Colorado Rockies: A season review of the top 16 prospects

Major League Baseball has come to an end for MLB teams (aside from the Astros and Braves duking it out for a World Series) and their affiliates. As for the Colorado Rockies, the future stands in the forefront with a farm system that’s begun to trend up after a few years as a bottom-feeding pipeline.

This article will contain a review of the top 15 prospects (16 to accommodate Jaden Hill and his Tommy John recovery) in the system according to my own personal list which features close to 200 prospects in the system.

The top tier resembles sources like MLB, FanGraphs, and Baseball America, but the latter tiers offer a lot of lesser-known names that Rockies fans need to know going into 2022.

Next week, we’ll swing back around and recap the seasons of prospects 17-51 on my list. But, for now, let’s start at the top.

A look at the season from top Colorado Rockies prospect Zac Veen

1. Zac Veen, OF, A: .301/.399/.501, 135 wRC+, 13.4 BB%, 26.3 K%, 15 HR, 36 SB

The Rockies 2020 first-round pick managed to exceed lofty expectations bestowed upon him when he was selected ninth overall as arguably the top high school player in the class. Everyone knew the Florida product came with an elite five-tool ceiling, but I don’t think many expected him to put it all together in his pro debut.

Playing the whole season at the age of 19, Veen started off somewhat cold, hitting just .235 without a home run through his first 38 games (as of June 18). From there, the Low-A West league belonged to the sweet lefty swinger. In his final 69 games, Veen hit .330 with all 15 of his home runs, while cutting down on strikeouts.

The 6-foot-4 outfielder also looked like a natural in the outfield (primarily right field with some left field mixed in) making rangy plays and recording eight assists on the season.

Perhaps most impressively, Veen did this against players, on average, two years older than him.

To make a somewhat bold yet realistic claim, Zac Veen looks like the best prospect the Rockies have had since Troy Tulowitzki. A perennial 30-30 player with quality corner outfield defense and a high OBP looks like Veen’s ceiling … and a somewhat likely one at that.

The Spokane Indians will be the beneficiaries of the Zac Veen experience in 2022, but it’s not unreasonable to think he could reach AA before turning 21, a feat few players accomplish.

Veen’s prospect stock is strapped to a rocket right now and he should be viewed as a top 30 prospect in all of baseball, if not even higher.

A look at the season put together by Colorado Rockies prospect Benny Montgomery

2) Benny Montgomery, OF, ACL: .340/.404/.383, 116 wRC+, 9.6 BB%, 17.3 K%, 0 HR, 5 SB

To the dismay of many Rockies fans, Rob Manfred walked up to the podium on draft night and announced the Rockies selected prep-outfielder Benny Montgomery ahead of hyped players Kumar Rocker, Kahlil Watson, and Brady House.

Fortunately, criticism cooled in August once the Pennsylvania native debuted in the Arizona Complex League. Montgomery was tagged with a narrative leading fans to think he struggled to make contact and that he had a ton of offensive risk.

While he’s far from a sure thing, Montgomery has great hand-eye coordination and should be viewed as a hit-over-power prospect, at this time.

The caveat with that classification is that Montgomery belongs on a Mount Rushmore of toolsy prospects and has immense power potential to discover in his 6-foot-4 frame.

During his short debut, Montgomery managed to hit a remarkable .340 and struck out infrequently, hinting at the upside of a 55-grade hit tool or better. The ninth overall pick’s swing doesn’t enable him to tap into his raw power much though and swing adjustments will be one of the biggest storylines to watch on the Rockies’ farm in 2022.

Still, even if Montgomery doesn’t tap into much of his offensive potential, he still has elite speed that will land him among MLB’s 10 or 15 fastest players and make him a dynamic center field defender.

Montgomery’s full-season debut in Fresno will demand all the eyes in the fanbase and stand as a huge test to see just where the Rockies’ 2021 first-round pick stands as a prospect.

