What Each Member of the 2024 Rockies Roster Brings To The Team

With the 2024 regular season a month out, and Spring Training games underway, I thought it was time to review the Rockies roster and see where each player fits on the team. We will be going over Rockies regulars like Brendan Rodgers and possible call ups like Zac Veen. 

Catchers:

The Rockies catching position has been a little tricky since the playoff days. They haven’t been able to find a solid tandem, and they’ve made some interesting signings to hold the position over until the younger kids can make their way to the show.

Elias Diaz signed with the Rockies in the 2020 season, and since has taken over the starting position. In those four seasons, he has brought some power to the cleanup spot as well as a veteran presence in the locker room. With more power showing up, however, he could drop down in the lineup to the sixth spot. He drove in the most runs of his career and had the most hits in his nine seasons this past year while bringing home the ASG MVP in his first All-Star appearance. With one year left on his contract, and Drew Romo peering in, this could be Diaz’s final season in purple.

Jacob Stallings (C) was an interesting signing by the Rockies this offseason as the 33-year-old is coming off of his worst career year with the Marlins. With only 46 hits in 88 games last year, he will be more of a relief for the overused Diaz this season. If he can find some Coors magic, he has the potential to be part of a trade deal at the deadline. Overall, he doesn’t bring too much to the team this year, other than relief and a roster spot filler.

Drew Romo (C) is a young 21-year-old who made his way through AA with Hartford and ended his season in Albuquerque with the Isotopes and the Rockies ninth ranked prospect. He had a multi-hit game in three of his four AAA games at the end of the season, which includes a hit in nine of his last 10 games. Even though he only had 13 home runs through his 96 games last year, he had two three-homer games. Depending on how he does this spring, and if he can continue his productivity in AAA, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him sooner rather than later. He definitely has a bright future with the Rockies.

Infielders: 

The Rockies infield core is starting to shape up with Tovar having a great rookie year, Brendon Rodgers coming back from shoulder surgery after a gold glove season, and Ryan McMahon finding consistency at third. However, with Cron being traded last year, there is a hole at first base. Is Kris Bryant the answer if he can stay healthy, or will Montero lower his K rate and keep his spot at first? The first month of baseball will be a big indicator.

Adael Amador (2B/SS) is currently the Rockies top prospect and MLB’s 28th. He went flying through low and high A before heading to AA Hartford for the final 10 games of the season. He struggled in the change to AA, however, he was able to hit a home run and have an OBP of near .250. He will start the season in Hartford and will probably end the year with the Isotopes if he progresses as he’s projected to. The middle infielder is projected for a 2025 debut.

Hunter Goodman (C/1B/OF) only played 23 games for the Rockies last year while being their 12th ranked prospect. His minor league stats show what power he has. In his 2023 MiLB campaign with Hartford and Albuquerque, he hit 34 home runs with 111 RBI in the span of 106 games before being called up. The year before in low, high, and double-A, he hit 36 home runs with 106 RBI in 135 games played. If he is given a chance to play for the Rockies, he could be a 40 home run hitter in a few years. The power is there, but is the opportunity? 

Ryan McMahon (2B/3B) has been the Rockies star third baseman since Nolan Arenado got traded in 2021. In that time, he has been a finalist for a gold glove each year keeping the hot corner alive in Colorado. He was able to bring down his error count last year as well to 13 from 17. Along with his incredible fielding abilities, he has hit 66 home runs and knocked in 223 runs over the past three years. He has consistently been the only Rockie with 20+ home runs in the past three years. Along with the fielding and hitting consistency, he is also consistent with striking out. He struck out 198 times last year which ranked 4th in the MLB, which is the only red flag in his game. 

Elehuris Montero (1B/3B) was the best position player swapped to Colorado in the Arenado trade, and like Arenado, he had some pop at the plate. Through his two seasons with the Rockies, he’s hit 17 home runs in 138 games played. He has the ability as shown with his AAA stats, but he hasn’t been able to find a groove in the majors. Montero’s 2023 season saw his increased value thanks to playing in 32 more games, but with Bryant switching to first, we might be seeing the end of Monty’s time in purple.

Brendan Rodgers (2B) is one of the more intriguing stories entering this season. After missing most of last year with shoulder surgery after a career year that ended with his first gold glove. He was slow out of the gate when returning to the lineup, but he racked up 24 hits in his last 17 games, four of which were home runs. He ended up hitting .302 in September after hitting .216 in August. If he can stay healthy through the spring this year, he will be a key piece to this Rockies team.

Michael Toglia (1B/OF) is another one of the seemingly missed Rockies first rounders. After being drafted 23rd overall in 2019, he steamrolled his way through the minor leagues to a call up in late 2022 where he played 31 games. However, unlike his 2022 minor league season, Toglia couldn’t get his bat to connect the same way hitting only .216. 2023 was no better when he was called up in May. He played 14 more games but had one less hit for a .163 average. He’ll try and earn a spot again this year, but he’ll likely start in AAA again.

