Three Rockies that needed a hot start in spring training, and they got it

If the Colorado Rockies are going to make waves in 2025, they’re going to need their best players to play their best all season long.

Spring training of course, is the proiving ground to see if improvements are being made, and there were several Rockies who really needed to get off to a hot start in Cactus League play. They needed it so that the rest of the franchise knows they can count on them this season.

And a hot start is what many Rockies are off to as they currently sit in second place in the Cactus League. Here are the top three Rockies who really needed to get spring training off on the right foot, and they certainly have.

3. P German Marquez

Injuries have plagued Marquez, and it’s always a great unkown how a pitcher is going to come back from any arm injury. So, as Marquez became cleared to pitch this winter, the Rockies were waiting with anxiousness to see how he looked. So far so good. Marquez has started twice, pitched four scoreless innings and has four strikeouts. It’s a small smaple size, but, it’s a good one nonetheless. And it needs to keep getting better, because if healthy, Marquez can be an ace in Colorado’s staff, and the Rockies need that if they’re going to make a move this season.

2. 2B Thairo Estrada

Though he wasn’t even a Rockie at the end of last season, Estrada’s importance can’t be overstated. He was brought in to not just be the great defensive player he is, and create a great up the middle tandem with Ezequiel Tovar, but also to become a hitter the Rockies can count in. And so far in spring training, Estrada is doing just that. He leads the team with 11 hits, while also totaling seven RBIs. He’s also hitting .500 in Cactus League play, and those are numbers Bud Black is really hoping will continue into the summer. Estrada is career .251 hitter, but, a new start in Colorado might be a spark for him offensively. And in turn, he might just spark the Rockies.

1. 1B Michael Toglia

The Rockies know they have a potential slugger in Toglia. But, with all their eggs pretty much in that basket for this season, Toglia playing poorly in spring training would have been worrysome. Instead, it’s been quite the contrary. Toglia is hitting .318 with two homeruns and five RBIs in just a handful of at-bats this spring. To say he’s off to a hot start would be putting it mildly, and that’s exactly whaty Bud Black needed to see, because Toglia could, and should be headed for an explosive season at the plate, and the Rockies need him to be that next Blake Street Bomber.

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