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

— Marshall, Parker

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Ryan C., Aurora

Ryan, thanks for your kind comments.

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

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

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

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

— Mike, Denver

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.

Comfortably numb? You must be a Pink Floyd fan.

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

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

— Ryan, Aurora

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

The Rockies no longer embarrass themselves with split-squad spring training lineups or pitchers who need a compass to find the strike zone. It had grown so odorous, seven straight losing seasons, three consecutive with 100 losses. The spectacular failure was made worse by leadership hilariously trying to camouflage incompetence with arrogance.

The on-field product has made strides. The Rockies entered Saturday 26-44. They did not reach this win total last season until July 23 when they were 26-76.

It makes me think the 2027 or 2028 Purple Rox could become the 2026 Chicago White Sox.

All of which means nothing.

And the best thing is that the new front office recognizes this.

“In general, there has been some improvement. But, we have to be realistic. We have a ways to go,” general manager Josh Byrnes told The Post. “We have to get better, create something sustainable and maintain high standards as we chase that.”

Approaching the midpoint of the season, the Rockies are likable and watchable. They are in such a better place that it is easy to forget the mountains left to climb. Colorado is on pace for 60 wins. The fact that number is encouraging provides a reminder of how awful things had become.

Crowing about avoiding 100 losses is like bragging about being valedictorian when home-schooled.

It is why Byrnes was reluctant to acknowledge the inching forward.

Truth is: what have they done?

There are pockets of success that should not be ignored, like first baseman T.J. Rumfield’s rookie-of-the-year candidacy, Antonio Senzatela’s remarkable conversion from MLB’s worst starter to a dominant reliever, Willi Castro’s versatility and Cole Carrigg’s caffeinated energy, his promotion a reflection of the organization’s emphasis on swing decisions that will translate to the big leagues — 15 % strikeout rate, 11 % walk rate in Triple-A.

Of course, there is the gnashing of teeth about the pitching. The Rockies play at altitude and, at times, without gravity.

The historically strong April for the rotation seems like forever ago because of injuries to Chase Dollander — he is likely facing UCL surgery in his right elbow — and Jose Quintana (elbow) and the Coors Field fatigue of Kyle Freeland.

Sean Sullivan provided a jolt in his big league debut on Friday, but it is hardly soothing balm on this headache.

Forget Byrnes and president Paul DePodesta; Connie Mack and Branch Rickey were not fixing the Rockies overnight.

But the franchise belongs to the new leaders, and it is time for them to flex their muscles.

The trade deadline is not until Aug. 3, but there is little to be gained by waiting.

Other than catcher Hunter Goodman and Dollander, no player should be untouchable.

The Rockies have started calling around, piecing together potential fits and wants, aiming to accelerate Colorado’s return to contention.

“We are constantly in touch with other teams. The brainstorming is constant. Some are more motivated than others,” Byrnes said.

Byrnes showed shrewdness in acquiring Rumfield for forgettable reliever Angel Chivilli. They recently landed minor league reliever Andrew Baker from the Phillies for international bonus pool space. Don’t be surprised if the right-hander is in the big leagues in a few months.

Moves of all sizes must be considered and executed over the next seven weeks. This is why DePodesta and Byrnes were hired. They have friends across baseball who will actually take their calls.

The biggest chip is shortstop Ezequiel Tovar. He has $50 million remaining on his contract after this season. That cost certainty is the reason for not dealing him, and why he could land a haul of prospects if the acquiring club believes he will hit.

It is obvious Senzatela will be dealt. Getting a future major league piece back is paramount.

If somebody wants to overpay for Seth Halvorsen so the Rockies get two relievers like him, pull the lever.

Mickey Moniak provides professional at-bats and power. But the timing could be right to move him for a legitimate prospect given the way Charlie Condon and Zac Veen are pushing the envelope in Triple-A. Or keep Moniak and package Veen as part of a bigger deal.

Nobody wants to sell low on center fielder Brenton Doyle, but contenders covet defense. Colorado has to listen.

