. a 1.19 ERA in 13 appearances on the road.

Worth noting: Hill worked overtime on his slider during spring training, a pitch he needs to be more effective vs. left-handed hitters.

RHP Chase Dollander

The right-hander’s erratic spring training landed him in the bullpen to begin the season. Still, he has the biggest upside of any Rockies pitcher since Ubaldo Jimenez, despite major growing pains last season as a rookie when he was 2-12 with a 6.52 ERA.

Key 2025 number: 9.98. His ERA in 11 starts at Coors Field, including 12 home runs served up in 51 innings.

Worth noting: The right-hander’s four-seam fastball averaged 97.8 mph last season, ranking in the top 6% in the majors.

RHP Juan Mejia

Started last season with Triple-A Albuquerque and was promoted to the Rockies on April 24. He impressed Colorado’s staff, especially manager Warren Schaeffer, with his sharp fastball-slider combination.

Key 2025 number: 3.96. His ERA over 55 big-league appearances. Not bad for a rookie reliever.

Worth noting: Pitched 33 consecutive outings without allowing a home run (June 11-Aug. 31), the longest streak for a Rockies reliever since Justin Lawrence’s 37-game stretch in 2023.

RHP Antonio Senzatela

The veteran right-hander started last season as a starter but finished in the bullpen after hitters continually feasted on his fastball. The Rockies worked to expand his repertoire this spring.

Key 2025 number: .347. Opponents’ average against Senzatela, which was the highest in the majors last season.

Worth noting: Senzatela will make $12 million this season, and there is a $14 million club option for 2027.

Catcher

Hunter Goodman

Colorado’s lone All-Star last season wants to keep raking, but he also wants to improve his skills behind the plate. His 31 home runs, 150 hits, 64 extra-base hits, and 91 RBIs were all the most by a Rockies’ primary catcher in a single season in franchise history.

Key 2025 number: Seven. Home runs hit in the ninth inning last season, the second most in the majors behind Seattle star Cal Raleigh (eight).

Worth noting: Last season, Goodman was the first NL catcher to hit 30 home runs in a season since the Braves’ Javy Lopez hit 43 in 2003.

Brett Sullivan

The 32-year-old has played in just 43 big-league games, including three with Pittsburgh last season, with a slash line of .204/.250/.291. But the Rockies like his defense, so they picked him over Braxton Fulford as the backup catcher.

Key 2025 number: .167. His batting average in three games with the Pirates.

Worth noting: He’s out of options, so he’ll need to stick on the major league roster or be exposed to waivers.

First base

TJ Rumfield

Acquired from the Yankees in an offseason trade for reliever Angel Chivilli, Rumfield will likely make his major league debut on Friday. Rumfield posted above-average numbers at every stop in the minors, including his nearly two full seasons in Triple-A.

Key 2025 number: 16. Home runs hit last season for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Worth noting: The left-handed hitter went unselected in last December’s Rule 5 draft.

Troy Johnston

The Rockies claimed the 28-year-old left-hander off waivers from the Marlins in November after he hit .277 with four homers in 44 games. At Triple-A Jacksonville, he slashed 252/.333/.439, with 12 homers, over 84 games.

Key 2025 number: 108. Innings he played at first base last season — without making an error.

Worth noting: In 2023, he was the Marlins’ minor league player of the year.

Second base

Willi Castro

Signed to a two-year, $12.8 million deal in January, he provides Colorado with infield versatility because he can play second, third and shortstop, as well as all three outfield positions. He was an All-Star with the Twins in 2024.

Key 2025 number: .226. Batting average last season with the Cubs, a big step down from his .244 career average.

Worth noting: Castro, a switch-hitter, has good speed and the Rockies hope he can help spark their running game.

Edouard Julien

Acquired in a trade with Minnesota, Julien can play both first and second base. He’s hoping to regain the magic of this 2023 rookie season with the Twins when he posted a .263/.381/.459 slash line with 16 home runs. Since then, however, Julien has struggled, producing a .623 OPS over 509 plate appearances from 2024-25.

Key 2025 number: .220. His batting average with the Twins last season when he played in only 64 games.

Worth noting: Julien, who was born in Quebec, played for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

Third base

Kyle Karros

Many, including Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer, believe Castro can be a Gold Glove third baseman. However, he has work to do at the plate. In 43 games as a rookie last season, Karros slashed .226/.308/.277 with four doubles, just one home run, and nine RBIs.

Key 2025 number: .306. Average in 16 Triple-A games last season before his promotion to the Rockies.

Worth noting: He’s the son of Eric Karros, who played 14 seasons in the majors, most of them with the Dodgers. Eric had a career .268 batting average and slugged 284 homers.

