Colorado Rockies news and links for Thursday, July 10th, 2025
Prior to this ongoing 2025 season, the Colorado Rockies seemed at an impasse.
With a combination of veterans looking to regain their form and younger players trying to make an impact, the team found itself in a tricky spot as they worked to figure out who would receive regular playing time, and where that would occur.
While they eventually decided to largely stick with names that Rockies fans are already familiar with, there were a few new faces brought into the fold. Let’s take a look at how these guys are performing in their debut season with the Rockies organization.
Thairo Estrada
Probably the biggest name Colorado signed during the offseason, Estrada’s season got off to an inauspicious start when he was forced to miss the first few weeks of the season due to a broken wrist. Since his return, Estrada’s been solid at the plate as he’s slashed .287/.315/.715 with a couple of home runs and 18 RBI.
While his defense has been somewhat uninspiring, Estrada’s nonetheless been one of the more exciting bats on an otherwise lacking offense. A streaky hitter, the seventh-year second baseman hasn’t flashed the pop that we grew used to seeing during his time with the San Francisco Giants, but Estrada’s been about as good as the Rockies could reasonably hope for.
Nick Martini
Martini, a journeyman hitter that had spent time in Oakland, San Diego, Chicago, and Cincinnati before finally landing in Colorado, made the roster on Opening Day and served as the everyday designated hitter and right fielder for much of the season’s inception.
Martini’s season highlights came in the form of some exciting outfield play, but that couldn’t overcome poor performance at the plate. Through 43 games, he slashed .225/.288/.294 and amassed five extra base hits, all good for a -0.4 offensive bWAR per Baseball Reference.
In the end, the Rox decided to end their relationship with Martini in early June. He has since re-signed with the Athletics and is currently a member of the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.
Owen Miller
The Rockies kicked off their offseason by acquiring Miller in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. The utility infielder hasn’t had a large presence Major League level, appearing in just nine games with Colorado. He’s seen far more action with Triple-A Albuquerque, where he’s had up-and-down success.
Miller’s path to the Majors seems blocked by the Rockies’ glut of infield talent, though he may be called up in the event of a trade or injury. At present, Miller likely won’t factor too heavily into Colorado’s plans this season.
Scott Alexander
Oh, Scott Alexander.
I was stoked when the Rockies announced that they had signed the veteran southpaw to a one-year deal this past February, a move that would doubtless bolster a bullpen that could use the help. Instead, Alexander struggled mightily in purple pinstripes, appearing in 19 games with Colorado and recording an ERA north of 6.
Somewhat surprisingly, the Rockies decided to cut bait in May by releasing Alexander, who would go on to sign with the San Francisco Giants. Interestingly, though Alexander never found sustained success at altitude, he did record a higher bWAR (-0.1) than multiple players still with the team such as Kyle Freeland, Tyler Kinley, and Bradley Blalock.
C’est la vie.
Mickey Moniak
The former number one draft pick was brought in towards the end of spring training after being released by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Initially viewed as a bench piece, Moniak has found some fire with the Rockies and is experiencing one of the more effective seasons of his career thus far.
Of course, he’s also been a beneficiary of the patented Coors Field Effect, as evidenced by his fairly striking home and road splits. Still, he’s taken advantage of the conditions laid out for him, and it’s proven effective thus far.
Moniak’s work at the plate and on the basepaths has been a highlight for a struggling Colorado club, allowing him to take on an everyday role in the outfield. The Rockies have had their eye on him for quite a while, and it seems he’ll have a chance to stake his claim at being a part of their future plans if he can continue to stave off young sluggers like Yanquiel Fernández and Zac Veen.
Tyler Freeman
Maybe the biggest surprise of the 2025 season has been the rise of Tyler Freeman.
While the trade that brought him to Denver in exchange for Nolan Jones was met with (rightful) skepticism, it seems to have been a savvy move as Jones has found difficulty making an impact with Cleveland. Freeman, meanwhile, is slashing .340/.424/.451 in 50 games entering play on Wednesday.
While his defense can be iffy at times, Freeman’s turned out to be somewhat of a hidden gem for the Rox and has worked his way into the starting lineup. With arbitration years left on his contract and a very impressive first half of the season, he may have found a new home in the mountains.
Orlando Arcia
Arcia represents one of the more puzzling roster additions. Colorado’s decision to add the ten-year veteran shortstop while already featuring multiple infield talents on their roster was an odd one, and Arcia’s play as done little to convince the doubters that it was the right move.
Through 25 games with the Rox, Arcia’s slashing a brutal .188/.235/.300 with two home runs and just five RBI. He’s also had a tough time in the field, posting a defensive bWAR of -0.4 which, if it holds, would tie the lowest mark of his career. There’s time for Arcia to turn things around and prove the naysayers wrong, which of course I hope he does, but it’s been a saturnine start to his tenure with Colorado.