The Rockies’ leaders don’t have all the answers. I prefer those making decisions have fallibility and humility. It makes their efforts thorough and exhaustive, adjectives long a stranger on Blake Street.

The deadline and the July draft are the touchstones for overhauling a franchise. For too long in Colorado, they brought dread, inactivity and embarrassment, or all of the above.

It is on these front office executives to change the narrative.

Their knowledge, their experience, their willingness to take chances on deals and waiver claims, like Troy Johnston, will be needed to revive a franchise that has made ignoring baseball a local pastime.

The job started in the winter. But the real work begins now, where right moves can put the Rockies on the White Sox’s trajectory. Chicago went 41-121 and 60-102 over the past two seasons, and is on pace to finish 88-74 this year.

Rox to Sox? That works.

“You can get out of it. Detroit kind of flipped it. Miami is doing better. Baltimore tanked and turned it around,” Byrnes said. “And the White Sox are showing what can happen with savvy moves. We have made progress, but we are nowhere near where we want and need to be.”

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

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

It’s quite a to-do list.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Rockies’ brass has much to debate.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Five more updates on Rockies prospects

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

SS Ethan Holliday

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

2B/CF Roldy Brito

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

RHP Brody Brecht

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

OF Sterlin Thompson

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

LHP Konner Eaton

The 6-foot-3 southpaw turned a lot of heads with his performance last year in Spokane, when he posted a 3.56 ERA in 23 starts before a late-season call-up to Hartford. He came back down to earth there, with a 5.30 ERA in four starts, but has a 3.00 ERA in six starts so far for the Goats in ’26. ]]> 7755819 2026-05-12T15:56:41+00:00 2026-05-12T16:10:58+00:00 /2026/04/30/rockies-charlie-condon-zac-veen-prospects/ Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:20:19 +0000 /?p=7574268 In many ways, Zac Veen’s first dozen games in the majors last year summed up everything the Rockies’ new front office boss thought the club was doing wrong when it came to debuting top prospects.

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

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

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

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

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

Veen’s newfound sobriety

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Condon stacking ‘healthy reps’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Veen, Condon fit in 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

Hi Patrick, I read Troy Renck’s (column) about Zac Veen putting on 45 pounds in the offseason. How do you think that’ll help him this year? I know he was more of a speedy guy in the minors, but that 468-foot bomb against the White Sox was incredible. Do you think he’ll make the opening-day roster?

— Ryan, Arvada

Ryan, Veen’s story is the most intriguing one in camp. I’m rooting for the young man because he’s gone through a lot of personal struggles and has never lived up to the Rockies’ lofty expectations.

This spring training is huge for him, no pun intended. He has two questions to answer. First, has he conquered his personal demons? Second, does his talent translate to the major leagues? I don’t know the answers to those questions right now, and neither do the Rockies.

You’re right about that home run; it was incredible. For the record, while we were waiting to walk on the field to interview manager Warren Schaeffer after the game, I called Veen’s walk-off homer. But then, so did Cory Little, the head of Rockies media relations, and so did Schaeffer.

Will Veen’s increased bulk make him a better player? Well, he wasn’t eating much at all, so he needed to gain weight/muscle. But overall, I don’t think 45 pounds makes him a better player; he was not a solid outfielder to begin with. He looks more like a designated hitter to me, perhaps a serviceable outfielder. Will he break camp with the team? Right now, I’d say no. However, if the Rockies make a trade this spring or if there is an injury, it might open up a spot for him.

Is Mickey Moniak going to be our designated hitter? We’re pretty crowded in the outfield, and I love his bat, but he had seven errors last year and a -2.7 defensive WAR. That’s Dante Bichette-esque numbers in the field.

— Peter B., Denver

Peter, it’s too early to peg Moniak as the DH. It’s looking like the Rockies will be mixing and matching their outfielders on a regular basis, and the player who is not on the field will likely be the designated hitter. The Rockies’ best defensive outfield would be newcomer Jake McCarthy in left, Brenton Doyle in center, and Jordan Beck in right.

