THE ROSTER
With the Rockies’ season set to get underway next Friday at Coors Field against the NL West rival Dodgers, here is The Denver Post’s projection for Colorado’s opening- day 28- man roster, from the nobrainers to the bubble picks. The team’s roster will revert back to 26 on May 1, as the expanded 28 for the first few weeks ( and no limits on the number of pitchers) is in place due to the lockout.
Infielders 3B Ryan Mcmahon
After signing a six- year, $ 70 million contract extension, Mcmahon is the homegrown face of the franchise. If the power keeps growing and his defense keeps improving, all- star and Gold Glove isn’t out of the question.
SS Jose Iglesias
He’s not Trevor Story, but the Rockies’ new man at shortstop is a 10- year veteran who can also play elite defense up the middle. He spent last year with the Angels and the Red Sox, hitting .271 in 137 games.
1B C. J. Cron
Cron came to Colorado on a minor- league deal last season, won the first base job in camp, and then blasted a team- high 28 homers. His reward was a two- year contract extension, and Colorado needs his power again.
2B Brendan Rodgers
Colorado’s former top prospect finally broke out in 2021 with a .284 average and 15 homers in 102 games. With his shortstop days probably behind him, Rodgers will be the everyday starting second baseman.
SS/ 2B Alan Trejo
The middle infielder debuted last April, slashing .217/. 260/. 326 in 28 games. He’ll serve as a backup to both Iglesias and Rodgers, and must cut down on hitting ground balls ( 50% rate in 2021).
UTL Connor Joe
Colorado’s feel- good story of last season after making it back to the bigs after beating testicular cancer, Joe will play corner outfield, first base, and be a frequent DH. He led Colorado with a .379 on- base percentage in 2021.
Outfielders Kris Bryant
Bryant signed a seven- year, $ 182 million deal on March 16, making him the team’s new star left fielder. Bryant’s resume includes rookie of the year ( 2015), National League MVP ( 2016), four all- star appearances and a World Series title with the Cubs.
Charlie Blackmon
Chuck Nazty is still a star in Lodo, and the 35- year- old will see time in right field and as a designated hitter this season. The fourtime all- star and 2017 NL batting champ hit .270 with 13 homers last year. He’s looking to rebound.
Randal Grichuk
Acquired in a trade with the Blue Jays on March 24 for Raimel Tapia, Grichuk will be the team’s everyday center fielder. With 156 career homers, he’s a significant power upgrade over Tapia.
Garrett Hampson
The speedy Hampson can fill many roles for manager Bud Black. While he’ll also see
time in the middle infield, he’ll be the primary backup in center behind Grichuk and provide wheels off the bench.
Sam Hilliard
There’s a ton of potential with Hilliard, and also an alarming strikeout rate ( 34.6% career). With less swings and misses, and more balls in play, Hilliard has the power, speed and defense to carve out a bigger role.
Yonathan Daza
Out of options, it’s a make- or- break year for Daza in Colorado. He hit .282 last year with little power ( two homers) but is consistent and rangy in all three spots in the outfield, where he’ll again be a reserve.
Catchers Elias Diaz
After signing a three- year, $ 14.5 million extension this offseason, the Rockies expect Diaz to pick up where he left off in 2021. Diaz slashed .246/. 310/. 464 with 18 homers and paired strong defense to go with his power.
Dom Nunez
Nunez will again be Diaz’s backup. There’s power in his left- handed swing, as demonstrated by 10 homers last year, but Nunez has to put the ball in play more (. 189 average in 2021, 35.3% strikeout rate).
Starting pitchers RHP German Marquez
“Easy Cheese” notched his first all- star appearance last year, and finished 12- 11 with a 4.40 ERA and major league- best three complete games. Colorado needs ace consistency, and health, out of him in 2022.
RHP Antonio Senzatela
Signed to a five- year, $ 50.5 million extension as Bill Schmidt’s first order of business as general manager, “Senza” had a 2.93 ERA down the stretch of five August starts in 2021. Colorado needs him to be a solid No. 2.
LHP Kyle Freeland
The Thomas Jefferson product hasn’t been able to touch the franchise- best 2.85 ERA he put up in 2018. He bombed in 2019, then posted a 4.33 ERA each of the past two seasons. Freeland needs consistency, and
health. LHP Austin Gomber
The centerpiece in last year’s trade for Nolan Arenado, Gomber’s debut season with the Rockies started off promising before going off the rails. He finished the season with a back injury. He can rebound to be a solid No. 4 starter.
RHP Chad Kuhl
Signed to a one- year, $ 3 million deal this offseason, Kuhl has a 4.44 ERA across 110 career games ( 84 starts). He has yet to post a sub- 4.00 ERA in five big- league seasons and missed 2019 after Tommy John surgery. He provides rotational depth.
Relievers RHP Daniel Bard
After conquering the yips, returning to the bigs and being named comeback player of the year in 2020, Bard came back down to earth with a 5.21 ERA last year. But he’ll again be counted on for high- leverage innings in 2022.
RHP Alex Colome
The projected closer, Colome signed a oneyear, $ 4.15 million deal in March. His career ERA is 3.11 with 155 saves; he was an all- star in 2016 with Tampa Bay and then the AL saves leader ( 47) with the Rays the next year.
RHP Carlos Estevez
With a career ERA of 4.85 in 259 games, Estevez has been hit- and- miss as he’s grown into a back- end bullpen role in the majors. Colorado needs him to take another step forward, especially in high- leverage situations.
LHP Lucas Gilbreath
The Legacy High graduate debuted last May and posted a 3.38 ERA in 47 games, including nine games finished. His hard- hit rate last year was promising ( 23.1%) and he ready’s for an elevated role in 2022.
RHP Jhoulys Chacin
The 34- year- old veteran journeyman is still hanging around after a 4.34 ERA in 46 appearances last season for Colorado. He projects as a sixth- or seventh- inning arm but needs to avoid extended slumps as he had in 2021.
RHP Tyler Kinley
With a 4.88 ERA over his first two seasons in Lodo, the Rockies need Kinley to become more dependable. Increasing his ground ball rate above 50%, like it was the first three seasons of his big- league career, will help the veteran.
RHP Ashton Goudeau
After debuting for the Rockies in 2020, Goudeau pitched briefly for the Reds last year before making his way back to Colorado. He has a 5.08 ERA in 15 games ( one start) with the club and will be bullpen depth.
LHP Ty Blach
The Regis Jesuit graduate signed a minorleague deal with the Rockies and projects as a long reliever. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2020 and has been battling back since; Blach last pitched in 2019 with the Giants and Orioles ( 12.00 ERA).
RHP Justin Lawrence
The flame- throwing sidearmer struggled in his debut season last year, with a 8.64 ERA in 19 games. But the Rockies still believe in his potential to be a late- innings shutdown guy if he can hone his command.