It will be interesting to see what the return of Ezequiel Tovar, soon to finish his rehab assignment, means for Arcia’s playing time.
Kyle Farmer
Another veteran utilityman, Farmer was welcomed aboard in November of last year. While his position on the roster was unclear as the season began, Farmer has since become the team’s preferred bench bat, though the results have been inconsistent.
Farmer’s versatility in the field has been on display as he’s played first base, second base, and third base, while also acting as the designated hitter, at various points in the season. His bat hasn’t quite contributed as much as his glove, however, as, despite the occasional flash of power such as his two-run home run in Wednesday’s game against the Boston Red Sox, he’s hitting just .217/.261/.333 with an OPS of .594.
Another one-year contract player, it seems unlikely that Farmer and the Rockies will exercise his mutual option next season. As such, he’ll do what he can to finish 2025 strong in order to impress other clubs enough to sign him next season.
Jimmy Herget
Herget is having an unsung-yet-solid season for Rockies. “The Human Glitch” was snagged off of waivers from the Chicago Cubs and has turned into one of the most dependable members of Colorado’s bullpen, posting an ERA+ of 149 and being counted upon in high-leverage situations.
Herget still allows more contact than one would like, but his compact delivery has, in general, been one of the more effective of the Rockies’ relief corps. He’s a prime trade candidate as the deadline nears, especially considering his one-year deal. We’ll see if he finishes the season in purple and, if he does, what his role will be in next year’s iteration of the bullpen.
For those wondering, Baseball Reference lays out the WAR of these players as such:
- Jimmy Herget 1.3
- Tyler Freeman 0.2
- Mickey Moniak 0.1
- Scott Alexander 0.0
- Owen Miller 0.0
- Thairo Estrada -0.1
- Nick Martini -0.2
- Orlando Arcia -0.8
- Kyle Farmer -0.8
Kind of interesting to see Herget lead the pack, huh?
I guess it goes to show how well he’s played in an under-the-radar kind of way. Freeman and Moniak follow behind at just-above league average, while the rest fall at or below the mark. Suffice to say, these new faces have had varying success this season.
Some have been good, others less so, but all have been part of the story of this year.
Who is your favorite of these new players? Who are you hoping will stay on with the Rockies in the years to come? Let us know in the comments below!
On the farm
Triple-A: Round Rock Express 5, Albuquerque Isotopes 3
A four-run fourth frame was the difference-maker in Wednesday’s Isotopes loss.
Albuquerque’s offense consisted of three solo home runs – their only hits of the contest. Round Rock, meanwhile, touched up Ryan Feltner for five runs in as many innings of work. Old friend Jon Gray threw two shutout innings in the first game of his rehab assignment with the Express.
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats 3, Portland Sea Dogs 2
There were solid pitching performances on both sides, but it was the Yard Goats that would prevail over the Sea Dogs in their contest.
McCade Brown tossed five innings of one-run ball for Hartford, while Ronaiker Palma’s first home run of the season punctuated their offensive effort.
High-A: Spokane Indians 5, Eugene Emeralds 4
Now this was a wacky one. After holding a 3-0 lead for the first six innings, Spokane saw that advantage evaporate when they allowed Eugene to score four total runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
Now down a run in the bottom of the ninth, the Indians showed great patience as they faced down Emeralds closer Liam Simon. Simon proceeded to walk five(!!) batters in a row, allowing Spokane to score the come-from-behind win in improbable walk-off fashion – a very literal one.
Single-A: San Jose Giants 3, Fresno Grizzlies 1
Fresno’s batters couldn’t figure out San Jose’s pitching staff, who were able to shut the home team down en route to a road win.
Niko Mazza, Cole Hillier, and Cade Vernon allowed just five hits to the Grizzlies, who were offered little opportunity to respond. Kelvin Hidalgo’s sacrifice fly was the sole run-scoring effort that Fresno could muster.
Jackson Cox pitched fairly well, allowing four hits and a walk in five innings, but the two home runs he gave up were enough to seal the deal for San Jose.
For more on the Rockies farm system, check out this week’s Pebble Report.
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On the internet
Rockies Mailbag: Is Thad Levine the fix to Colorado’s front office? | Denver Post ($$)
Patrick Saunders breaks down why the Rockies should consider the former Minnesota Twins GM for a spot at the helm in Denver.
Latest On Rockies’ Expected Deadline Approach | MLB Trade Rumors
Stay pat with the current squad? Trade for future success? The Rockies once again find themselves with options at the deadline, but which way will they go? Anthony Franco lays it out here.
Rox top Double-A prospects ready to make impact when called upon | MLB.com
The Hartford Yard Goats, in addition to having a very strong social media game, also feature some of the most exciting young stars in Colorado’s organization. Thomas Harding describes the attitudes and mindsets of these young men waiting in earnest for their opportunity in the Show.
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