Pitching prospect Flesland has strong '26 campaign across Minors, AFL

This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Except for one really bad game in mid-May, the spring and summer of Stu Flesland III -- a Rockies left-handed pitching prospect -- went swimmingly.

An 11th-round pick in 2023 out of the University of Washington, Flesland began the season in his hometown with High-A Spokane. His parents watched from the stands where he himself dreamed of pro ball. From the mound, he recognized the voices of his friends, which made it “like a high school thing,” he said.

Because he overmatched the competition to the tune of 19 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings, the Rockies eventually moved him to Double-A Hartford, where he posted a 1.88 ERA in 18 games, including 12 starts.

But twice before he began pitching at Hartford on May 19, the Rockies had Flesland cover a few innings at Triple-A Albuquerque. The first time, he threw three scoreless innings. The second was one that would make a less confident pitcher run for cover.

In one inning against Oklahoma City, Flesland yielded nine runs on eight hits and four walks. But that awful night -- which saw him yield home runs to Alex Freeland and Jack Suwinski, who had Major League at-bats behind them -- left him with information that he has put to use since.

“It was not a small thing,” Flesland said. “I figured that a lot more guys are looking for what kind of pitches you’re tipping, and I needed to have a closer eye on that. My second outing didn’t go well. I had a meeting with my pitching coaches, and they let me know that’s why things went that way.”

The rest of the summer went Flesland’s way, as he helped Hartford to the Eastern League playoffs. Pitching for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League has brought more educational opportunities.

Facing some of baseball’s top prospects, Flesland finished the league’s regular season with a 6.94 ERA. That figure ballooned when he yielded five runs on five hits and one walk in two innings. However, in the playoffs on Thursday, Flesland held the Mesa Solar Sox to one run on three hits and one walk in 3 1/3 innings.

In Flesland, the Rockies have a tall (listed 6-foot-5) lefty with a motion that’s not exactly low but not high, either. The ball can be difficult to pick up, as long as he doesn’t give away his intentions.

“When I come set, I’m very closed off, but I was more closed off on certain offspeed pitches, so they were able to pick what they wanted to go for,” Flesland said. “But it was a great thing, a learning experience. That is going to help me as I move up.”

Flesland’s Fall League playoff outing tracks with his regular-season performance. 

The Hartford club under manager Robinson Cancel needed help, with injuries and promotions turning a potential league champ into one that was searching for itself at season’s end. The challenge his new club faced, coupled with his need to wash away that bad Triple-A outing, energized Flesland.

“I had that chip on my shoulder and wanted to get to Double-A and make an impact,” he said. “I had played for Robbie before and I knew a bunch of the guys there. It was a comfortable atmosphere to walk into, and they were in the middle of a playoff push.”

Flesland rides just under 92 mph with his four-seam fastball and just above 90 mph with his sinker. His changeup and slider are designed to come in at varying speeds. Upon arriving in Scottsdale, Flesland said he would spend time with Rockies coaches and analysts at the Salt River facility to seek tweaks to give him higher top-end velocity.

“Stu had a great year,” Rockies roving pitching coordinator Dan Meyer said. “We want him to finish strong. We thought he’s earned this honor to play in the Fall League. We want to continue to refine. He’s deceptive, a little funky. But he has good stuff.”

Flesland has worked as a starter and a reliever through his collegiate and pro careers and is fine however the Rockies use him.

And he looks, at least in style, a little like a guy from generations ago who did some starting but became a Hall of Famer as a reliever -- Rollie Fingers, righty from 1968-85. Flesland’s hair is lighter, but the 1890s-style handlebar mustache evokes curiosity.

“I did play a lot of ‘MLB The Show,’ and I see pictures, and his baseball card is out there,” Flesland said. “The mustache looks pretty sweet. I was like, ‘That’s not a bad idea to copy.’”