Pitching Prospects the Rockies should target in the 2023 MLB draft

The MLB Draft will commence in Seattle, Washington in less than a week. The Rockies will enter the draft with six of the first 200 picks in this year's draft and will aim to strengthen their team with the ongoing youth movement. Their current draft picks are numbered 9, 46, 65, 77, 109, and 145.

As the draft approaches this year, I believe the Rockies should focus on seeking out college pitchers who are MLB-ready and can contribute to their near-future success.

Despite having a 33-51 record, the Rockies offense currently ranks 12th overall in all of baseball, proving to have a competent offense that can compete with any team. The pitching side on the other had has not been so remarkable. The Rockies currently rank 29th overall in pitching, just ahead of the Oakland A's.

For a team in need of pitching, General Manager Bill Schmidt, should consider replicating the strategy of Los Angeles Angels GM Perry Minasian as he selected 20 pitchers in the 2021 MLB Draft. In 2020, the Angels pitching staff was ranked 25th in the Majors and finished 22nd in 2021. Fast-forward two years, and the Angels now have a pitching staff that ranks 16th overall in the MLB, with a bullpen that could be their biggest strength this year.

For this occasion, I decided to write out a list that highlights what NCAA pitchers the Rockies could target in the draft and also features some they might be able to get in the later rounds so that they can return to the postseason in the near future for the first time since 2018.

Paul Skenes

Paul Skenes might be the best pitcher in the country coming out in the 2023 MLB draft. He would be the most ideal fit for the Rockies and is likely to be the first pitcher too come of the board in the draft. However, in most MLB mock drafts, Skenes is projected to be drafted by the Washington Nationals. However, if he is passed on for whatever reason, he could very well end up on the Rockies as most mock drafts have position players drafted in the early rounds which could make it possible for Skenes to end up with the Rockies.

Skenes just might be the perfect pitcher for the Rockies. The 21-year-old from Fullerton CA. is the most MLB-ready player coming out in this draft. The Rockies could see Skenes on the 2024 opening day roster or in the Majors by sometime next year. Prior to his time at LSU where he helped the Tigers win the College World Series, he spent two seasons enrolled at the Air Force Academy and played exceptionally well for the Falcons. This is noteworthy because the Air Force Academy is situated in Colorado, which has given him experience in pitching in the area as pitching in the Colorado altitude has been one of the biggest challenges in all of baseball.

Skenes has pitched in big moments early in his career which is exactly what the Rockies need in a pitcher. This past season, he went 12-2 with a 1.69 ERA in 19 games pitched. He also has proven he can go the distance in games as he pitched in a total of 122.2 innings pitched and had 209 strikeouts for the LSU Tigers. Another stat that is important to highlight with Skenes is the fact he only gave up seven home runs last year. Right now the Rockies rank 2nd in all of baseball for home runs given up at 125. A pitcher like Skenes could make an immediate impact for a team looking to bolster their pitching staff.

Grant Rogers

If Skenes is drafted within the first eight picks, Grant Rogers is another pitcher who could fall into the Rockies lap and could be an MLB-ready player right away. Rogers is a right-handed pitcher from Groves Texas who pitched at McNeese University last season.

Last year, Rogers held a 12-1 record with a 1.82 ERA and pitched four complete games that featured two shutouts. His ability to pitch deep into games is just what the Rockies pitching staff needs. The Rockies bullpen has been one of the biggest strengths of the team since the emergence of Justin Lawrence this year. However, as of late the bullpen has been getting depleted by starters not being able to pitch deep into games. Rogers would be a great starting rotation piece for the Rockies as he is someone that will be able to give the bullpen a day off as needed, especially late in the season. Last season, he pitched in a total of 186 innings with 88 strikeouts and only gave up four home runs.

In 2022, Rogers was selected as the Southland pitcher of the year and also earned an all-conference first-team selection.

Nico Zeglin

Nico Zeglin is a fifth-year college pitcher who spent his last year of eligibility pitching for the Long Beach State Dirtbags. Long Beach has always had a great history of producing MLB prospects such as Jered Weaver, Evan Longoria and former Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. Zeglin spent the early parts of his collegiate career pitching at San Mateo College and Gonzaga. When deciding where to go for graduate school, he ended up at LBSU.

Last season, he finished with an 8-4 record, 2.00 ERA, 117 strikeouts, and 94.2 innings pitched. He also had an impeccable complete game against UC Santa Barbara last year where he threw 99 pitchings with 10 strikeouts in one outing. Earlier in the season he also threw a 13-strikeout game against South Florida which was followed up by a seven-inning no-hitter.

During his time at LBSU, Zeglin experienced one of the most successful years in his collegiate career. He managed to improve his game significantly, going from a career 6.11 ERA at Gonzaga to being recognized as a Collegiate Baseball All-American Second Team member. Additionally, he received multiple accolades, including the 2023 Big West Pitcher of the Year award and a spot on the First Team All-Big West.