Friday, October 24

DENVER -- By season’s end, there was not much difference between a Rockies prospect list and the lineup card. While quick promotions played a factor in the 43-119 record, it also meant plenty of players tasted the Major Leagues, which could benefit them going into 2026.

This is a prospect-list oriented newsletter. But a club single-season record 13 players made Major League debuts this season. Many who in a normal year would've spent the season as prospects were in Rockies uniforms in the flesh – some before their time, it could easily be argued. For all intents and purposes, they’re still prospects.

Here is a youth-oriented look at 2025 with an eye toward 2026.

3 players who forced their way onto the team this season

1. RHP Chase Dollander – His rapid ascension to the rotation provided an excitement boost in April, but served as a prime example of a season spinning out of control for the Rockies. A thin rotation went straight to Dollander, who turns 24 on Oct. 26, nine days into the season – with a win over the Athletics at Coors Field in his debut. So much for development time at Triple-A Albuquerque.

But it could work well for the fiercely competitive Dollander. Often the altitude at Albuquerque, and hitter-friendly conditions throughout the Pacific Coast League, can leave a pitcher fighting for confidence even before being promoted. It might turn out to be better for Dollander to have learned hard lessons in the Majors.

Dollander’s key road statistics – .200 batting average against, a 1.17 WHIP and 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings – indicate true ability. But the 9.46 ERA must be addressed. But rather than being left to wonder how his stuff will play in the Majors, Dollander has experience and information. 

Trying to adjust his four-seam fastball to play at the top of the zone at Coors Field backfired, but the project is at the top of his offseason list. He tended to miss to his arm side, which meant attempts to bust lefty hitters inside sometimes went to the heart of the plate. Of the 18 homers he gave up, 12 were to lefties.

But the fastball, even with its problems, averaged 97.3 mph, and his curveball could give him velocity separation and downward plane. That type of curve works at Coors.

2. 3B Kyle Karros – In his second professional season, Karros shook off an early-season right knee injury, blew through Double-A Hartford and Albuquerque and made the Majors in August. In a logical development, Karros wore down – and carried just 212 pounds on a 6-5 frame by the end – and finished with a .226 average in 43 games.

Still, Karros left the Rockies and their fans with visions of Gold Glove Awards dancing in their heads. Karros and the Rockies believe that now that he understands the physical requirement, his Minor League numbers (.301/.398/.476) can translate to the Majors.

The Rockies are especially excited by his defense. After years of Nolan Arenado collecting Gold Glove Awards and Ryan McMahon annually being in the conversation, Karros has shown flashes of upholding the tradition. Elite reach, smooth footwork and natural timing are attributes.

3. RHP McCade Brown – Brown, 25, began the year on the prospect backburner after undergoing Tommy John surgery early in 2023 and being limited to 23 2/3 Minor League innings in 2024.

But a 2.47 ERA in 20 combined starts at High-A Spokane and Hartford, and the Rockies’ struggles in the starting rotation led to a chance for Brown in the Majors.

Was Brown ready to skip Triple-A? His 0-5 record and 7.36 ERA in seven starts provided the answer. But the experience offered value.

The Rockies were already planning to place Brown on the 40-man Major League roster after the season. But because of the injury, Brown – a third-round pick out of Indiana University in 2021 – had never even pitched in a Major League Spring Training game. Now he will compete for a job next spring with Major League experience.

2 possible breakout players to watch in 2026 

1. 1B Charlie Condon (No. 2 prospect): The Rockies’ top Draft pick in 2024, Condon sustained a right wrist injury in Spring Training and didn’t make his first Minor League appearance – of his first full pro season – until May 5. In 99 combined games, Condon slashed .268/.376/.444 with 14 homers and 58 RBIs, with 55 games at Hartford.

The club sent Condon to the Arizona Fall League to continue regaining the time lost to injury. There were flashes when he showed some of the power that made him special at the University of Georgia. The Rockies will likely seek an experienced first baseman to start 2026, but no one is counting him out of eventually debuting in the Majors before season’s end.

2. OF Jared Thomas (No. 8 prospect): Outfield talent could be a strength of the organization. By season’s end, Yanquiel Fernández was receiving regular Major League repetitions, but Zac Veen was playing well in Triple-A after a brief but difficult time in the Majors, and Sterlin Thompson was beneath the radar even though he hit .296 with 18 home runs at Albuquerque.

Thomas, 22, is the latest outfielder to grab notice. His season included a strong performance at Spokane and an injury-shortened stint at Hartford, but by the end he topped Rockies Minor League hitters with a 135 wRC+ and was named the team’s hitting prospect of the year by MLB Pipeline.

1 big question for next season

Which starting pitching prospects should be ready to help? The Rockies are expected to add 2022 first-round pick Gabriel Hughes (No. 14 prospect), a righty starter, to the 40-man Major League roster this winter. Hughes underwent Tommy John surgery in ‘23 and didn’t pitch again until the ‘24 Arizona Fall League. With the exception of a brief slowdown at midseason to rest his right shoulder and correct some delivery habits, Hughes showed durability by reaching 105 1/3 innings – with strong starts in the beginning at Hartford and, at the end, at Albuquerque.

Lefty Sean Sullivan (No. 12 prospect) also went through a durability test in 2025. Right hip surgery kept him out of the Hartford rotation until mid May, and despite a brief bout with right hip soreness late in the season, he managed 104 innings pitched and a 2.94 ERA, and was chosen as the organization’s pitching prospect of the year.  

Hughes and Sullivan finished the year in position for normal, rehab-free offseasons. Next season, the reasonable expectation should be a chance to compete in Major League camp, followed by a season of around 120 innings -- with the chance at a big league debut.

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