MEET THE ROCKIES
INFIELDERS 3B Ryan Mcmahon
After GM Bill Schmidt declared he wants Mcmahon to become more than just an “average player,” 2024will be a big litmus test for Rymac. An uptick in power from last year’s 23homers is possible, as is a better average (.240in 2023), less strikeouts and more consistency at the hot corner.
2B Brendan Rodgers
Rodgers is still in purple pinstripes despite being the subject of trade rumors over the past couple of seasons, so the Rockies need the Gold Glove infielder to produce. Rodgers was limited to 46games last year after tearing his labrum diving for a ball in spring training.
SS Ezequiel Tovar:
After a promising rookie season in which Tovar slashed .253/.287/.408 with 15 homers in 153games, showcasing his defensive prowess and durability, there are big expectations for the Venezuelan in 2024. If Colorado makes a leap, he would likely be one of the reasons why.
1B/3B/DH Elehuris Montero
The versatile, powerful corner infielder is out of options, and that works in his favor as a bubble candidate to make the openingday roster. Montero has 17homers across two partial seasons in the bigs, with a lot more untapped power in there, especially if he can cut down on K’s (111in 85games in ’23).
UTILITY INF Alan Trejo
Trejo gives the club depth at shortstop, second base and third base, even if his bat is a little light (.243average, nine homers over three partial seasons in Colorado). He played a career-high 83games last year. A higher average and on-base percentage would help him stick around in the bigs.
1B/LF Kris Bryant
After missing extended time last season with lower-back and heel injuries, plus a fractured finger, Bryant’s played only 122 games in his first two seasons with the club. He’ll be playing primarily first base but will also play right field and be a designated hitter. The Rockies need more power from him after only 15 homers across ’22 and ’23.
OUTFIELDERS LF Sean Bouchard
After appearing sparingly in the big leagues over the past two seasons (36games), Bouchard appears primed for an expanded role this season. He has power potential, an on-base approach and a low K rate. He’ll provide outfield and bench depth.
CF Brenton Doyle
Doyle’s speed and flash in the Coors Field outfield earned him a Gold Glove last year, becoming the first Rockie to accomplish that feat as a rookie since Nolan Arenado. He also can rack up stolen bases. This season is about improving at the plate, where he hit just .203with 151K’s in 2023.
CF Bradley Zimmer
After the Rockies traded for utility prospect Greg Jones on March 21, and correspondingly DFA’D Sam Hilliard, that cleared a roster spot for Zimmer. A first-round pick by Cleveland in 2014, Zimmer has a career slash line of .213/.298/.333, and the six-year MLB vet spent all of last season in the minors.
RF Nolan Jones
Colorado’s breakout star of 2023, Jones looks to continue that trajectory in ’24. His range in left field improved throughout last summer and he proved he has one of the top outfield arms in baseball, in addition to base-stealing ability. If he builds upon his 20homers last year, he could be an all-star.
RF/DH Charlie Blackmon The Rockies re-signed the mainstay to a one-year, $13million deal, setting Blackmon up for his 14th year in Lodo. The 37-yearold’s power has dropped off (eight gomers in ’23) but he can still be a high-average hitter and a strong clubhouse presence. CATCHERS C Elias Díaz
Diaz turned in a monster 2023that saw him elected as the first all-star catcher in franchise history. While prospect Drew Romo waits in the wings, the Rockies hope to get another productive season from Diaz after he hit .267with 14homers and 72RBIS last year.
C Jacob Stallings
The Rockies signed Stallings, who previously played for Miami and Pittsburgh, as Diaz’s backup. Stallings doesn’t have much power (24career homers). His best season came in 2021, when he hit .246with eight homers.
STARTING ROTATION LHP Kyle Freeland
The Thomas Jefferson High School graduate and opening day starter will need to be a pillar in the rotation as German Marquez and Antonio Senzatela work their way back from Tommy John surgery. Freeland got off to a dominant start in 2023before tailing off, finishing with a 5.03ERA in 29starts.
RHP Cal Quantrill
The Rockies picked up Quantrill in a trade with the Guardians. He battled a sore shoulder for much of last year, posting a 5.24ERA in 19starts. But the Padres’ firstround pick in 2016 was 15-5 with a 3.38 ERA with the Guardians in ’22and can pile up groundball outs if he stays healthy.
LHP Austin Gomber
After starting 2023in the gutter, Gomber straightened out to post career highs in starts (27) and innings (139) while becoming the Rockies’ most reliable starter in the second half with a 3.86ERA. Colorado needs that trend to continue and for Gomber to avoid back issues that nagged him in the past.
RHP Ryan Feltner
After getting hit in the head with a line drive last May and suffering a skull fracture, Feltner returned to post a 5.82ERA in 10starts. He has a big-league makeup and the pure stuff to make an impact in the rotation, but he’ll need to harness all that to achieve his potential in 2024.
RHP Dakota Hudson
After showing promise as a Cardinals youngster, Hudson’s time in St. Louis finished with a 4.98ERA in 18starts (12 games) last season. Like Quantrill, he was acquired with the idea that the veteran could help a bare-bones rotation, but had career-highs in WHIP (1.500) and HR/9 (9.7) last season.
BULLPEN RHP Peter Lambert
Though he’ll likely end up in the rotation at some point, Lambert’s also proven he can be effective out of the ‘pen, especially as a long reliever. After missing 2020and most of ’22due to injury, he’s fully healthy and posted a 5.36ERA in 25games (11starts) last year.
RHP Tyler Kinley
Projected as a late-inning reliever, Kinley was nearly untouchable in 2022, posting a 0.75ERA in 25games before season-ending elbow surgery. His return came with speedbumps, as he had a 6.06ERA in 18games in ’23, and the Rockies hope he reverts to his 2022self after a strong spring.
RHP Justin Lawrence
The hard-throwing sidewinder came into his own last year with a 3.72ERA in 69games, including 29games finished and 11saves. There were still blips of inconsistency, but he’s one of Colorado’s best bullpen arms, and remains the favorite to start the season as the closer.
RHP Anthony Molina
The Rockies took Molina in the Rule 5draft in December, and he was a starter in the Rays organization over the past couple of years. In 2021, Molina posted a 4.37ERA in 13games (12starts) for Triple-a Durham; for the Rockies, he projects as a high-powered, back-end bullpen piece.
LHP Evan Justice
Justice made his debut last year and struggled to a 8.59 ERA in nine outings, but the Rockies see potential, especially in a bullpen in need of effective southpaws. The 2021 fifth-round pick pitched well in Hartford last year, with a 3.38 ERA in 15 games.
LHP Jalen Beeks
With Lucas Gilbreath still on the mend from Tommy John surgery, Beeks projects as the team’s top bullpen lefty. He spent most of his career with the Rays prior to 2024, including a solid ’22 season in which he posted a 2.80 ERA in 42 games (seven starts).
RHP Jake Bird
Bird was a workhorse last season, appearing in 70games and even starting three of them, with a 4.33ERA and 1.35WHIP. He was a lot better on the road (2.82ERA) than at home (5.84), and in the first half (3.42) than the second half (5.82). Consistency across the season is key.
RHP Nick Mears
Mears has a 5.81career ERA over four seasons between the Pirates and Rockies, including a 5.68ERA in seven appearances for Colorado last year. He’s done a good job limiting homers in his short time in the bigs, allowing just two in his career, and had a decent 2.67K/BB rate last year.