A look at the season put together by Colorado Rockies prospect Ryan Rolison

3) Ryan Rolison, LHP, AA/AAA: 5.27 ERA, 4.47 FIP, 1.37 WHIP, 25.2 K%, 7.1 BB%

The 2021 season didn’t result in much progress for Rolison. For the most part, it wasn’t performance-related, despite middling season-long numbers.

Prior to a June appendectomy procedure, Rolison had been dicing up AA (3 starts) and AAA hitters (3 starts) to the tune of a 3.67 ERA, backed by a 2.85 FIP, a stellar figure given the rigors of pitching in AAA Albuquerque. Perhaps even more notably, the 2018 first-round pick struck out 35 over 27 innings while walking just five.

During this stretch, his slider seemed to be coming along, a key piece of his development, and his control was much improved. Rolison’s curveball remains a plus pitch and his ability to locate his fastball and sequence it with a quality changeup give him a high-floor arsenal.

Re-establishing core strength after an appendectomy can take time and, as he was nearing a return, Rolison fractured his throwing hand. He was far less effective after a mid-August return but that should be expected after such a long layoff.

Rolison will pitch in the Dominican Professional Baseball League this winter as he tries to regain his pre-appendectomy form.

The former Ole Miss standout might be in consideration for a spot in the Rockies rotation this spring if either Jon Gray doesn’t return or if Austin Gomber’s spondylosis injury turns out to be more serious.

A look at the seasons put together by Colorado Rockies prospects Chris McMahon and Drew Romo

4. Chris McMahon, RHP, A+: 4.17 ERA, 4.32 FIP, 1.32 WHIP, 24.5 K%, 6.6 BB%

The Rockies’ second pick in the 2020 draft, Chris McMahon handled a difficult debut assignment like a true professional.

Heading straight to High-A right away could’ve spelled disaster for the right-hander, but he managed to put together a respectable campaign and turned on the jets in mid-June following a one-inning disaster start. Beginning with his June 15 start, McMahon finished the year with a 3.59 ERA in 80.1 innings, flashing quality swing-and-miss stuff along the way.

The former Miami star has the ideal arsenal for a Coors Field pitcher, relying on his fastball, changeup, and slider, all three of which have the potential to be above-average pitches.

According to Prospects Live, McMahon’s changeup moves so much that it works like a screwball or reverse slider, giving it some truly special upside should he continue to refine his command and sequencing.

McMahon will almost surely start 2022 in AA, making a 2022 debut a possibility and a debut by 2023 a certainty.

5. Drew Romo, C, A: .314/.345/.439, 104 wRC+, 5.6 BB%, 14.7 K%, 6 HR, 23 SB

A headline 2020 draft pick as the highest-drafted catcher in club history, Drew Romo became the hope of many Rockies fans to eventually lift the catcher position from the club’s historical monotony. His professional debut only helped fuel those fantasies.

The Houston prep product is known as an elite defender. According to Thomas Harding, many draft analysts slotted Romo as the best defensive prospect in the entire 2020 draft. He has since received rave reviews from Fresno pitchers and staff for his game management and leadership.

The switch-hitter isn’t a slouch at the plate either as he managed to hit .314. While he might never be Yasmani Grandal levels of good as a switch-hitter, Romo makes a lot of contact, works smart at-bats, and has a lot of physical strength, basically all the tools you want from a hitter.

Perhaps the most noteworthy piece of his season was the 23 bags Romo stole. Though he was viewed as an athletic catcher, the five-tool ability at catcher wasn’t quite the expectation when the Rockies selected him 35th overall.

Romo will join Zac Veen in Spokane with a chance to move up to Hartford should he perform at a high level.

A look at the seasons put together by Colorado Rockies prospects Elehuris Montero and Michael Toglia, as well as as nod to Jaden Hill

6. Elehuris Montero, 3B/1B, AA/AAA: .278/.360/.529, 132 wRC+, 10.6 BB%, 22.0 K%, 28 HR

A key piece of the return for Nolan Arenado, Elehuris Montero’s name didn’t inspire confidence with Rockies fans. Despite being a top 100 prospect according to Baseball America coming into 2019, the hulking infielder battled a hand injury that plummeted his prospect stock.

