Colorado's Zac Veen looks every bit the part of a big league outfielder

Young teams usually search for more veterans. In baseball, experience really does matter. 

It’s no secret the Colorado Rockies are going to be really young in 2025, so young in fact, they’re going to be one of the youngest teams in all of Major League Baseball. So it stands to reason that manager Bud Black doesn’t want his team to get any younger come opening day.

That said, one player that may change all that is Colorado outfielder Zac Veen.

On Tuesday, Veen hit his second homerun of the spring, and overall, he went 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

In big-league camp, players llike Veen need to make the most out of every oopportunity, and he’s done exactly that. So far in 2025, Veen has 33 at-bats, he’s hitting .297, with nine hits and  eight RBIs. The speedy Veen also has four stolen bases. In other words, Veen is putting up big numbers in big-league camp.

Of course, Veen’s talent has always been there. He was the No. 9 overall pick of the 2020 MLB Draft, he’s hit at every level of the minor leagues and he’s currently Colorado’s No. 3 overall propsect. His outfield abilities are also second to none, so, it’s to noone’s surprise that Veen is performing at such a high level.

"It’s all about him staying healthy and playing,” Colorado manager Bud Black said to Forbes earlier in spring training. ”He has to show he can take the field. Every day. The No. 1 thing is for him to play. Wherever he goes, he needs to play. And then play the next game, and then play the next game after that.”

Of course, Black is referring to the fact that Veen hasn’t been able to remain healthy. Injuries have plagued him at every turn, and that has slowed his track to the major league level. But again, the talent is undeniable, and Veen is putting it all on display this spring.

Unfortunately, there’s just one problem, because of his slowed progress, Veen has been passed by in Colorado’s now crowded outfield. Between star center fielder Brenton Doyle, Jordan Beck, Nolan Jones and veteran Sam Hilliard, the Rockies appear to be set in the outfield. Add in a healthy Kris Bryant, who os expected to play in the Colorado outfield at times this season, and it doesn’t seem like there’s room for Veen.

That said, Veen is forcing Black and the Rockies to take a long, hard look at making room for him. Still just 23 years old, Veen is a highlight reel waiting to happen, and when healthy, he looks every bit the part of a big league outfielder, and a star in the making.

And that is the question at hand as the Rockies enter the stretch run of spring training. Should they make sure there’s an opening day roster spot for Veen? He certainly thinks so, and though Colorado’s outfield is a strength, wouldn’t it be even deeper and stronger with Veen. 

The fact that he hasn’t cooled off since Cactus League play began shows just how much Veen has improved, and while it’s a matter of when, not if he makes the big league club, it certainly seems like Zac Veen is saying that when is now.