Shortstop

Ezequiel Tovar

A Gold Glove winner in 2024, Tovar suffered from hip and oblique injuries during a disappointing 2025 season. He’s primed for a comeback season and is Colorado’s best position player.

Key 2025 number: 95. Number of games played last season, hitting .253 with nine home runs.

Worth noting: Tovar was outstanding for the Venezuelan team that won the WBC. In six games, he hit .471 (8 for 17) with three doubles and two steals.

Left field

Jake McCarthy

Seeking speed and versatility, Colorado acquired McCarthy from the Diamondbacks in January for minor league right-hander Josh Grosz. The left-handed-hitting McCarthy, 28, slashed .260/.324/.381 with 24 home runs and 83 steals across five seasons with Arizona.

Key 2025 number: .204. Big-league average last season that included just four home runs and 20 RBIs. He played 49 games at Triple-A Reno, where he batted .314.

Worth noting: According to Statcast, McCarthy ranks in the 99th percentile in sprint speed in the majors.

Center field

Brenton Doyle

In 2023-24, he became the first outfielder in National League history to win a Gold Glove in his first two major league seasons. But he had a difficult 2025 season offensively when he hit just .233 with 15 home runs.

Key 2025 number: .344. Batting average, including seven home runs and 22 RBIs in August.

Worth noting: Hit just .193 (53-for-274) over 71 games entering July last season.

Right field

Jordan Beck

Beck seems primed for a breakout season as he moves from left field to right field. Last season, he was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on April 7 after starting the season 3-for-20 (.150) over nine games, but was recalled on April 19 and put together a solid .258/.416/.732 slash line and 16 home runs.

Key 2025 number: 19. Stolen bases, most on the club.

Worth noting: He had 12 outfield assists last season, the second-most in the majors and tied for the third-most outfield assists in a single season by a Colorado outfielder since 2007.

Designated hitter/right fielder

Mickey Moniak

Signed by Colorado just a day before the 2025 season opener, Moniak had a breakout year, setting career highs in games (135), runs (62), hits (117), triples (eight), home runs (24), RBIs (68) and stolen bases (nine). He’ll be counted on to spark Colorado’s offense.

Key 2025 number: Four. Consecutive games in which he homered, from Sept. 14-18. He became the first Rockie to homer in four straight since Ryan McMahon from May 26-29, 2023.

Worth noting: Was selected first overall by the Phillies in the 2016 MLB draft.

Bench/Utility

Ryan Ritter

Last year, after mashing at Double-A Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque, Ritter got his big-league call-up on June 6 and batted .241/.296/.337 in 60 games with nine doubles, three triples, and one home run. He played mostly second base with occasional stints at shortstop.

Key 2025 number: .206. His batting average on the road in 24 games. Like most of his teammates, he was a much better hitter at Coors Field, where he hit .261 in 36 games.

Worth noting: Ritter got some playing time in left field during spring training, adding to his versatility.

Colorado manager Warren Schaeffer announced the club’s starting rotation on Sunday. Native southpaw Kyle Freeland will get his franchise-record fifth opening day start on Friday in Miami, as announced last week. After that, right-hander Michael Lorenzen, left-hander Jose Quintana, right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano and right-hander Ryan Feltner round out the rotation.

Right-hander Chase Dollander, the club’s first-round pick in 2023 who debuted last season, begins the season as a reliever. As a rookie, Dollander flashed signs of dominance, but also scuffled and posted a 6.52 ERA in 21 starts. He figures to be the first man into the rotation in the case of injury or poor performance over the first couple months.

Schaeffer also announced the position players on the opening day roster:

Catchers: Hunter Goodman, Brett Sullivan

Infielders: 1B T.J. Rumfield, 2B Edouard Julien, 3B Kyle Karros, SS Ezequiel Tovar, MIF Willi Castro, MIF Ryan Ritter

Outfielders: CF Brenton Doyle, LF Jordan Beck, RF Mickey Moniak, OF Jake McCarthy

There are no surprises among that group of positional players. Of note, Rumfield grabbed ahold of the vacant first base job with Kris Bryant again on the injured list with ongoing back issues. Rumfield, acquired by Colorado on Jan. 28 in a trade with the Yankees in exchange for right-hander Angel Chivilli, has hit .286 with a team-high four homers this spring.

One positional roster spot is to be determined this week, as utility Tyler Freeman has been hampered by a back injury during spring training. If he’s not ready for Friday, first baseman/outfielder Troy Johnston will likely take his place on the roster.

Decisions on the Rockies’ bullpen for the opening day roster beyond Dollander are expected on Monday,

In addition to Schaeffer’s announcements, Colorado made several roster moves on Sunday. The Rockies optioned catcher Braxton Fulford to Triple-A Albuquerque and re-assigned infielder Nicky Lopez, left-hander Parker Mushinski and utility
Chad Stevens to minor-league camp. The club has 36 active players remaining in big-league camp, including four non-roster invitees.

