The five biggest things the Rockies need to do in the Cactus League

Today at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, the Colorado Rockies play their first Cactus League game of the 2025 spring training season. And though it’s early, there’s plenty the Rockies and manager Bud Black need to accomplish before they get to Tampa Bay and Opening Day.

After winning just 61 games last season, the Rockies are, of course, in a rebuilding mode. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t play better and win more in 2025. In order to do that, Colorado has a lot of things in which they need to improve upon this season, and there’s no better time then now to start working towards those improvements.

Here’s Five things the Rockies need to accomplish in Cactus League games.

5. Evaluate and elevate talented minor league prospects

The Rockies have two Tier 1 minor leaguers in RHP Chase Dollander and OF Charlie Condon. Both didn’t play above AA ball last season, but, the word is out on Dollander, a former first-rounder, and he could ascend to the big leagues very quickly. Condon is another Top 100 prospect who could go as high as AAA this season, while fellow outfielders Yanquiel Fernandez, Robert Calaz and Zac Even will have a lot of eyes on them this spring.

4. Establish a closer

It’s no secret, pitching is everything in Colorado, and if the Rockies find themselves in close games, having a shutdown closer is essential. Talk in Arizona is, the closer spot is completely up for grabs with Seth Halvorsen and Victor Vodnik being two intriguing options. They’re likely in competition with Tyler Kinley, a 34-year old veteran righty. If Colorado is going to be better, they need to find a closer, and, he has to shine this season.

3. How much is too much for the starters?

Many veterans ease into spring training. However, the Rockies are one of the youngest clubs in baseball, and, Black has promised that the team could get even younger. Does that mean that, despite their youthfulness, star players like Ezequiel Tovar, Brenton Doyle and others should get limited at-bats and limited play in the field early in spring training? Or, because Colorado is so young up and down the lineup, should the entire major league camp roster play as much as they can? That’s a question only Black knows the answer to, and I’m sure he’ll find some balance between developing even the best players on the team, and, keeping them fresh for the 162-game grind ahead.

2. Find out where Kris Bryant is at

One player in which youth isn’t on his side is the 33-year-old Bryant. And while he has seen such limited playing time due to injuries in his three-plus season in the Mile High City, he’s still under a huge contract and, with Charlie Blackmon retired, Bryant is the unquestioned leader, and biggest name in the Coors Field Clubhouse. It’s obvious that the Rockies still believe a healthy Bryant is a key asset to the club, so, the next month should be a proving ground for just where he stands and how much he’ll contribute in 2025.

1. Get the rotation set

There’s a good chance the Rockies will produce at the plate this season. The question remains however, can the pitching rotation match the offensive potential? The Cactus League games will be a good indication of which way the Rockies’ starting rotation is headed. German Marquez, Ryan Feltner and Kyle Freeland, when healthy, are likely locks for the starting rotation with Marquez having the potential to be an ace for the staff if he can fully recover from his 2024 injury. Honestly though, Colorado’s rotation is pretty wide open, with the likes of Antonio Senzatela, who’s also returning from injury, as well as Austin Gomber, who had a full season of starts in 2024 also in the conversation. Dollander is also an intriguing prospect, as are Sean Sullivan and Carson Plamquist, both of whom are Top 20 prospects in Colorado’s system. So, with the rotation anything but set, and Colorado coming off a 2024 season in which the Rockies had a team ERA of nearly 5.5, and ranked 30th in both average against (.285) and total hits allowed (1, 604), the Rockies need to see some signs of improvement from the starters, potential or penciled in over these next 30 days, or if not, it’s going to be another long summer in the Mile High.