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The Colorado Rockies and the future of the Farm System

By William Bane |
DENVER, CO - MAY 22: Dark clouds loom overhead as 'The Player' statue stands sentry outside the stadium as a Tornado Warning was issued during a weather delay between the San Francisco Giants and the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning at Coors Field on May 22, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - MAY 22: Dark clouds loom overhead as 'The Player' statue stands sentry outside the stadium as a Tornado Warning was issued during a weather delay between the San Francisco Giants and the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning at Coors Field on May 22, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA – MARCH 07: Ryan Rolison #80 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Chicago White Sox on March 7, 2021 at Camelback Ranch in Glendale Arizona. (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – MARCH 07: Ryan Rolison #80 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Chicago White Sox on March 7, 2021 at Camelback Ranch in Glendale Arizona. (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images) /

The Colorado Rockies farm system has begun to gain quite the reputation for possessing prospects with above-average toolsets that are being viewed as crucial pieces for the club’s future.

These toolsets are graded on the 20-80 scale, a grading system used by scouts to put guys’ power, contact, base-running ability, fielding, etc., and their potential with each into perspective. An 80 grade is cream of the crop. A 20 grade is the bottom of the barrel.

So let’s find out what some scouts think of the Colorado Rockies minor league players and who’s up and coming.

The Colorado Rockies have a few intriguing pitching prospects, including Ryan Rolison.

In terms of pitching prospects, the Rockies have some very intriguing guys. There’s Ryan Rolison, the 2018 first-round pick out of Ole Miss, whose major league debut seems to be rapidly approaching.

There’s also Jaden Hill, the second-round pick from this year, whose injury struggles can cause concern, however, could possess the potential of being the Rockies’ #1 option as a starter as his career progresses. But who’s got the potential of being a lockdown reliever for the Boys of Blake?

Gavin Hollowell is a name that has caught many eyes due to the shutdown stuff that he provided with Low-A Fresno. Hollowell, who is the Rockies’ #29 prospect according to MLB.com isn’t your prototypical pitcher in that he offers 4 or 5 pitches that break in different ways. He doesn’t even throw 3 pitches. The 6th round pick back in 2019 out of Saint John’s throws mainly a fastball and a slider. But don’t let that fool you. He’s got nasty stuff.

Thus far in his career, Hollowell is 6-0 with a 2.53 ERA with 12 saves. If he keeps developing as he has, Hollowell could be in the Major Leagues as soon as 2022.

Karl Kauffmann got his first taste of professional pitching in 2021 after the Rockies drafted him in the 2nd round in 2019. This season, he made the jump to Double-A within his first two professional starts so some struggles were to be expected. Kauffmann ended the year on a high note and showed promise as he had an ERA of 3.78 in his last three starts of the season and an ERA of 3.95 in his last five starts of the season.

DENVER – MAY 25: A hat and glove of the Colorado Rockies rests in the dugout during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on May 25, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/Getty Images)
DENVER – MAY 25: A hat and glove of the Colorado Rockies rests in the dugout during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on May 25, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/Getty Images) /

The Colorado Rockies have young talent currently with the Major League club, but depth-wise, they have even younger up and comers that have made their presence felt.

Beginning with Brenton Doyle, the outfielder taken in the 4th round out of Shepherd University. The Rockies knew Doyle could hit, but when he came out and won the Pioneer League Batting Title in his first professional season, it caught the eyes of everyone.

Doyle spent 2021 in Advanced-A Spokane, primarily playing right field, but also playing center field. Doyle did not take his foot off the gas, hitting .279 with 16 homers and 47 RBI’s. Some scouts believe Doyle could see time at the Major League level before the end of 2022.

Zac Veen, the superstar outfielder for the Fresno Grizzlies, is one of the top outfield prospects in all of baseball and is proving day in and day out why that is. The Rockies got a cornerstone piece for the future with Veen. He showed all 5 tools in 2021 and could make quick work in 2022 as well. Veen isn’t expected in the Major Leagues until 2024 but at 19 years old, he played like a tenured veteran in Low-A Fresno. Batting .301 with a .399 on-base percentage and slugging 15 homers with 75 RBI’s.

Sep 9, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Colton Welker (4) hits a RBI single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Colton Welker (4) hits a RBI single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

The Colorado Rockies have a few third base prospects that could factor into the major league club soon.

Elehuris Montero, acquired by the Colorado Rockies from the St. Louis Cardinals in February, was going to have to prove that the anomaly year in 2019 stayed in 2019. For Montero, he had a hamate injury that practically took all the power out of his bat in his first year in Double-A. However, in 2021 Elehuris Montero jumped right back on the ship, proving that his hitting capability went absolutely nowhere. Montero split time between Hartford and Albuquerque in 2021 and hit a combined .278 with 28 home runs.

He is currently playing third base but profiles as a first baseman when he arrives in Colorado, mainly due to defensive issues but he could break club with Colorado out of Spring Training.

Aaron Schunk was a two-way player out of the University of Georgia in 2019 and the Rockies picked him up in the 2nd round. Schunk came out swinging a hot bat in his pro career and had a down year in 2021 but there is still hope that Schunk could right the ship and show his true colors again. Aaron is listed as a third baseman but has begun to play second base, a position the Colorado Rockies lack depth at.

Colton Welker who made his major league debut in 2021, had a rather lackluster start to this year when he was suspended for 80 games due to failing a PED test. Welker, however, didn’t let that bump in his journey stop him and continued to work away from the club. He returned to Albuquerque in August and it was as if nothing changed. Welker came out swinging a red hot bat and that helped pave the way for the front office to make the call.

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The Colorado Rockies do not have one of the strongest farm systems in baseball right now but they do have some pieces that could contribute to the team very soon. And there are even more guys that have shown development that will help them move up in the Rockies farm system and continuing to develop to get closer to the majors next season.

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