Montero’s 2021 turned out to be a resurgence for the ages. He finished eighth in the Northeastern League (AA) in wRC+ and sixth in OPS, mashing home runs, drawing walks, and racking up hits.

Montero’s career walk rate coming into 2021 was 8.5%. Seeing a significant improvement (to 10.6%) against upper-minors pitching offers a boat-load of encouragement that Montero’s hit tool will play in the bigs. Montero also blew his previous career-high in home runs out of the water.

Montero hasn’t gotten rave reviews for his defense at the hot corner and he spent close to half the time at first base this year. Either way, the Rockies are clogged at the corner infield following the C.J. Cron extension and with Ryan McMahon emerging as one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball.

The Dominican slugger was close to making his big-league debut this year and is already on the 40-man roster. His bat should be viewed as a key piece to the Rockies retool so hopefully we see Montero at 20th and Blake in 2022.

7. Jaden Hill, RHP

The Rockies second-round pick underwent Tommy John surgery in April so he won’t see the mound until next summer. He has a high-octane arm and can spin a dynamic slider to go along with his tumbling changeup.

We’ll likely catch a glimpse of Hill in the Arizona Complex League around July.

8. Michael Toglia, 1B, A+/AA: .228/.333/.445, 108 wRC+, 13.0 BB%, 28.5 K%, 22 HR, 10 SB

Big Mike Toglia didn’t have the season we hoped for, but he still showed positive signs en route to being promoted to AA. The switch-hitting first baseman continued defining his baseball identity as a slick-fielding, patient-hitting masher.

The former first-round pick out of UCLA dealt with some overall swing and miss issues which led to a 28.5 K% and average on-base percentage despite an exceptionally high walk rate. Toglia’s power also wasn’t as consistent, with 10 of his 22 home runs coming in the first 38 games of the season.

Toglia managed to post respectable numbers after a midseason AA promotion, though they didn’t signify a AAA assignment as likely. Still, Toglia has the upside to be a Matt Olson-like player at first base and should continue garnering excitement.

A look at the seasons put together by Colorado Rockies prospects Ezequiel Tovar and Adael Amador

9. Ezequiel Tovar, SS, A/A+: .287/.322/.475, 105 wRC+, 3.6 BB%, 12.2 K%, 15 HR, 24 SB

The first major riser of the list, Ezequiel Tovar was a highly regarded prospect out of Venezuela when he signed with the Rockies in 2017. Tovar joined the organization with slick defensive actions and smooth athleticism along with quick hands at the plate.

Despite the high pedigree, Tovar hit just .255 with 2 home runs over his first two pro seasons and looked like a glove-only player. Things changed in 2021.

The 6-foot Tovar finished 9th among Low-A West hitters in OPS. He was also 15th in stolen bases and home runs.

For a potentially elite defensive SS, the overall offensive upside is tantalizing. Tovar had a tough transition to Spokane but still managed to hold his own despite turning 20 just days before his promotion.

While he’s likely two years away from the bigs, Tovar has a chance to be the Rockies’ SS of the future. At the worst, he can be a game-changing defender with speed and quality contact skills.

10. Adael Amador, SS, ACL: .299/.394/.445, 122 wRC+, 13.5 BB%, 14.5 K%, 4 HR, 10 SB

Signed for a whopping 1.5 million in 2019, Adael Amador joins the Rockies organization with as much hype as any international prospect that’s come through the organization. In his pro debut, the Dominican SS lived up to the billing.

Standing just 6-foot, 160 pounds, Amador’s game doesn’t center around power. Instead the 18-year-old offers prodigious plate discipline and coordination at the plate, in the field, and on the basepaths. These skills were evidenced through his exceptional walk and strikeout totals as well as his double-digit stolen base count.

The fact that Amador smacked four long balls in roughly a third of a season’s worth of games is promising and leaves the door open for 15-20 home run power.

