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Youth Movement Taking Shape for Rockies

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It has been a long season for the 31-88 Colorado Rockies. But on the bright side, the Rockies are finally embracing a rebuild and letting the kids play! Several top Rockies prospects have made their Major League debuts this season. Beginning with RHP Chase Dollander at the start of the season. More recently, the Rockies have seen the debuts of third baseman Kyle Karros, outfielder Yanquiel Fernandez, and infielder Warming Bernabel. It is good to see the Rockies finally playing their young talent consistently. Most importantly, they helped clear the way for that young talent with the moves they made at the deadline.

The Rockies are promoting their top pitching prospect, Chase Dollander, to their big league roster.
Mar 13, 2025; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, Arizona, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Chase Dollander throws against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Rockies Trade Deadline Created Opportunities

It is never clear what the Rockies are going to do at the Trade Deadline. But this season, they rightfully acted like sellers and traded away some of their veteran talent. Third baseman Ryan McMahon and relievers Jake Bird and Tyler Kinley were all dealt at the deadline. The Rockies got a nice haul for McMahon and shed his remaining salary while opening a space for their potential third baseman of the future in Karros.

Karros had an excellent season in 2024 for the High-A Spokane Indians. Hitting .311/.390/.485 with an .875 OPS in 123 games. Karros stayed scorching hot offensively this season between Double-A Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque. He also flashed the leather in his minor league career, earning a Gold Glove with Spokane last season. When McMahon was traded shortly before the deadline, the opportunity arose to call up Karros. He debuted on August 8 against the Arizona Diamondbacks and has already made his presence felt.

During his debut, Karros didn’t wait to get his first hit and RBI. He followed that performance on August 10 with a 2-5 day, recording a double and two RBI. But it’s not just the offense Karros brought with him.

Flashing the Leather

In a game at Busch Stadium against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, August 11, Karros made an impressive run-saving dive at the hot corner that resulted in an inning-ending double-play. A play that was reminiscent of the many great defensive gems Nolan Arenado and McMahon had while manning the hot corner for Colorado.

The trading of Bird created an opportunity for RHP Dugan Darnell, who joins a young and promising bullpen. The Rockies did exactly what they needed to do at the deadline. But one of the biggest wins could quietly end up being the spot opening up for Karros at third. He will be a lot of fun to watch for the remainder of the season. He is far from the only one who has shown out in his short time with the Rockies.

Scalding Bernabel

A heat wave has hit Colorado in the last couple of weeks. There is good reason to believe it was caused by a man named Warming Bernabel. After joining Colorado’s farm system in 2019 as a 17-year-old from the Dominican Republic, Bernabel’s long-awaited debut came on July 26 against the Baltimore Orioles. In his first five Major League games, Bernabel went 7-18 with two home runs and two doubles. That all came on the road in Cleveland and Baltimore. His nuclear start did not slow down when he made his Coors Field debut to begin August against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In two Rockies’ wins, Bernabel was an earth-shattering 7-10 with two doubles, one triple, one home run, three runs, and five RBI. Following these performances, Bernabel was aptly given the nickname “Scalding” by the Rockies’ broadcasters. Fittingly, Bernabel was named National League Player of the Week for his “Scalding start.”

Potential Answer at First?

Like his teammate Karros, Bernabel has also shown some defensive ability. To go along with his three hits in game two against the Pirates, Bernabel made an outstanding play at first to rob Nick Gonzales of a hit in the eighth inning.

It has been a nightmare season for Michael Toglia. In 329 plate appearances this season, Toglia hit a paltry .194 with just 11 home runs after hitting 25 last season. He is in the bottom one percent league-wide with a 38.3% K rate. Due to his hot start, Bernabel began to see consistent play at first base. His debut at Coors forced the Rockies’ hand, as Toglia was sent down to Triple-A Albuquerque for the second time this season on August 3. In what was supposed to be a breakout season for Toglia, his disastrous season put the Rockies in a familiar place. Searching for a long-term answer at first base. Bernabel’s emergence at first has given the Rockies something to think about going forward.

Wave of Injuries

In addition to the veterans traded at the deadline, the Rockies have dealt with their fair share of recent injuries. Righties Antonio Senzatela and Germán Márquez are both currently on the 15-day IL. With RHP Ryan Feltner also still on the IL, three-fifths of the Rockies’ Opening Day rotation is currently injured. Infielders Orlando Arcia and Thairo Estrada both suffered injuries in the same game. On August 8, Arcia went on the 10-day IL with right elbow inflammation, and Estrada was transferred to the 60-day IL.

It was an injury-riddled season for Estrada. His 39 games played are his lowest since playing just 26 games in the Covid-shortened season of 2020. But the games he did play at second base helped give Adael Amador crucial time to develop at Triple-A Albuquerque. Amador was not ready earlier in the season, but Estrada was out after suffering an injury in Spring Training, forcing the Rockies’ hand. In 89 at-bats between April and May, Amador was hitting just .146. But since being called up, Amador has looked like a different hitter.

Per Statmuse, in his last seven games, Amador is hitting .333 with seven hits, five RBI, and two runs scored. In his first 89 at-bats, he had 13 hits and five RBI. It wasn’t the intended path when the Rockies signed Estrada this offseason. But their potential second baseman of the future got the development time he needed, and that development is now bearing fruit.

The Colorado Isotopes?

Between Bernabel, Karros, and Amador, the Rockies have to be thrilled with what their potential infield of the future alongside star shortstop Ezequiel Tovar has shown recently. But they are just three of the current Rockies that were recently Albuquerque Isotopes. Between those four, there is not a player above the age of 24. That’s before even mentioning infielder Ryan Ritter, who has had a stellar season at Albuquerque. Ritter, 24, has provided solid play for the Rockies in 31 games this season. But hit the 10-day IL with a right middle finger laceration on July 20.

In the outfield, there is no current regular outfielder older than 27. After the recent designation for assignment of catcher Austin Nola, the Rockies have one of the youngest backstop duos in the Majors with All-Star Hunter Goodman, 25, and Braxton Fulford, 26. Until Márquez and Senzatela return, Lefties Austin Gomber, 31, and Kyle Freeland, 32, are the elder statesmen in a Rockies rotation currently frequented by different pitchers from the Rockies’ farm system. At age 34, infielder Kyle Farmer is ancient among the bevy of young position players.

September Call-Ups

This is even before the September call-ups start. After hitting just .118 in 12 games earlier this season, will outfielder Zac Veen get another chance? Since being sent down, Veen has hit well at Triple-A. In 64 games this season, he has hit .313/.380/.500 with a scorching .880 OPS. He has recorded 82 hits, 19 doubles, five triples, seven home runs, and 44 RBI. Fellow outfielder Sterlin Thompson, currently 19th in the Rockies’ top 30, is another candidate to watch as the next Rockie to make his Major League debut.

Thompson was drafted 31st overall in the 2022 MLB draft, seven slots ahead of current Rockie Jordan Beck. In 349 at-bats this season in Triple-A, Thompson has an excellent .878 OPS with seven triples, 13 home runs, and 50 RBI.

Blink twice if you think you are watching an Isotopes game the next time you tune in to watch the Rockies. There will be even more on the way when September begins. It has been a common refrain from the Rockies fan base in the club’s recent 100+ loss seasons to “Let the Kids Play”. The Rockies are finally doing it! In the last month and a half of the season, the Rockies’ front office will get a great look at the young talent they have as they finally embrace the rebuild.

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