Warren Schaeffer is officially back as the manager of the Colorado Rockies. Schaeffer served as the Rockies’ interim manager last season after former manager Bud Black was fired on May 11. Schaeffer reportedly was signed to a multi-year deal with no specifics given on the salary.
Rockies Bring Back Warren Schaeffer as Manager
A Lifetime Rockie
Schaeffer, 40, was drafted by the Rockies out of Virginia Tech University in 2007. He played in their minor-league system for six seasons. Schaeffer then coached the Rockies’ High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A affiliates two seasons each from 2015-22. He finally got a chance on the Rockies’ coaching staff in 2023-24 as the third base and infield coach.
There could not be a more homegrown candidate as a manager league-wide. Or a candidate who is more familiar with the history of the Rockies. The Rockies are currently one of the youngest teams in the league. A lot of the current Rockies have been around Schaeffer for a long time, playing for him at some point as they moved through the Rockies’ farm system.
Officially official!
Warren Schaeffer is the Rockies manager. pic.twitter.com/9SaGJMZD07
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) November 24, 2025
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In an offseason of change for the Rockies, it was unclear whether new President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta would bring back Schaeffer. The Rockies were the last team to hire a manager for the upcoming season. But it will officially be Schaeffer again. DePodesta has aced the Rockies’ offseason so far, and that continues with his decision to bring Schaeffer back.
Hiring Schaeffer Is the Right Decision
The Rockies could not have had a worse start to the season. It looked as bleak as ever in Colorado as both hitting coach Hensley Meulens and Black were let go by May 11. Schaeffer was placed in a very difficult situation and did the best he could with what he had.
Black was also not given the resources to win for much of his tenure in Colorado. But it was clear that a new voice was needed. The Rockies were not only losing but losing badly, and they were a non-competitive mess. The bar was low for Schaeffer, as even getting the Rockies to compete would be an accomplishment. Schaeffer was up to the test.
The Rockies were 7-33 following a 9-3 win against the San Diego Padres on May 11. That would be Black’s last game as the Rockies’ manager. Two months later, the Rockies sat at 22-72. Still an abysmal record. But the Rockies were noticeably more competitive under Schaeffer, highlighted by a stretch where they won four straight road games from June 15-18 against the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals.
Best Stretches of the Rockies Season
There were also two stretches in the second half where the Rockies played some of their best baseball of the season. They came out of the All-Star break reinvigorated and won five of seven against the Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, and Baltimore Orioles. That included two consecutive home wins and their first home series win in 2025.
The Rockies’ best stretch of the season came from August 11-21, when they went 7-4. They won series against the Cardinals and Arizona Diamondbacks, followed by a four-game series split against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field.
The bright spots this season were few and far between. But a highly undermanned Rockies team played hard for Schaeffer and had promising moments, proving that he can be the guy to lead this team when they are ready to contend again.
Rockies’ Foundation Coming Together
With their front office and manager in place, the Rockies’ foundation is taking form. Now the focus of the organization can rest solely on the offseason as they look to get the Rockies back to respectability.
#Rockies Paul DePodesta::
“We’re confident Warren (Schaeffer) is the right person to lead our club moving forward. He has established strong relationships with our players, understands the culture of this franchise and embodies the energy and work ethic we want …”— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) November 24, 2025
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One of the elder statesmen on the Rockies, 32-year-old Starting Pitcher Kyle Freeland, also spoke highly of the Rockies bringing back Schaeffer.
#Rockies veteran LHP Kyle Freeland on return of manager Warren Schaeffer:
“I’m very excited for Schaef, his family and our organization with him at the lead. We love playing for him and the type of mentality and passion he brings to the field everyday. “— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) November 24, 2025
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Freeland is a Colorado native and always plays with his heart on his sleeve. It was visibly evident with both Schaeffer and Freeland how personal they took the current state of the Rockies. There is a long road ahead, and the Rockies rebuild is just starting to get going. But they are doing the right things to climb out of this hole, and the guy in charge is fully determined to get the organization he’s spent his entire professional career with back to prominence.
Main Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
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