Ezequiel Tovar (SS) was one of the bright spots of the Rockies 2023 season playing nearly every game. The rookie hit .253 and had 13 defensive runs saved on his way to his first gold glove nomination. He hit 15 home runs for the Rockies this year which was more than he had in 2022 for Hartford and Albuquerque. The mix of his glove and his developing bat helps the Rockies future and fits in with this young core perfectly. His 2024 will be something to watch closely.

Outfielders:

The Rockies outfield has gone through a lot of changes throughout the past few seasons. Whether it’s trading for power hitters, or signing a big name outfielder, the Rockies weren’t able to find a steady trio. That all changed last year with the call-ups of Brenton Doyle and Nolan Jones. Those two are ready to propel the Rockies into the future as well as run laps around the division. The outfield depth is also starting to show on the bench and in the system. The Rockies outfield hasn’t looked this good in a while, and it will only get better.

Sean Bouchard (OF) was a pleasant surprise for the Rockies when he was called up in 2022. He showed consistency and plate discipline as well as some sneaky power. He played only 27 games in 2022 before needing surgery in the spring of 2023 which forced him to only play 21 games. However, in those 48 games, he has hit .304 with seven home runs from the back end of the lineup. With the way the Rockies lineup is shaping out, he will likely be a solid pinch-hitter that will get on base and keep the lineup moving. His 2024 will be key to see if he can continue to be consistent at the plate to keep his roster spot.

Kris Bryant (1B/OF) has been one of the more disappointing pieces in the organization since his signing in 2022. In those two seasons, he played in only 122 games due to injury. He’s hit 15 home runs and batted in 45 while hitting .258. He’s starting his shift to first base this season to open up spots for the kids to play the outfield as well as a decline in health and increase in age. A bounce back season will be needed for Bryant as his spot on the roster is starting to get taken away and given to younger players who can play. With five years left on his contract, he needs to break out of this old man shell and start smashing some balls.

Brenton Doyle (OF) can cover the 29% of the earth that isn’t covered by water. His speed is his greatest asset, and it helped him to a rookie year gold glove with 19 defensive runs saved and 10 outfield assists. He had the hardest thrown ball by a position play at 105.7 MPH this past season. He also has some sneaky power at the plate that helped him to 10 home runs, four of which were opposite field. His consistency could use some work hitting a low .203 in 2023, but as a rookie, you can only go up. Doyle will be the Rockies center fielder for a long time to come. 

Nolan Jones (OF) is the one true Nolan as he tore up the league in his rookie year. Whether it's at the plate or in the field, Nolan Jones was arguably the best thing to happen for the Rockies in 2023. Jones was the first ever Rockies rookie to have 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a season, and he did it in just 106 games. Similarly to Doyle, Jones had himself 19 assists and 10 defensive runs saved. He also has the hardest average throw by a position player at 98.9 MPH, and the fourth hardest throw overall at 102.7 MPH. Nolan Jones has MVP potential, and his rookie season showed the tip of the iceberg.

Charlie Blackmon (OF/DH) is the longest tenured Rockies player, and at the end of the 2023 season, he signed what seems to be his final contract. Coming into what could be his final season, he brings a veteran presence that not very many teams have. Last year he played 96 games, which is the least amount of games played since his third year back in 2013 (not including the shortened 2020 season). As some of his hitting stats decrease, his average increased to the highest it’s been since that 2020 season, somewhat thanks to the new shift rules. Due to his declining ability to play the field, he will play most of his games at the DH spot again this year, opening the opportunity up for a right fielder. As we enter his possible final season, he leads the franchise in triples, and is second in games, at bats, runs, hits, doubles, stolen bases, and caught stealing. The number 19 will definitely be retired one day, but for now, we relish every moment we have with Chuck Nazty.

Other players that could find their way to a call up include:

Coco Montes who played 18 games between June and July for the Rockies hitting his first career home run in game number one. He hit 22 home runs in 107 games while hitting .317 in AAA Albuquerque.

Alan Trejo who has played 145 games in the past three seasons, will also be fighting for a roster spot this spring. 

Aaron Schunk is also primed for an MLB call-up after being drafted 62 overall in 2019. He spent 116 games last year in AAA while hitting .290. He is the Rockies 28th prospect after being their fifth in 2021.

Zac Veen was the Rockies top ranked prospect in 2021 and 2022 while also grabbing the AFL OPY in 2022. He was planning on a late 2023 callup before needing surgery in late June of the 2023 season. If he can find the groove that he was in before, along with having a strong spring, he could find an MLB roster spot. 

Rockies Opening Day will be on March 28th in Arizona before the home opener on April 5th against Tampa.