The Final Month of the 2024 Rockies

With one month remaining in the 2024 regular season, the Rockies are in the same spot they were last year, stat padding, reaching milestones, and playing spoiler. However, there is another added element to September, and that’s hopeful callups.

In the month of August, we saw the Rockies system make some promotions and some callups. Those big names like Drew Romo, Zac Veen, and Chase Dollander made huge improvements, and it quickly made a splash. After no one made an offer for catcher Elias Diaz, the Rockies realized they needed to make a tough choice that ultimately moved them forward. The 2023 All-Star Game MVP Diaz was released back on August 16th, which made way for Rockies prospect catcher Drew Romo. Even though the team lost a fan favorite and a locker room leader, they gained a young and healthy catcher with some pop. On the other side of the starting battery is the Rockies #2 prospect Chase Dollander. MLB’s #2 RHP prospect was promoted to Double-A Hartford where he immediately made an impact. Through his first seven starts in Hartford, Dollander has a 1.43 ERA in 37.2 innings, striking out 48! In his most recent start, Dollander struck out seven straight batters on his way to back to back 10 strikeout games. With the loss of German Marquez and an ever-changing rotation, Dollander has a real chance to make an appearance before the end of the season. As for Rockies #3 prospect Zac Veen, he’s making waves in Triple-A Albuquerque where he was promoted to directly after an IL stint. Veen has homered twice in his first six games in Triple-A, which includes eight RBIs. If Veen can continue to make forward progress this offseason, we could very well see him in Rockies purple to begin the 2025 season.

As for the Rockies, Rockies sophomore Brenton Doyle has a real chance to join the 25-25 club and is only eight home runs and five stolen bases away from the 30-30 club. If Doyle reaches 30-30 this year, he will become only the fourth Rockie to do so, and the first since the Hall of Famer Larry Walker did it in 1997. Doyle is also on his way to his second Gold Glove Award for being, by far, the best fielding center fielder in the league. As Doyle tries to reach his own milestone, Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar is trying to find his own. Currently, Tovar is second in the MLB in doubles with 40, becoming the first Rockie since 2019 Charlie Blackmon to hit 40 doubles. At times, 40 doesn’t seem to be enough for young Tovar as he tries to reach for 50 and become the fourth Rockie to do so, and the first since 2007 Matt Holliday. In his rookie year, Tovar was a finalist for the Gold Glove Award, but he looks to win the award this year and become the third Rockies shortstop to win the award.

The Rockies have played spoiler a lot over these past six years of losing seasons, and this year is no different. The Rockies have the toughest schedule remaining this season, which includes six with the LA Dodgers. As the Rockies try to avoid their second straight 100-loss season, they can also keep a couple of teams out of the playoffs. The Braves, Cubs, Cardinals, and Tigers all look to find themselves a playoff spot by the end of the season. If you’ve watched the Rockies in September before, you know that teams don’t like to play them as much as they do earlier in the season. The Rockies won 10 games in September last year, which doesn’t seem like a lot, but it was their second-best month. Those 10 wins include two over the Cubs, who missed the playoffs by only one game, and three over the Giants, who ended up missing the playoffs by five games. The Rockies could be a little pesky at the end of the season, which could lead to some unhappy fan bases.

As we come down to a close on the 2024 season, you can’t help but wonder if this is Charlie Blackmon’s final season as a Rockie. Blackmon is second on the franchise leaderboard in GP, AB, hits, doubles, stolen bases, XBH, and TB. He leads the franchise in triples, fourth in RBIs, and is three homers away from tying Carlos Gonzalez for fifth in all-time home runs. Even though Blackmon isn’t an MLB Hall of Famer, he is still one of the best Rockies to ever put on the purple, and he will one day have his number retired. Then and only then, can he trim the beard and the hair. If this is Blackmon’s final month at Coors Field, cherish the moments he has, and let him hear your praise.