Regarding Moniak, he’s still a key to the Rockies’ rebuild. Manager Warren Schaeffer loves his energy and leadership, and he’s very popular with his teammates. Plus, he provides the offense with a much-needed spark. He had a solid .270/.306/.518 slash line with 24 home runs last season.

Hi Patrick. Seeing Paul DePodesta and company sign a plethora of pitchers is intriguing. Do you see the Rockies keeping more pitchers than usual on the staff this year? If so, how will that play out for the utility players?

— Del, Lamar

Del, I do not think the Rockies will have more pitchers on the roster than usual this season. The signing of three veteran starters — right-handers Michael Lorenzen and Tomoyuki Sugano, and lefty Jose Quintana — enabled the team to buy some time for its young starters to improve without getting scorched by being thrown into the fire.

That said, you’re going to see a lot of movement between Triple-A and the big leagues this season. Plus, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Rockies employ an “opener” in a number of games this season. We’re going to see some experimentation.

Bottom line: There will be five starters, eight relievers and 13 position players.

What do you think our rotation looks like this year? We picked a bunch of arms in the offseason. I feel like Kyle Freeland’s our opening-day starter. Michael Lorenzen, Jose Quintana and Tomoyuki Sugano are upgrades over what we had last year. Who else gets that last spot? Chase Dollander? Tanner Gordon? Bradley Blalock? Ryan Feltner?

— Mark, Arvada

Mark, you’ve got the first four starters right, unless one of them gets hurt. My pick for the fifth starter, at least early in spring training, is Feltner. Apart from Dollander, I think Feltner has the best raw stuff on the team. But Feltner needs to stay healthy and put together a full season, something he hasn’t done.

Dollander, in retrospect, wasn’t ready last season. If he doesn’t make the team out of spring training, I’m thinking he’ll be ticked off, but that’s OK, he’ll get his starts in the majors this season.

I think Gordon has a chance to be an effective back-of-the-rotation pitcher, but I don’t think he’ll make the team to start the season.

Blalock is no longer with the team. The Marlins acquired the right-hander off waivers in exchange for minor league right-hander Jake Brooks last month. Blalock, 25, was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Lorenzen.

Hi Patrick. Firstly, thank you for your excellent coverage of the Rockies. It can’t have been easy reporting on the team in recent seasons! My question is about D.J. LeMahieu, who I understand is still a free agent. Would it be worth the Rockies signing LeMahieu to provide some experience and veteran leadership?

— David Jones, Selsey, West Sussex, England

Well, hello David, from across the pond! Thanks for reading, it’s much appreciated.

Regarding LeMahieu, I have not heard anything official, but I believe he’s planning to retire after being released by the Yankees last summer. The good news for him, the Yankees have to pay him $15 million this season.

As much as I like LeMahieu (one of my favorite players I’ve covered), he has no place on this Rockies team. Injuries have drained his talent, and the Rockies need to start developing younger players rather than returning to their distant past.

Do you know anything yet about the broadcasting of Rockies games this year on both television and streaming? Thanks!

— Murph, Akron

Murph, the setup is pretty much the same as it was last season. You can stream Rockies games or watch via your cable/satellite provider.

Also, the Rockies have partnered with 9News, the local NBC affiliate, to simulcast 10 home games. All 10 games will be shown on KTVD channel 20, and five games will also be shown on KUSA/9News.

These games are available for free, over-the-air (OTA) to viewers throughout the region. The 10 broadcasts will begin with the home opener on April 3, when the Rockies host the Phillies, and will continue with the eight select Friday games and one on August 1.

If you need more information, here is the Rockies’ information page: https://www.mlb.com/rockies/schedule/programming.

As for radio broadcasts, you can listen to all Rockies games on KOA (850 AM/94.1 FM).

But now, with a new front office and coaches in place, the players insist there is a new direction and a new energy at Salt River Fields. For Rockies fans, hope might finally be a worthy investment.

