Colorado Rockies at a Crossroads: Can They Rebuild from One of MLB’s Darkest Seasons?
2025 season: Eliminated Aug. 23
So here we are—Aug. 23, 2025, and the Colorado Rockies are the first team officially knocked outta postseason contention this year. It’s been a tough slog for the Rockies, to say the least, but even in a rough season, there’s plenty worth digging into: the triumphs amidst the trials, the questions looming over the front office this coming offseason, and a tentative glance at what might lie ahead in 2026. I’ve watched this team closely and, believe me, there’s more than just disappointment to talk about here. Let’s unpack it all—warts and all—and try to make sense of where the Rockies stand and where they could cruise next season.
2025 season: Eliminated Aug. 23
With the first team eliminated from the 2025 postseason, let’s take a look at the season that was for the Colorado Rockies, the questions the team must address this winter and the early outlook next year.
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Things that went right
For a team with one month left in a historically bad season, the 2025 Colorado Rockies have had a surprising number of bright spots.
There is no doubt that catcher Hunter Goodman has been the biggest revelation. After showing improved power last year, Goodman put everything together in 2025, ranking among the top catchers in most key offensive statistics, with 25 home runs and an .844 OPS. Colorado’s representative in the 2025 All-Star Game, Goodman can hit for power and average, and he could take another step forward next year by improving on his poor plate discipline.
After arriving in a spring training trade for Nolan Jones, Tyler Freeman emerged in June as a leadoff man who can hit for average and cause problems on the basepaths. The team’s other unlikely contributor was Mickey Moniak. The No. 1 pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, Moniak had a lifetime .673 OPS when
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Things that went wrong
It’s difficult to overstate how poorly the Rockies’ season started. Every other team in baseball had at least twice as many wins as Colorado on June 1, when the Rockies sat at 9-50. Things went slightly better after that, but the die had been cast that the Rockies would be the worst team of 2025.
As is often the case, Colorado’s pitching staff has been the worst in baseball. Sure, its hurlers struggled at Coors Field, but they were regularly rocked during road games, too. As of Aug. 23, there wasn’t a single Colorado pitcher with at least 10 starts and an ERA below 5.00. And the relief corps was no better, with Jimmy Herget, Juan Mejia and Victor Vodnik the only relievers who posted somewhat respectable stat lines, with ERAs under 4.10.
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The pitching failures were expected, but it was surprising to see Colorado also rank among the lowest-scoring teams in baseball. Although Brenton Doyle was most emblematic of the team’s struggles at the dish, he deserves some grace. Doyle had a stellar .888 OPS on April 17, when his wife suffered a miscarriage. He then posted a .490 OPS across May and June.
Meanwhile, Michael Toglia was a major disappointment. Expected to build on a 25-homer, 10-steal 2024 season, Toglia was hitting .194 when he was optioned on May 31. He spent a couple of weeks in the minors and didn’t look any better upon rejoining the club and eventually returned to Triple-A. Injuries ruined a potentially productive middle infield in Colorado, as Ezequiel Tovar and Thairo Estrada both missed months of action due to multiple IL stints.
The icing on this cake of futility is that the Rockies rank among baseball’s worst fielding teams, though it’s hard to get too down on a group of players who were regularly battered with one hard-hit ball after another.
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Offseason outlook
The Rockies have some reasons for hope in the infield. Goodman looks like a long-term asset behind the plate, which is arguably baseball’s toughest position to fill. Warming Bernabel has shown potential in the second half and could open 2026 as the starter at either corner infield spot. Tovar has shortstop covered, assuming he can get past the injuries that plagued him this year. Second base will likely need to be addressed, as Estrada has a mutual option on his contract. Freeman could handle that spot but is more likely to be used in the outfield.
There are plenty of outfield options, even though some come with questions. Doyle will surely start in center field for an expected bounce-back season. Moniak and Jordan Beck can handle the corners, with Moniak providing the added bonus of backing up Doyle in center. Freeman will likely log plenty of outfield appearances as a super utilityman who starts most games. Yanquiel Fernández will hope to win a roster spot after getting his feet wet this year, but he is not the ideal platoon partner for Moniak, given that they both bat from the left side.
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And the rotation is a mess. Kyle Freeland and Antonio Senzatela will return to eat innings, but the team might no longer want to give Senzatela the chance after such a dismal season. The rest of the rotation options, including Ryan Feltner, Bradley Blalock and Tanner Gordon, are unproven. Former first-round draft pick Chase Dollander is expected to eventually become the team’s ace but seemed far off that level when given chances this year.
The relief corps isn’t in any better shape. Seth Halvorsen wasn’t effective while serving as the team’s primary closer, and he landed on the IL in August due to a strained elbow. Vodnik and Herget will fill key roles next year after Tyler Kinley and Jake Bird were dealt at the trade deadline.
Prospects on the horizon
Despite finishing below .500 for seven straight years, the Rockies don’t have a deep group of major-league-ready prospects.
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Charlie Condon should be Colorado’s next great hitter. He was the third pick of the 2024 MLB Draft and the No. 1 prospect in the eyes of many. A 6-foot-6 star who can play in the outfield but will most likely debut as a first baseman, Condon excelled in the low minors but has yet to crush Double-A pitching. He should debut with Colorado at some point next season.
Center fielder Cole Carrigg is also playing in Double-A and has already established himself as one of the best base stealers in the minors. He is sure to become a fan favorite with his reckless playing style, and he could push for promotion by next summer.
The rest of the team’s prospects figure to debut further down the road or have much lower ceilings. The exception might be Kyle Karros, a fifth-round draft pick in 2023 who arrived in the majors in August. He could be the long-term replacement for Ryan McMahon at third base.
Ethan Holliday is worth mentioning, as he instantly became the organization’s best prospect when he was selected fourth overall in the 2025 MLB Draft. But Holliday is just 18 years old and won’t reach Denver for a few years.
Goals for 2026
Expectations are at rock-bottom in the Rocky Mountains, as Colorado will enter 2026 with the goal of simply avoiding last place in the National League. This team is miles away from contention, especially considering the Rockies play in a division with four teams aggressively chasing postseason success.
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Progress in Colorado will be measured by the development of the team’s younger players. A respectable offense could exist if Doyle and Tovar get back on track, Goodman continues to grow and Beck takes a step forward. The pitching staff isn’t close to being credible, but seeing Dollander emerge as an effective starter would help the fan base rebuild some trust in the organization.
Fantasy focus
Fantasy managers are suckers for hitters who play half their games at Coors Field, which means that in every league, there will be someone who is excited to bet on a bounce-back season from Doyle or Tovar in the second half of their draft. Goodman should be the first Colorado player off the board, as he’ll be selected as a top-five catcher. The rest of the hitters, including the likes of Freeman and Beck, will be late-round options in deeper formats.
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