Following the Rockies’ first road trip in Miami and Toronto, Colorado comes to Coors Field for its home opener on Friday, April 3, against the Phillies.

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

This is the first time in a long time that I feel good about the future of our team. What do you think is the most optimistic yet realistic expectation we should have? I feel like 70 wins is the ceiling, and a couple of our prospects emerge with solid seasons, like Zac Veen and Chase Dollander. What do you think?

— Marshall, Parker

Marshall, your optimism is refreshing. I do feel like there was a new energy at spring training, and the players have bought into the Rockies’ new direction under Paul Depodesta, the president of baseball operations, and manager Warren Schaeffer.

To reach 70 wins, the Rockies would have to improve by 27 games from their 43-119 record. That would be a quantum leap, and I don’t see it happening. You have to remember that Colorado was outscored by 424 runs last season.

The infamous Chicago White Sox went from 41-214 in 2024 to 60-102 in ’25. If the Rockies lose only 102 games this season, that would be progress.

Renck: What’s new with Rockies pitching staff? Chase Dollander will show you

I think Dollander will improve markedly this season, though he's not a lock to break camp as a member of the starting rotation. I don't believe that Zac Veen will make the 26-man roster out of camp, and I don't know if he'll make a big-league impact this season.

The three young players I'm most intrigued by are third baseman Kyle Karros, first baseman TJ Rumfield, and utility player Ryan Ritter.

And, of course, the Rockies need comeback seasons from shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and center fielder Brenton Doyle, whom I wrote about on Sunday.

Rockies’ rebuild in 2026 depends on Gold Glove performances by Ezequiel Tovar, Brenton Doyle

Great spring training reports and insight into 2026. I was looking over the Rockies' players who made the World Baseball Classic rosters. The only one of note was Ezequiel Tovar playing for Venezuela. Tovar is one of the best-performing Rockies so far. I am not sure who to come to the ballpark to really get a glimpse of stardom (from the home team, of course), who do you see being worthy to pay to see, and who might emerge at this year's Troy Tulowitzki or Nolan Arenado?

— Robert Emmerling, Limon

Thanks for the compliment, Robert; it's appreciated.

I don't see anyone bursting on the scene as Arenado did in 2013 when he won a Gold Glove as a rookie, or as Story did in 2016 when he mashed 27 home runs and hit .273 in 97 games. Story likely would have been the rookie of the year if he hadn't torn ligaments in his left thumb and missed the rest of the season.

But, to answer your question, I'll go with third baseman Kyle Karros. He's capable of Arenado-like plays, and I think he's going to become a force at the plate, too.

I'm kind of blown away that the oldest hitter on the Rockies' roster is 28. That has to be a record for the youngest offense. They know Kris Bryant is not going to be there. It appears to be a poor decision by the GM and the manager not to have a veteran professional hitter mentoring these kids. No team does this. Why didn't they pick up a Randal Grichuk or Justin Turner, Tommy Pham, or Rhys Hoskins, all still available? The Rockies just keep doing things nobody else in MLB does. Why?

— Harvey, Denver

I totally disagree with you, Harvey. The Rockies brought in Willi Castro, 28, to be a veteran catalyst on the team. Given the team's payroll constraints right now (they owe Bryant $27 million this season) and with a labor war looming, it wouldn't have made sense to spend money on an over-the-hill veteran hitter. The Rockies need their young players to play.

I think you're going to see growth from players such as Jordan Beck, Kyle Karros, and TJ Rumfield. Where the Rockies desperately needed some veteran stability was in their starting rotation. They addressed that issue by signing Tomoyuki Sugano, Jose Quintana, and Michael Lorenzen.

Can Rockies fix swing-and-whiff offense from disastrous 2025? New hitting coach keeps it simple

Has covering the Rockies gone from one of the worst beat jobs to one of the most interesting? They've gone from unwilling to change (and change from being horrible) to willing to try anything new with a cutting-edge coaching staff and upper management that went from never doing or saying anything to Moneyball 2.0 at altitude, where moves are frequently made and always explained in depth by Paul Depodesta. It also seems like a much more interesting mix of players this spring than in the past five years. Are you enjoying the switch as a reporter as much as I'm enjoying it as a fan?

— Isaac Bowen, Fort Collins

Holy cow, Isaac! Hold your horses!  I love your enthusiasm and optimism, but I've become much too cynical to jump on your bandwagon (wow, I used three cliches in three sentences).

I will say this: things will be more interesting. I'm thankful for that, and it should be fun to watch this team improve. But it's not one of the most interesting beats in baseball. Covering a team in the thick of the race in August and September is what I hope for before I retire.