But now comes the hard part. All of the talk, strategy, meetings, and optimism must transfer to the baseball field. Work begins in earnest on Tuesday with the Rockies’ first full-squad workout.

Here are 10 questions that need to be answered:

1. Will the latest approach to solving the Rockies’ pitching pay off? After a torturous 2025 season that featured one of the worst team pitching performances in major league history, the pitching think tank was overhauled. The revamped staff features pitching coach Alon Leichman, assistant Gabe Ribas, bullpen coach Matt Buschmann, and Matt Daniels as the director of pitching.

They will be working on pitch sequencing, pitch shaping and expanded repertoires — all being steered by analytics. The emphasis will be on pounding the strike zone.

2. Do the three veteran, free-agent starters acquired during the offseason — 34-year-old right-hander Michael Lorenzen, Tomoyuki Sugano (35), and lefty Jose Quintana (37) — have enough left in the tank to stabilize Colorado’s wobbly rotation? At least in the short term, to buy some time? If they can, it will give the Rockies’ young pitchers more time to develop.

3. Was prized right-hander Chase Dollander able to shake off his sometimes nightmarish rookie season? Spring training will provide some hints.

Dollander made several mechanical tweaks during the offseason, hoping to make his sizzling fastball more effective and his slider more dependable in the zone. It’s a huge spring training for Dollander, but, of course, the true test will come at Coors Field. Last season, he had a 3.40 ERA in 10 road starts compared to a 9.98 ERA in 11 starts at Coors Field.

4. Right-handers Seth Halvorsen and Victor Vodnik figure to compete for the closer’s job during camp, but will Halvorsen’s elbow pass the stress test?

He finished last season on the injured list after pitching his final game on Aug. 2. Initially, there were fears that Halvorsen would have to undergo Tommy John surgery. However, tests showed there was no damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. Halvorsen, who turns 26 on Feb. 18, had Tommy John surgery as a freshman at the University of Missouri in 2019, so his health will be a question mark until it isn’t.

5. Can outfielder Zac Veen overcome his personal demons and become the player Colorado envisioned when they drafted him ninth overall in 2020 out of Florida’s Spruce Creek High School? that he’s struggled with marijuana and alcohol abuse and that it affected his performance. Colorado’s outfield is filled with candidates battling to make the roster. Veen has the most to overcome and the most to prove.

6. The Rockies have a plethora of outfielders, and Colorado is eager to see what it has in newcomer Jake McCarthy, the former Diamondback. They want to see Brenton Doyle rebound. But could a spring training trade be in the works? Don’t rule it out.

7. With strikeout king Michael Toglia now in camp with the Reds, who plays first base for the Rockies? Free-agent acquisition and utility player Edouard Julien could have the inside track, in part because he’s out of options.

The most intriguing first base candidate is prospect T.J. Rumfield, acquired from the Yankees in a trade for right-hander reliever Angel Chivilli. Rumfield was blocked in the Bronx by the likes of Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt. Rumfield slashed .285/.378/.447 with 16 home runs, 31 doubles in 2025 at Triple-A last season.

Troy Johnston, claimed off waivers from the Marlins, will also be in the mix.

Don’t be shocked if the Rockies platoon a number of players at first base.

8. Will Charlie Condon, the third overall pick of the 2024 draft out of Georgia, and the projected first baseman of the future, prove he belongs? The Rockies are sure the answer will be a unqualified yes, but there will be plenty of scrutiny on Condon during his first big-league camp.

Chances are that Condon, just 22, will begin the season at Double-A Hartford, advance to Triple-A Albuquerque, and debut with the Rockies late this season. But could be on the fast track to the majors?

“I’d say never say never on our players,” Paul DePodesta, president of baseball operations, said in December. “He did have a chance through the second half of last year to stay healthy, and then had a really nice Fall League. He’s obviously a very talented player.

“At the same time, we want to create a discussion where he has to go out there and make it happen. But certainly he’ll have some opportunities to do so.”

Condon played through a right-hand injury that marred his first professional season and sustained a fractured left wrist during last spring training. Once healthy, however, Condon made strides in the minors, finished the season at Double-A Hartford, and played well in the Arizona Fall League.

