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Rockies 2024 Opening Day roster projection 2.0: An electric high leverage arm surprises

With a few young players impressing, it's time to name a new look at what we expect to be the Opening Day roster.

By Tanner Vogt |
2024 Colorado Rockies Spring Training
2024 Colorado Rockies Spring Training / Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/GettyImages
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We are nearly two weeks into spring training, giving us our first good look at some of the players we were exciting to see this spring. Like every other team, a majority of the roster should be set, but there are still a few position battles that we will examine as the spring moves on. We took a look at our first iteration of our roster projections after the first weekend of baseball. Now that we have a little more baseball to take a look at, we adjust and take another look at our second version of our 2024 opening day roster projection.

Rockies 2024 Opening Day roster projection 2.0: An electric high leverage arm makes the team

Rockies Starting Rotation

  • Kyle Freeland
  • Cal Quantrill
  • Austin Gomber
  • Dakota Hudson
  • Ryan Feltner

No change here as I am pretty confident that the starting rotation will be as listed heading into the 2024 season. Hudson is a veteran that has shown he can be a decent pitcher (also with no options left) and a solid investment of $1.5 million.

Ryan Feltner takes the last spot in the rotation, though he will soon prove he is much more valuable than the number five starter in the rotation. Feltner's stuff is just too loud to ignore, and it will result in him taking the final rotation spot. Feltner's first start wasn't super impressive, but the velocity looked really good, and he should build upon that start and look to showcase his upper-90's fastball and plus changeup.

Rockies Bullpen

  • Justin Lawrence
  • Tyler Kinley
  • Jalen Beeks
  • Jake Bird
  • Nick Mears
  • Anthony Molina
  • Peter Lambert
  • Jaden Hill

The only change here is the final spot in the Rockies bullpen. In a bullpen that could surprise a lot of people, they really lack a lot of high-upside strikeout potential. This is where Jaden Hill comes in and takes a spot. Jaden Hill has impressed this spring with an upper-90's fastball that will most definitely touch 100 mph, midseason with some warm weather. He has also flashed an above average changeup and an improving slider. Hill has only made 16 appearances, and the highest level being High-A Spokane, but his stuff is too loud to ignore, and he should be in this bullpen.

Rockies Infield

  • (C) Elias Diaz
  • (1B) Kris Bryant
  • (2B) Brendan Rodgers
  • (3B) Ryan McMahon
  • (SS) Ezequiel Tovar

Pretty ho-hum here as the Rockies infield is set, barring any significant injuries this spring. The Rockies have a lot of potential here with big time bounce back candidates in Kris Bryant and Ryan McMahon. They also hope to get a healthy year, where Brendan Rodgers can break out and show his true potential. Ezequiel Tovar proved he is an elite defender and will look to prove he can become one of the next great Rockies shortstops this year.

Rockies Outfield

  • (LF) Nolan Jones
  • (CF) Brenton Doyle
  • (RF) Sean Bouchard
  • (DH) Charlie Blackmon

This outfield group could prove to be one of the most exciting groups on the Rockies squad; it may also be one of the bigger storylines to watch this spring as Michael Toglia could fight for the right field job. As it currently stands, I am going to give it to Bouchard, who looked really solid in his limited time last year.

Nolan Jones is poised to make a big jump and join that superstar class, becoming the next Rockies great. Brenton Doyle has looked really good this spring, making some changes to his swing, and if he can hit .240-.250, with his speed he could steal 30+ bases and will be a perennial gold glover.

Rockies Bench

  • (C) Jacob Stallings
  • (1B/RF) Michael Toglia
  • (1B/3B) Elehuris Montero
  • (IF) Coco Montes

The change here is Michael Toglia taking over for Hunter Goodman. Michael Toglia has looked really good this spring, slugging two home runs with five RBIs. Goodman struggled in just 23 games last year in Colorado, he could use some seasoning at Triple-A Albuquerque after only playing 15 games there last year.

The issue with Toglia has been strikeouts and he has struggled this spring with strikeouts (six strikeouts in 17 plate appearances fora 35.3% strikeout rate). The Rockies won't be able to ignore his immense upside and ability to play a gold glove lever first base, and solid right field, earning him at the very least, a bench spot. Elehuris Montero continues to rake this spring, staking his claim as a potential breakout candidate in 2024.

Projected to start on IL

  • (RP) Daniel Bard
  • (RP) Lucas Gilbreath
  • (SP) German Marquez
  • (SP) Antonio Senzatela

Key Rockies starting 2024 in minor leagues

  • (1B/C/RF) Hunter Goodman
  • (OF) Bradley Zimmer
  • (IF) Alan Trejo
  • (RP) Ty Blach
  • (C) Drew Romo
  • (IF) Aaron Schunk
  • (3B) Warming Bernabel
  • (IF) Julio Carreras
  • (RP) Gavin Hollowell

This is a pretty solid group of players that won't make the roster. I really look for catcher, Drew Romo, to push for a chance to prove his worth at the major league level. He has gotten a lot of praise this spring and the Rockies will have a hard time keeping him down, if he can prove he can handle Triple-A pitching.

Aaron Schunk, Alan Trejo and Coco Montes could be in for a good battle for a spot as the backup middle infielder. Julio Carreras has made a few highlight plays, showing he may be a lot closer to the major league level than a lot of us thought. I give the edge to Montes as someone that has dominated Triple-A and can play some shortstop.

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