Those factors, plus multiple intangibles, are running through the baseball brains of Rockies head honchos Paul DePodesta, Josh Byrnes, and Warren Schaeffer as they look toward the season opener on March 27 at Miami.

Who will be the fifth starter? Chase Dollander or Ryan Feltner? Or perhaps a retooled Antonio Senzatela. It’s doubtful, but perhaps righty Tanner Gordon works his way into the mix.

Is slick-fielding third baseman Kyle Karros ready for a full season against major league pitching? Or would a stint at Triple-A Albuquerque do him good? Schaffer and the front office are debating that.

Will the Rockies, who have a surplus of young outfielders, make a spring training trade? It’s very possible.

Will the Rockies stock their bullpen with long relievers, enabling them to “piggyback” some of their starters? And what other pitching experiments are in store for 2026? That’s a mystery that’s still unsolved.

So many questions in need of solid answers as the Rockies attempt to rise from the rubble of their 119-loss season in 2025. They have 13 exhibition games left to go before they decide on their 26-man roster.

Here is my — qualified — projected roster:

Starting rotation

Veteran left-handers Kyle Freeland and Jose Quintana, and veteran right-handers Michael Lorenzen and Tomoyuki Sugano form the core four. If the Rockies go with a traditional five-man rotation, that leaves that one spot open.

I’ll go with Dollander, who’s had a nice spring. He’s their top pitcher, in terms of talent, and I don’t think he’s going to learn much more pitching at Triple-A.

Feltner, who still has options, could begin the season with the Isotopes or even become a long reliever for Colorado. Senzatela likely pitches out of the bullpen, where he finished last season. Reports are that he’s become more than a predictable and highly hittable fastball pitcher. I’m not sold yet.

Bullpen

This is a tough call because there are so many moving parts right now. Schaeffer has said he’s not going to open the season with a specific closer, so that adds more intrigue as camp begins to wind down.

Plus, the Rockies could use options — and even the injured list — to shuttle multiple relievers between Triple-A and the big-league team, a la the Dodgers.

The locks: Right-handers Seth Halvorsen, Jimmy Herget, Zach Agnos, Victor Vodnik, Juan Mejia, and Senzatela, and lefty Brennan Bernardino.

In the mix: Right-handers Keegan Thompson, Jaden Hill, and 35-year-old John Brebbia.

Catcher

All-Star Hunter Goodman will get the bulk of the games, but speedy Braxton Fulford is not a lock as the No. 2 backstop. Left-handed-hitting Brett Sullivan has had a solid camp, plus, he’s got more experience as a game-caller than Fulford does. Tough call here, but I’ll go with Fulford and his athleticism.

Infield

This is tricky, and it could come down to the final week of camp.

Rookie TJ Rumsfield has the edge at first base right now, though veteran utility infielder Edouard Julien has much-needed experience. Still, I’m anointing Rumsfeld as the starter.

Blaine Crim has missed most of camp with an oblique strain, so he’s unlikely to make the team out of camp.

Willi Castro is Colorado’s best second baseman, but he could also man third if the Rockies decide to send Karros down. Ezequiel Tovar, of course, is a lock at shortstop. Ryan Ritter, Tyler Freeman, and Julien can all move around the infield, so they’ll battle for a utility role. Ritter, I believe, has made a huge impression on Schaeffer, and I can’t imagine that he doesn’t make the team.

Outfield

The Rockies will begin the season with newcomer Jake McCarthy in left, Brenton Doyle in center, and Jordan Beck in right. Mickey Moniak will be the primary designated hitter and will also fill a backup role in center and right.

The fifth outfield/utility spot could feature Freeman, Castro, Ritter, and possibly Troy Johnston.

First inning: bang, solo home run by catcher Hunter Goodman, his 31st of the season. Second inning: bang, leadoff homer by Brenton Doyle, his 15th. The Rockies led 2-0 against Giants right-hander Justin Verlander.

But, as usual, the Rockies found a way to lose, or couldn’t figure out how to win. Take your pick.

The Giants had only four hits, but it was enough to win, 4-3, and send the Rockies to their 118th loss of the season. The Rockies are limping toward Sunday’s finish line with losses in 11 of their last 13 games with a 4-20 record in September.

“I’ve said it over and over again this season, but we have to complete baseball games every single (day), from start to finish,” said veteran left-hander Kyle Freeland, who pitched six solid innings but suffered his 17th loss. “We have to play as crisp as possible and do the little things, pay attention to details. When you are paying attention to those little things, they add up and take care of the big things.”

