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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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Ryan Rolison of the Colorado Rockies
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.

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