Number 9: Young prospects/players getting their chances
Are you ready for more playing time for Ryan McMahon and Raimel Tapia? Get ready, because the young duo is likely to have a big impact on Colorado’s 2018 season.
If the Rockies don’t sign another first baseman, McMahon will likely hold down first base, giving Ian Desmond more versatility to play in the outfield. Tapia, meanwhile, will benefit when Desmond is at first base, likely moving into the right field slot vacated by Carlos Gonzalez.
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Those aren’t the only two youngsters who will likely see time with the Rockies in 2018. Last year, players like Mike Tauchman and Shane Carle made their debuts. Jairo Diaz, Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez saw time on the mound.
Colorado has a young and deep farm system and that will be evident again in 2018 as Rockies fans get a deeper taste of what the future might hold at 20th and Blake.
Number 10: Another year of the Carlos Estevez experiment
Speaking of Estevez, the 25-year-old right-hander made Colorado’s Opening Day roster last season but then bounced back and forth between Colorado and Triple-A Albuquerque. He was recalled by the Rockies seven times last season, making it one heck of a back-and-forth campaign.
He went 5-0 with a 5.57 ERA and struck out 31 in 32.1 innings of work. Manager Bud Black and the Colorado administration are all high on the potential that Estevez brings. If he can harness his power and “throw the ball like he is capable,” as Black said in this article, Estevez can make a strong Colorado bullpen even stronger.