The Rockies, per usual, rallied late. Jordan Beck led off the ninth with a home run off reliever Ryan Walker, cutting the lead to 4-3. Doyle followed with a double, and Kyle Karros drew a walk. Warming Bernable struck out for the second out of the inning, but right-handed reliever Spencer Bivens plunked Ryan Ritter, loading the bases.

In the penultimate game of their painful season, the Rockies were on the cusp of one of their most satisfying wins. But Ezequiel Tovar’s foul ball down the third base line was caught against the netting by Matt Chapman.

It was a bitter end to a well-played game.

“You want ‘Tovie’ up there, and then you want ‘Goody’ coming up, absolutely,” interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. ” ‘Tovie’ is a cornerstone of what we do, moving forward, and he could have very easily put one in the gap right there; that’s what we all thought.”

Toss out the second inning, and Freeland’s final start of the season was exceptional.

The lefty issued a leadoff walk to Chapman, which is always an ill-advised way to start an inning. When Wilmer Flores sliced a single to right field, Freeland was asking for trouble. He got it when Casey Schmitt mashed a 1-0 fastball over the center-field wall for a three-run homer and a 3-2 lead.

“There was just one mistake that was supposed to be a fastball down and away, and it came back over the middle and he put a really good swing on it,” Freeland said. “It makes it easier on them when it’s center-cut like that, but really, just one mistake on the day.”

Over six innings, Freeland allowed three runs on three hits with one walk and four strikeouts. He finished his season with a 5-16 record and a 4.98 ERA over 31 starts. His 17 losses are the most by a Colorado pitcher since Darryl Kyle had 17 in 1998.

“Kyle was up and down (this season), I think he would tell you that,” Schaeffer said. “He (provided) solid leadership. He posted up when other guys would not have posted up. Overall, he shows that he’s our front-line guy the majority of the year, and he posts up for us.”

An RBI double by Rafael Devers off Rockies closer Victor Vodnik in the eighth inning turned out to be the game-winner. Doyle dove for the ball in center field but came up empty and Andrew Knizner easily scored from first.

“I’m going to roll the dice and try to make that out,” Doyle said. “That’s just the way I play center field.”

Schaeffer was also on board with Doyle’s aggressive charge on the baseball.

“I think he’s going to make every play he attempts to get,” Schaeffer said. “And the wind was a factor out there today, big-time. From my vantage point, it looked like it was blowing away from him, but you always trust him to go after the ball. You can’t put the reins on him.”

Sunday’s pitching matchup

Rockies RHP McCade Brown (0-4, 7.54 ERA) at Giants RHP Logan Webb (14-11), 3.30)

1:05 p.m. Sunday, T-Mobile Park

TV: Rockies.TV (streaming); Comcast/Xfinity (channel 1262); DirecTV (683); Spectrum (130, 445, 305, 435 or 445, depending on region).

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

Trending: The Rockies’ starting pitching trio of German Marquez, Antonio Senzatela and lefty Kyle Freeland is the first trio in team history to lose at least 15 decisions in the same season. It marks just the fifth time it’s happened to a National League team in the Divisional Era (since 1969). Colorado starters have posted a 6.66 ERA, the highest ERA by a starting staff in franchise history. The previous high was a 6.19 ERA by the 1999 club. Overall, Colorado has allowed 1,017 runs, the 11th team in the modern era to allow at least 1,010 runs and the first since the 1999 Rockies allowed 1,028 runs.

— Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post

In the final game of the season at Coors Field, the Rockies managed only four hits, but it was enough with Freeland on the mound.

“It’s great to finish off with a win at home,” said Freeland, who earned the 65th win of his career, surpassing Jeff Francis for the fourth-most wins in franchise history. “It’s definitely not the season we wanted — at all. But it was nice to have a good quality baseball game, all around, to finish off the season at home.”

The Rockies (43-113) took two of three games from the Angels but still finished the season with a 25-56 record at Coors Field, the worst in the team’s history.

First baseman Blaine Crim, hitting cleanup, continued to make an impact. His leadoff homer in the fourth off of Los Angeles right-hander Caden Dana put the Rockies ahead, 2-1.

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Crim also played a role in Colorado's runs in the second and eighth innings. In the second, he drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on Jordan Beck's walk, scooted to third on Brenton Doyle's deep flyball to center, and scored on Kyle Karros' sacrifice fly. In the eighth, his high infield chopper -- a fielder's choice -- scored Mickey Moniak from third.

"Honestly, I'm just trying to put together good at-bats and do what the situation calls for," said Crim, who hit a homer for the fourth time this season and the third time in his last four games. Crim extended his hitting streak to six games, during which he's hit .368, with six RBIs and a 1.259 OPS.

Freeland's day got off to a rocky start.