The second switch-hitter in the top 10, Amador has shades of Jose Ramirez in his game. If he can come anywhere close to Ramirez as a player, the Rockies will have a dynamic player on their hands.

Amador will likely join Benny Montgomery in Fresno next season for what would be yet another elite offense for the Grizzlies.

A look at the seasons put together by Colorado Rockies prospects Joe Rock and Sam Weatherly

13. Joe Rock, LHP, ACL: 1.13 ERA, 2.09 FIP, 0.75 WHIP, 37.9 K%, 3.4 BB%

Selected 68th overall in this year’s draft, Joe Rock was the top drafted pitcher to make his minor league debut for the Colorado Rockies this year. Though in a small sample, Rock looked more like a first-round pick than one from competitive balance round B.

The former Ohio University star showcased a mid-90s fastball that has some projection left, a killer slider, and a changeup with upside. Rock’s deceptive southpaw delivery grants him an extra edge. There’s also sharp control and command that’s not far behind.

If he can remotely keep up the exorbitantly high strikeout and low walk rates, Rock has the potential to shoot up prospect boards.

If Rock impresses the Rockies in instructionals and then in Spring Training, it’s not out of the question that he could be dealt the Chris McMahon treatment and get assigned straight to High-A.

14. Sam Weatherly, LHP, A: 4.83 ERA, 4.59 FIP, 1.32 WHIP, 32.4 K%, 10.8 BB%

A 2020 3rd-round pick, former Clemson stud Sam Weatherly has an arm, plain and simple. The southpaw can run his fastball into the upper-90s with arm-side run and then fool hitters with a put-away slider.

Command and control will always be the key to Weatherly’s future. If those skills remain as is, the Michigan-native can be an asset to a bullpen. If he can continue the level of improvement he flashed in the pros (14.8 walk percentage at Clemson to 10.8 percent with Fresno), then Weatherly has top-of-the-rotation upside.

The development of his changeup — a usable third offering — and his curveball — a work-in-progress — also have a part to play in his future. Weatherly will resume his ascension in Spokane next season.

A look at the seasons put together by Colorado Rockies prospects Ryan Vilade and Ryan Feltner

15. Ryan Vilade, OF, AAA: .284/.339/.410, 87 wRC+, 7.3 BB%, 17.8 K%, 7 HR, 12 SB

Some may be astonished to see Vilade down at 15, but it’s with reason and not some personal vendetta.

As Keith Law of The Athletic (subscription required) pointed out before the season, Vilade had lost some bat speed at some point along his early minor league journey. The result? A .410 SLG in one of MiLB’s most hitter-friendly parks.

Fortunately, Vilade still has great contact ability and great plate discipline to go along with a work ethic raved about within scouting circles. Vilade primarily serves as an OF now, alleviating him from the team’s corner infield traffic and opening up a path to playing time.

The Rockies have faith in Vilade, hence why he got to debut this year, and there’s a chance he gets a crack at the starting LF job out of Spring Training. The return of his power would also be a welcomed sight.

16. Ryan Feltner, RHP, A+/AA/AAA: 2.96 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 1.24 WHIP, 27.1 K%, 9.0 BB%

Our final prospect in this article also made his MLB debut after Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Austin Gomber went on the IL.

Feltner started the season as a fringe top-30 prospect in the system but the Rockies likely weren’t surprised by his jump. In an interview with Jack Etkin of Baseball America, then-Rockies farm director Zach Wilson pointed out Feltner’s velocity increase and improved command at instructionals in the winter.

Feltner’s slider also improved which fueled consistent strikeouts.

He carried those results into the regular season and jumped from High-A to the big leagues. His command could still use some refinement (as could every pitcher’s pinpointing ability) but as of now, the former Ohio State pitcher looks like a potential 5th starter with the floor of a quality bullpen arm.

Stay tuned for part two of this mini-series where we’ll cover prospects 17-51 and their outlooks going forward.