Colorado Rockies news and links for Friday, June 13, 2025
Year after year, but especially in 2025, the Rockies are proving their pitchers simply can’t compete in Major League Baseball. Whether it’s the rotation or the bullpen, the stats are consistently the worst in the league.
Of course, there are seasons or even groups of seasons when a Colorado pitcher can shine. This is evident with performances like Germán Márquez’s 2021, Kyle Freeland’s 2018, Greg Holland’s 2017, Ubaldo Jiménez’s 2010, Aaron Cook’s 2008 and Brian Fuentes’s three-year stretch from 2005-07, to name a few.
Overall, however, Colorado’s pitching performances don’t allow the Rockies to win. The Rockies have gone to the playoffs five times in 33 seasons, posting a 10-14 record. They have one NL Pennant, but are still missing the elusive NL West title.
There can be brief periods of decency on mound, but with Dick Monfort at the helm, the pitching isn’t good and that’s not likely to change. The offense is far from blameless this season, but there have been successful rosters with power and run-scoring abilities throughout the Rockies 33-year history.
In the first 68 games of 2025, the Rockies are dead last in MLB with 425 runs against, which averages out to 6.25 runs per game. The 5.63 Colorado ERA is tied for last with the Athletics. And, when it rains, it pours as the Rockies are 3-18 in blowout games, which means they have lost by five or more runs in more than a quarter of the time. Often, the starters dig the team into such a big hole that the offense — which is dead last in 224 runs scored (3.29 runs per game) — can’t climb out.
The bullpen has been better at times and worse at others. The Rockies have 10 blown saves, which is tied for 15th in MLB, but when you only have 13 wins, blowing 10 is a lot. The Rockies are tied for the lowest holds at 26 and are tied for No. 29 in saves at 10.
Whether it’s struggling to develop players, failing to draft successfully, not being an appealing destination for free agents, not adapting to the modern game’s use of analytics, mismanagement of player assessment in conducting trades, or all of the above, the Rockies seem unable to piece together a successful rotation or bullpen.
The Athletic conducted an anonymous poll of over 100 MLB players earlier this spring and the findings are being released in various articles this week. On June 11, they released answers about what managers players did and didn’t want to play for, as well as thoughts on the reputations of all MLB’s organizations.
While not as many players commented on which manager they wouldn’t want to play for, Rockies former manager Bud Black was tied for the most at five. The two comments were telling, even with Black being fired and Warren Schaeffer taking over:
“Because he doesn’t stop talking when he’s in the dugout, and as a player, it gets kind of annoying. Plus, it means I’d be pitching in Colorado.”
“Honestly, whoever was the Rockies’ manager was who I was going to say.”
When it comes to franchise reputations, the Rockies came in at No. 28 with no positive votes and 25 negative tallies. The comments from the anonymous poll are brutal, but also seem true:
“They’re not trying to win.”
“I’ve heard the player development isn’t very good. They’re stuck in the past and don’t do a whole lot for their guys.”
Those four quotes are hard to hear, but not inaccurate. It’s safe to say the terrible status of Rockies pitching isn’t going to change anytime soon.
The Rockies gave up the most runs in 2022 (873), 2023 (957) and 2024 (929). With 425 this year, they are on pace to do it again. Over this time, the Rockies have averaged giving up 5.75 runs per game. This season is on track to bring that number up closer to six.
The Rockies need an offensive resurgence, a new model of the Blake Street Bombers that can bring homers, power and runs back to Colorado. This is not going to happen with the current roster — one that has been shut out eight times and ranks No. 25 in homers at 59.
The Rockies need to focus on building a big-swinging, run-scoring offense, which is what Colorado baseball is supposed to be all about. If the Rockies could average scoring seven runs per game, over even just begin to work on increasing the pathetic 3.29 they have now, they could overcome many of their pitching problems.
The Rockies have had homer-hitting players and teams. The Rockies have had players earn 11 different National League batting titles, but none since Charlie Blackmon did it in 2017.
Roster reconstruction would require acceptance of the current death spiral, but doing it with the purpose of building an offense-centric team could give the Rockies an identity and direction, which could eventually lead to more wins.
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On the farm
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 9, Oklahoma City Comets 8
Warming Bernabel hit a walk-off single to help the Isotopes overcome losing the lead in the top of the night as Albuquerque won its seventh walk-off game of the season.
WARMING BERNABEL IS YOUR HERO! Our seventh walk-off win in 2025! pic.twitter.com/LeTO0pHeAY
— Albuquerque Isotopes (@ABQTopes) June 13, 2025
Michael Toglia hit two homers and Sterlin Thompson and Adael Amador each added a homer of their own. Bernanel, Toglia, Thompson and Amador recorded three hits apiece with Toglia and Amador each driving in three runs. Gabriel Hughes had a rough start, giving up five runs on seven hits with three walks with two strikeouts, but the rest of the bullpen pitched well enough to allow for the comeback. That includes Evan Justice, who recorded a blown save and the win, despite giving up two runs on two hits with three walks in the top of the ninth.
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats 4, Akron RubberDucks 2
Braiden Ward hit a solo homer and Bryant Bentancourt followed three batters later with a three-run shot as the Yard Goats put up a four-run eighth inning for a come-from-behind win on Thursday. Ward finished with three hits and Bentancourt added two to lead the offense. McCade Brown had a decent start, going 5 2⁄3 innings and only giving up four hits and one walk for two hits while totaling an impressive nine strikeouts.
High-A: Vancouver Canadians 10, Spokane Indians 6
Spokane scored one run in the eighth and two in the night, but it wasn’t enough to pull off a comeback on Thursday night. Aidan Longwell and Tevin Tucker hit RBI singles and Caleb Hobson drew a walk to drive in a run to help the Indians take a 3-0 lead in the first, but Vancouver struck back immediately to take a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the first. Jesus Bugarin hit a run-scoring single in the eighth and Aidan Longwell hit a two-run double in the ninth in the losing effort for Spokane.
Single-A: Fresno Grizzlies 5, Modesto Nuts 3
The Grizzlies hit five singles to help post a four-run third inning on their way to a win Thursday. Kelvin Hildago recorded three hits and scored two runs to lead Fresno while Blake Wright added two hits and drove in a run. Everett Catlett had a wonderful start in the win, throwing seven solid innings, only giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits with no walks and two strikeouts.
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The Athletic checked in with former Rockies like Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story, DJ LaMahieu, Tyler Anderson and others anonymously and they shared some candid comments on the franchise’s struggles and operations. They pointed the tough competition in the NL West, Kris Bryant’s health, misses in the draft and “Several players conceded the team lacks the data-driven planning that powers other clubs.”
Latest Rockies injuries & transactions | MLB.com
Austin Gomber is set to make his 2025 debut on Sunday in Atlanta. Gomber went on the IL after suffering shoulder soreness in spring training. After making three Minor League rehab starts, where he put up a 2.25 ERA in 12 innings with 13 strikeouts, Gomber is now ready to join Colorado’s starting rotation.
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