Mike Trout, who hit the 400th home run of his career on Saturday night, led off with a double and scored on Jo Adell's single to right. But that was on the only run Freeland gave up over his six innings. He struck out Logan O'Hoppe and Christian Moore to end the first and started rolling. At one point, he set down 10 Angels hitters in a row.

"In that first inning, he punched out two to end it -- fantastic," interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. "Then, after that, it looked to me like he settled in. His breaking ball was really good, and I thought he was putting the heater where he wanted to. When 'Free' is good, that's what he looks like."

The lefty limited the Angels to five hits, struck out seven, and walked one. He escaped trouble in the sixth with the help of a brilliant play by rookie second baseman Ryan Ritter.

Taylor Ward led off with a single and advanced to second when Freeland gave up a one-out walk to Nolan Schanuel. But then Freeland induced Logan O' Hoppe to hit a grounder to shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, but Tovar's throw to second was low, forcing Ritter to make a difficult catch at the bag and make a whirling throw to first. Crim scooped up the one-hopper to complete the inning-ending double play. Freeland pumped his fist as he walked off the mound.

"Not the best throw from 'Tovie,' and then just an acrobatic, athletic play by (Ritter) to able to stay on the bag, and get that throw off," Schaeffer said. "And, for me, equally as impressive was the pick by Crim. If that ball gets by, it's a run, tie the game.

"So that was an enormous play. Fantastic play by Ritter, exceptional, all of the adjectives you want to use."

Freeland's strong performance was rare for a starter this season at Coors Field. Rockies starters posted a 7.48 ERA at home, the highest starting pitching ERA at home in franchise history.

The Rockies' bullpen trio of Jimmy Herget, Juan Mejia and Victor Vodnik blanked Los Angeles for the final three innings. Vodnik, who notched his 10th save, is coming into his own as a closer. He's converted his last eight save opportunities, tied for the longest streak of his career without a blown save, and he held opponents scoreless in his final 10 outings at Coors.

The Rockies are off on Monday.

Pitching probables

Monday: Off

Tuesday: Rockies RHP McCade Brown (0-4, 9.15 ERA) at Mariners TBA, 7:40 p.m.

Wednesday: Rockies RHP Tanner Gordon (6-7, 6.00) at Mariners TBA, 7:40 p.m.

Thursday: Rockies Bradley Blalock (2-5, 9-16) at Mariners TBA, 7:40 p.m.

-- Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post

As has become their custom during this historically awful season, the Rockies made some late-inning noise Thursday afternoon at Coors Field, scoring four runs in the ninth. A solo homer by Blaine Crim, an RBI double by Ryan Ritter, and a two-run homer by Mickey Moniak powered the surge.

Moniak has hit a home run in four consecutive games, the first Rockies player to do that since Ryan McMahon, from May 26-29, 2023.

But all of that wasn’t enough to stave off loss No. 112 in front of an announced crowd of 21,760 on a perfect September day.

The sub-mediocre Marlins (73-80) beat them 9-7 to complete the three-game sweep. It marked the eighth time this season Colorado has been swept at home. Overall, the Rockies have been swept 19 times, the most in franchise history

“We come back every (game), it just isn’t enough,” said interim manager Warren Schaeffer, who is 34-79 since replacing Bud Black. “You want to win games. That’s the goal. The goal isn’t to come back … but end every (game) with a loss. That’s not the goal. It’s good that they keep fighting. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fantastic. But everybody in there will tell you the same thing: it’s not enough.”

Not nearly, as the gap in talent between the Rockies and every other team is on full display. The Rockies, running low on gas as the season nears its end, have lost five straight games, are 1-11 in their last 12 games, and slid to 2-14 in September.

The Rockies looked like a tired team Thursday, but Schaeffer insisted that he doesn’t have to find a way to boost the club’s energy as its season heads into its final nine games.

“I feel like I really don’t have to do that,” he said. “It’s the big leagues. These guys are playing for a spot on a big-league team for next year. If that takes extra giddy-up, you’re probably not going to win that role. But we all bring energy every day. The players do, the coaching staff does, and we’re marching with this thing clear to the end.”

Crim, the journeyman first baseman, continues to rake. He hit a solo homer in the second to go with his homer in the ninth. They were the second and third homers of his career and his first at Coors.

Miami starter Sandy Alcantara struck out eight over 6 2/3 innings. He gave up three runs on five hits, including solo home runs to Crim and Yanquiel Fernandez in the seventh.

Colorado actually led the game, 2-1, after its two-run second inning. Following Crim’s homer, Kyle Karros was hit by a pitch, Fernandez walked, and Tyler Freeman drove in Karros with a single.

Rockies starter Tanner Gordon had been sharp and efficient in five of his last six starts. He wasn’t on Thursday, though he pitched well enough to keep the Rockies in the game. Over six innings, the right-hander was charged with five runs (four earned) on five hits. He walked one and struck out four.