9. What surprises are in store at Salt River Fields? Manager Warren Schaeffer has only hinted at how he’ll run camp, but said it will be unlike the Rockies’ recent spring trainings. Expect plenty of experimentation. At Rockies Fan Fest, DePodesta said fans should expect to see players at spring training playing positions that might be unexpected.

10. Who will be the breakout star of camp? Don’t be surprised if it’s third baseman Kyle Karros. He’s an under-the-radar player, but he’s mature and knows himself. Karros played 43 games with the Rockies last season, starting 41. He slashed .226/.308/.277 with just one home run, but he’s capable of much more. As a defender, he has Gold Glove potential.

Veen is bigger, dramatically so, telling friend that he weighs 245 pounds, roughly 45 more than he finished last season. Such gains draw suspicions in a sport haunted by performance-enhancing drugs. But Veen, a former Rockies top prospect, offered a plausible explanation.

He said he is no longer abusing marijuana and alcohol for the first time since 2021.

“I had a pretty big substance abuse problem for a few years. But I’m completely clean and sober. There were times last year where it was out of hand,” Veen admitted. “Looking back, a lot of my meals were smoke – and things that shouldn’t have been. I was smoking weed every day. If I couldn’t find any weed, I was drinking every single day. … Coming home in the offseason, I had to look in the mirror and make some adjustments. And I definitely got closer to God, and it made me want to be the best version of myself in every aspect.”

Veen, the ninth overall pick in the 2020 draft, finally reached the big leagues last April, and crash landed. He managed four hits in 34 at-bats with 14 strikeouts. He could not lay off a high inside fastball, struggled with routes in the outfield and ruined one one of his best moments by celebrating a double at Coors Field by pretending to take a bong hit.

I talked with Veen in May a few weeks after the Rockies shipped him back to Triple-A. The experience humbled him. He knew he had to change beyond replacing his purple and blond hair with a crewcut. He needed to develop power, but not until, it turns out, he gained control of his life.

An offseason spent in Florida with friends, former coaches and faith helped put him in a different place.

“I love his new look,” assistant hitting coach Jordan Pacheco texted The Post on Friday. “And where he is at mentally.”

Veen provides a cautionary tale of what can go wrong in idle time without discipline and direction.

In some ways, his journey, now that he has gone public, sounds similar to that of Josh Hamilton. Hamilton became an addict after an injury, leaving him out of baseball for three years because of drug suspensions.

Sobriety helped him reach five all-star games before injuries and relapses forced him to retire. Last May, interim bench coach Clint Hurdle invited Hamilton to speak to the Rockies hitters about his experience.

Hamilton was a generational talent, the first overall pick in 1999. Veen has only shown promise, alternating flashes of stardom with maddening displays of immaturity.

Veen understands he must regain the trust of the organization, of his teammates. Relying on a routine with a clear head can help him reach the big leagues, if not with the Rockies, then another team.

Perhaps that is naive. But he is just 24. Leave room for hope, especially for his life beyond baseball, now that he has shown the courage to get help.

F on Report Card: The NFL owners have great lawyers. So, perhaps it was no surprise that the league won its grievance against the NFLPA, banning the union from making public player report cards on organizations. The NFLPA was found in violation of collective bargaining language preventing “disparaging NFL clubs and individuals.” Fine. What it really means is that owners are thin-skinned. Those report cards helped produce meaningful change. The Broncos owners have received A grades in recent seasons, boosted by adding a new family room at the stadium. In the end, bad owners, like Woody Johnson, got their way. Fans at MetLife Stadium should change their “J-E-T-S!” chant to “S-O-F-T!”

May-Be He’s Not All That: It is funny how Patriots fans ripped Bo Nix, believing he wasn’t in the same stratosphere as Drake Maye. Good thing Maye did not win MVP honors based on his underwhelming Super Bowl performance. The only question after the Patriots’ loss was who was worse: Maye or offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels?