Rockies Spring Training Preview: Can the Prospects Play?

It was a cold offseason in Denver, and that’s not just a reference to the temperature.

A Colorado Rockies team that has endured back-to-back 100-loss seasons and six straight losing campaigns didn’t do much to improve its odds heading into 2025.

The front office appears to be pinning its hopes on young players taking a massive step forward to complement a veteran – albeit struggling – starting pitching rotation. It will stick with Bud Black, the club’s all-time wins-leader, as manager. Black returns for his ninth season after receiving a one-year contract extension shortly after the 2024 season concluded.

Before we dig into the season ahead for Colorado, let’s look at the dismal months that preceded it.

2024 record: 61-101 (Fifth, NL West)

Last Postseason Appearance: 2018 (Lost NLDS 3-0 to Milwaukee)

What Happened in 2024: The pitching struggled mightily with a league-worst 5.47 earned run average and prevented a Rockies team from getting the elevator off the ground floor in 2024. The Rockies failed to capitalize on third baseman Ryan McMahon’s mid-season production before the trade deadline, and he turned in a mediocre second-half performance to chip away at his value. On a more positive note, first baseman Michael Toglia, shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and center fielder Brenton Doyle took sizable steps forward. In a division that includes the Diamondbacks, Giants, Padres and Dodgers, it was hardly ever a contest.

New Arrivals

• INF/OF Thairo Estrada (San Francisco Giants)
• INF Kyle Farmer (Minnesota Twins)
• C Jacob Stallings (re-signed in free agency)

• RP Scott Alexander (Athletics)
• SP Jake Woodford (Pittsburgh Pirates)

Key Departures

• OF Charlie Blackmon (retired)
• RHP Cal Quantrill (non-tendered)
• 2B/SS Brendan Rodgers (non-tendered)
• RP Daniel Bard (free agent)
• SP Dakota Hudson (outrighted to minors; elected free agency)

Projected Batting Order*

1. CF Brenton Doyle
2. SS Ezequiel Tovar
3. 3B Ryan McMahon
4. DH Kris Bryant
5. 1B Michael Toglia
6. LF Nolan Jones
7. 2B Thairo Estrada
8. RF Jordan Beck
9. C Jacob Stallings

Projected Rotation*

1. Germán Márquez (RHP)
2. Ryan Feltner (RHP)
3. Kyle Freeland (LHP)
4. Antonio Senzatela (RHP)
5. Austin Gomber (LHP)

Projected Bullpen*

• Mid-Relief: Victor Vodnik (RHP), Scott Alexander (LHP), Justin Lawrence (RHP), Lucas Gilbreath (LHP)

• Long-Relief: Tanner Gordon (RHP)

• Set-Up: Luis Peralta (LHP), Seth Halvorsen (RHP)

• Closer: Tyler Kinley (RHP)

Biggest Question: What can Kris Bryant bring to the table?

Another component keeping this squad stuck is the oft-injured Bryant. Signed to $182M deal spread over seven years in 2022, the former World Series champion and MVP has yet to play a full season in purple pinstripes and hit just .218 in 37 games a year ago. If Bryant stays healthy and returns to his Chicago form, that could spark something for a Rockies team that desperately needs it.

Team MVP: Brenton Doyle

Doyle led the Rockies with 4.0 bWAR last season and has won back-to-back National League Gold Glove awards in center field in his two seasons in the big leagues. His batting average jumped 57 points from his rookie year to .260, and there’s reason to believe this trend will continue. Expect Doyle to slot into the top of the lineup and be the spark plug that Colorado relies on the most in 2025.

Breakout Candidate to Watch: Ezequiel Tovar

There’s a lot to like about Tovar, who led MLB with 45 doubles a year ago and blasted 26 home runs to lead the team. He even received some MVP votes and took home the NL’s Gold Glove at shortstop. Some might say he’s already broken out, but 2025 could be the year Tovar establishes himself as a cornerstone of Colorado’s future. He will need to improve his swing decisions and cut down on the 200 strikeouts he racked up a year ago.

Key Stat: Team ERA: 5.47

The Rockies may play in homer-happy high-elevation Coors Field… but yikes.

Colorado’s subpar pitching was the main anchor holding this team back. The group of arms also led the league in earned runs, hits and home runs allowed.

Lefthander Kyle Freeland will have a lot to prove this year. As a 32-year-old, Freeland was a staple of the last two Rockies postseason rotations in 2017 and 2018. His ERA climbed to 5.24 last year from 2.85 during his peak.

Like Freeland, 2021 All-Star German Márquez was a steady part of Colorado’s rotation before Tommy John surgery cut his season short in 2023. He returned for one four-inning start last July before a right elbow stress reaction put him back on the shelf for the rest of the season. The two of them back to their usual form could turn the ship around.

2025 Will Be Successful If… the Rockies let the kids ball out.

In addition to Doyle and Tovar, Colorado has left fielder Nolan Jones to bring together a trio of under-26 ballplayers that could be the foundation of the next Rocktober postseason. If Bryant returns to form and McMahon can turn around his rough second half, the Rockies may be more fun to watch than most people think.

2025 Prediction – Fifth NL West, No Playoffs

The stars may align for improvement in the Mile High City, but likely not enough to keep pace with the rest of the division.

While the Rockies stood pat, the rest of the division got better. The Dodgers did what they do best and brought in pitchers Blake Snell, Rōki Sasaki, Kirby Yates, and Tanner Scott while re-signing Teoscar Hernandez. The Giants got Willy Adames. Arizona got Corbin Burnes. The Padres haven’t done much, but they are still pretty good.

The point: things may be trending up in the house that Todd Helton built, but it won’t be enough. At least not now.

*Projections were pulled from FanGraphs as of Feb. 20

Posted: February 20, 2025
Category: Teams
Tagged as: Brenton Doyle, Colorado, Colorado Rockies, Kris Bryant, Kyle Freeland, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, MLB Spring Training 2025, NL West, Rockies, Ryan Feltner, Ryan McMahon, Spring Training