“I thought overall it was a pretty good outing,” Gordon said. “I got to the sixth and gave us a chance to win. … The Marlins took advantage of some missed fastballs, and the slider wasn’t really as sharp as it has been. They did a good job capitalizing on my mistakes.”

Gordon’s undoing came in the Marlins’ three-run third inning. Agustin Ramierz hit a bloop double into shallow right field and Liam Hicks followed with a two-run homer to right-center on Gordon’s first-pitch fastball. Three pitches later, Otto Lopez blasted a 2-0 fastball 446 feet to left-center to give Miami a 4-2 lead.

The Marlins piled on in the late innings, capped off by Heriberto Hernández’s two-run homer off lefty Ryan Rolison in the ninth.

Friday’s pitching matchup

Angels LHP Mitch Farris (1-1, 4.80 ERA) at Rockies Bradley Blalock (1-5, 9.00)

6:10 p.m. Friday, Coors Field

TV: Rockies.TV (streaming); Comcast/Xfinity (channel 1262); DirecTV (683); Spectrum (130, 445, 305, 435 or 445, depending on region).

Radio: 850 AM KOA

Trending: Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak batted 2 for 5 with a homer, a double and two RBIs Thursday and has homered in four consecutive games for the first time in his career. Over his last four games, Moniak has hit 9 for 16 (.563/.563/1.563) with five home runs, one double and 11 RBIs. He is the fifth Rockies players (seventh time) to record at least nine hits, five home runs and 11 RBIs over a four-game span, joining Nolan Arenado (July 16-21, 2017), Carlos Gonzalez (July 24-27, 2015), Larry Walker (three times, last: April 28-May 1, 1999), and Dante Bichette (Aug. 2-5, 1995).

Pitching probables

Saturday: Angels TBA at Rockies RHP German Marquez (3-14, 6.65), 6:10 p.m.

Sunday: Angels TBA at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (4-16, 5.14), 1:10 p.m.

Monday: Off

The outfielder almost made his dream come true on Sunday afternoon at Petco Park, hitting two home runs, going 4 for 4, driving in five runs, and stealing two bases. But it wasn’t quite enough. The Padres won 9-6 and took three of four games in the series.

The Rockies finished their West Coast road trip 1-6, having been swept by the Dodgers in three games in Los Angeles. The Dodgers (83-65) lead the Padres (82-68) by two games in the division.

“We have talked about the opportunity almost to feel what it¶¶Ňőap like to be in the playoff hunt,” Moniak said last week. “We have a chance to play spoiler.”

“And having such a young clubhouse, it would be a good experience for everybody to, A, run the gauntlet of those teams that are going to be in the playoffs and see how we stack up. And, B, finish the month off strong as we head into the offseason.”

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But the truth is, the Rockies (41-109) are tripping toward the finish line. They've lost 15 of their last 18 games and have been outscored by an astronomical 397 runs this season.

The Padres pummelled starter German Marquez to take a 7-0 lead after three innings. But behind Moniak's big day, Colorado closed the gap to 7-6 by the seventh inning.

"I was a great day by 'Mick," interim manager Warren Schaeffer told reporters in San Diego. "There's a been a lot of great days for 'Mick' this year. He's a really good baseball player.

"He got us -- not single-handedly, but pretty close -- back into that ballgame. He carried the load today. A fantastic day for him, especially in front of his hometown crowd."

Schaeffer was ejected in the eighth inning by home plate umpire James Jean for arguing balls and strikes. It was Schaeffer's second ejection of the season.

Moniak hit a solo home run off Yu Darvish in the fourth and a three-run blast off Jeremiah Estrada in the sixth. Colorado scored twice in the seventh, combining a leadoff single by Braxton Fulford, a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Ritter, an RBI double by Ezequiel Tovar, and an RBI single by Moniak.

But the Padres didn't blink and put the game away in the eighth, scoring twice against the usually reliable right-handed reliever Jimmy Herget. Mason McCoy led off with a double, Fernando Tatis Jr. singled and stole second, and Gavin Sheets drove them in with a ground-rule double to right-center.

"Jimmy Herget has been our guy all year, and he almost wiggled himself out of that inning with two punchouts ... but he just got beat today," Schaeffer said.

Marquez continues to struggle. The right-hander, who will become a free agent at the end of the season, likely has only two starts left in a Rockies uniform. He's not performing like one of the best pitchers in team history.

The Padres ripped him for seven runs (six earned)  on nine hits in 2 1/3 innings. He served up a three-run homer to Jackson Merrill in the second to put Colorado in a 6-0 hole. Marquez walked two and struck out none, just the second time in his career he's failed to strike out a batter. His other zero-K game came on Aug. 29 vs. the Cubs at Coors Field, his first start after coming off the injured list, where he rehabbed right bicep tendinitis.

