Opening Day: Five bold predictions for the Rockies' 2025 season

Opening Day is special. Whether you’re the Yankees or the Colorado Rockies, everybody has a clean slate on Opening Day.

And that slate certainly includes the Rockies.

Colorado hasn’t had a winning season since 2018, and their fans are hungry for a better product on the field this year. Of course, winning 80-plus games will be hard to do given the Rockies play in the loaded N.L. West.

But, in the spirit of Opening Day, where hope always springs eternal, here’s five positively bold predictions for the Rockies this season.

5. Ezequiel Tovar will emerge as one of the best shortstops in all of baseball

Tovar has already won a Gold Glove, but, at times, his bat has held him back. That won’t be the case this season hitting behind superstar Brenton Doyle and in front of slugger Ryan McMahon. No, Tovar will have his best season yet at the plate, while his defense is already among the best in the game.

4. Rockies’ pitching staff will improve in 2025

There really isn’t anywhere to go but up for the Rockies’ staff. So, if this one comes true, it means Kyle Freeland wins 15-plus games, and Antonio Senzatela and German Marquez return to form before injury. After finishing last in ERA and every other pitching category last season, the Rockies will rise above that this year.

3. Michael Toglia will hit at least 40 homers

The Rockies should be a power-hitting team this season. If they’re going to have success in 2025, they have to be, and that means Toglia leads the way. Toglia does hit for average, which means he’s smart at the plate, so if he stays healthy and Kris Bryant and Ryan McMahon perform, expect Togliia to hit 40 home runs and drive in at 100 in what will be a breakout season.

2. Chase Dollander gets called up and shines

Inevitably, something will go wrong, or, changes will be needed on the 26-man roster. After all, it is the Rockies. And if anything goes awry with the pitching staff, expected Dollander to come up to the bigs and make his presence felt. He’s just too good to stay down for long.

1. The Rockies won’t finish last in the division 

No one is going to say the Rockies will get to 90 wins this season. That would be a huge jump. It will be hard just to get to .500. But that doesn’t mean Colorado has to be a bottom dweller. No, if things go right in Denver this season, the Rockies can finish ahead of the Diamondbacks and Giants. And if they do that, this season will have been a huge success no matter what their record is at season’s end.