"I don't think today was as bad as it looks,"  Schaeffer said. "Seven of their nine hits were on the ground. ... But German was behind, some, and had a tough time putting guys away."

Marquez, the longest-tenured player on the Rockies' roster, is 3-14 with a 6.65 ERA in 24 starts this season.

The Rockies are off on Monday.

Pitching probables

Monday: Off day

Tuesday: Marlins TBA at Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (4-15, 4.97 ERA), 6:40 p.m.

Wednesday: Marlins TBA at Rockies RHP McCade Brown (0-4, 9.88), 6:40 p.m.

Thursday: Marlins TBA at Rockies RHP Tanner Gordon (6-6, 6.14), 1:10 p.m.

The Rockies were one-hit by the Dodgers on Monday in Los Angeles in a 3-1 loss that gave Colorado its 104th defeat, the club’s all-time high. Tyler Glasnow no-hit Colorado for seven innings, with a walk leading to the lone run scored, before rookie Ryan Ritter finally gave Colorado its first knock with a leadoff double off Tanner Scott in the ninth.

L.A.’s masterful pitching performance came just two days after Yoshinobu Yamamoto lost a no-hitter with two outs in the ninth inning in Baltimore, and the Orioles proceeded to rally to win the game 4-3.  But there would be no such comeback on Monday at Dodger Stadium.

Colorado’s lone run came in the second inning. Jordan Beck led off with a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a flyout and then scored on Kyle Farmer’s sacrifice fly. It was the first time this season the Rockies scored a run without having a hit in an inning.

Chase Dollander held the lead through five sparkling innings of one-hit baseball in one of the best performances of the rookie’s young career. But the right-hander had to be lifted after issuing a leadoff walk in the sixth due to left knee discomfort.

“Chase was fantastic,” interim manager Warren Schaeffer told reporters. “His changeup was good, he was throwing his heater where he wanted to, he was climbing the ladder when he needed to and locating the breaking ball for strikes.

“… He was feeling (the knee) for a couple innings, and we were monitoring it. That four-pitch walk to the nine-hole, we saw him moving it around out there a little bit. It’s not worth the risk at that point.”

Freddie Freeman roped an RBI double off Juan Mejia to tie the game in that frame, and then Los Angeles took the lead for good on Mookie Betts’ two-out, two-run single off Angel Chivilli in the seventh.

Dollander was one of three Rockies to exit the game due to injury. Warming Bernabel came out of the game in the first inning after running into a pole while chasing a foul ball. And then Ritter, after breaking up the no-no, was removed in the ninth inning after rolling his ankle diving back into second base.

The defeat and near no-no underscored the season-long futility by Colorado, which is the first team with three straight 100-loss seasons since the Astros from 2011-13.

Along the way to franchise infamy, the Rockies have lost 52 games at home, a franchise record. They’ve also been swept 17 times, have an MLB-worst 6.04 ERA, a National League-worst 25.3% strikeout rate, and currently hold the modern-era record with a minus-372 run differential.

The Rockies have blown 38 leads and were embarrassed many times, including a 17-2 loss to Milwaukee on April 9, a 21-0 loss to San Diego on May 10, an 18-0 loss to Baltimore on July 26 and a 20-1 loss to Toronto on Aug. 6 to cap a three-game blasting in which Colorado gave up the most hits (63) in a single series in the modern era.

Tuesday’s pitching matchup

Rockies RHP German Marquez (3-12, 6.19) at Dodgers RHP Emmet Sheehan (5-3, 3.59)

8:10 p.m. Tuesday, Dodger Stadium

TV: Rockies.TV (streaming); Comcast/Xfinity (channel 1262); DirecTV (683); Spectrum (130, 445, 305, 435 or 445, depending on region).

Radio: 850 AM, 94.1 FM

Trending: Ezequiel Tovar hasn’t delivered the production the Rockies hoped for this season, largely due to injury. Tovar’s missed 63 games due to two injuries (left hip contusion and left oblique strain) after missing only 14 games across 2023 and ’24. But the shortstop is still hitting milestones — he notched his 100th career double last week, joining Nolan Arenado as the only players in club history to achieve that mark before turning 25.

Pitching probables

Wednesday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (4-14, 5.10) at Dodgers LHP Blake Snell (3-4, 3.19), 8:10 p.m.

°ŐłółÜ°ů˛ő»ĺ˛ą˛â:ĚýRockies RHP McCade Brown (0-3, 12.54) at Padres TBA, 7:40 p.m.

— Kyle Newman, The Denver Post