SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- En route to losing 119 games last season, the Rockies posted the worst run differential (-424) in MLB history, and the worst starter's ERA (6.65) since ERA became an official statistic in 1913.
Figuring out how to prevent runs while playing at high altitude has been a constant challenge since Colorado joined the National League in 1993. Before it started storing balls in a humidor in 2002, it recorded a sub-5.00 ERA just once: in 1995, when it made the postseason for the first time. Its other four playoff trips coincided with four of the seven best ERAs in franchise history.
In an effort to find a solution, new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta has overhauled the staff responsible for developing pitching throughout the organization. His most notable hires were former Marlins assistant pitching coach Alon Leichman as big league pitching coach and former Twins pitching development and acquisitions specialist Matt Daniels as director of pitching. Those moves signal a more data-driven approach for an organization that had been more traditional than most.
"We've had a seismic shift in how we're approaching pitching," senior director of player development Chris Forbes said. "We started changing how we select pitchers in the Draft three years ago, involving guys who understand modern pitching. We're not just focusing on pitchers from Power 4 conferences or sinker-slider guys. We're focusing on specific attributes, seeing more contrast and different arm slots. We've changed how we on-board guys. There's a hyperfocus on the usage of pitches and not just throwing four-seamers."
COMPLETE ROCKIES PROSPECT COVERAGE
Though the first six prospects on MLB Pipeline's new Rockies Top 30 are position players, Colorado has potential quality starting pitchers working their way through the system. Right-hander JB Middleton, a second-rounder out of Southern Mississippi last July, entered pro ball with three quality offerings in his four-seam fastball, slider and changeup. The Rockies already are helping add a couple of new pitches and pondering how moving from the Gulf Coast climate in college to the drier air and higher altitude in Denver might affect Middleton's arsenal.
"We'll have to evaluate JB's deception and how well he hides the ball," Forbes said. "He has added a sinker and a cutter, so he'll throw five pitches, and he throws a lot of strikes. He already had a well-located fastball, and now he's added some sink to it, and he'll have more contrast with the cutter."
Righty Brody Brecht, a former wide receiver at Iowa, has the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the organization. His upper-80s slider is an absolute beast with horizontal and vertical action, and he can push his fastball into triple digits.
The 2024 supplemental first-rounder battled back issues for much of last season but dominated in his final outing, striking out eight without a walk in seven innings during a Single-A California League playoff start.
"The key with Brody is his flexibility, how he lands, how he rotates," Forbes said. "We've included everyone from the performance science team to the athletic training staff to the strength and conditioning group. His stuff is electric. He has a chance to be a power starter. His stuff is really wicked, and it's not easy to pick up or square up."
The best left-hander in the system is Griffin Herring, acquired from the Yankees in the Ryan McMahon trade last July. A reliever in two seasons at Louisiana State, Griffin made a transition to the rotation in his pro debut last season and ranked third in the Minors with a 1.89 ERA and a .169 opponent average between two Class A levels. His mid-80s sweeper is his best offering, and Colorado believes his analytical mind will help him improve his fastball and changeup into solid pitches.
"Griffin flies under the radar for a guy who had the third-best ERA in the Minor Leagues," Forbes said. "Velocity-wise, it's a lighter fastball but with a lot of finish and deception and occasionally some cut action. Everyone focuses on his slider, and that helps his fastball. He fits right in with our new emphasis. He'll bring up seam-shifted wake and other aspects of modern pitching because he was exposed to it at LSU."
Other arms worth watching include southpaw Sean Sullivan and righty Jackson Cox. Sullivan has an invisible fastball that continued to miss bats last season despite sitting at 85-87 mph while he recovered from hip labrum surgery, and he owns a career 2.46 ERA with a 239/41 K/BB ratio in 223 1/3 innings. Cox bounced back from Tommy John surgery in 2023 to thrive in Single-A last season and regain the best curveball in the system.
Camp standout: Charlie Condon
First baseman Charlie Condon rarely has been his best self since the Rockies drafted him third overall in 2024, when he led NCAA Division I in batting average (.433), slugging percentage (1.009), OPS (1.565) and homers (37) with Georgia. After he signed for a Draft-record $9.25 million, a right hand injury marred his pro debut that summer. A broken left wrist contributed to an uneven 2025, which he concluded by hitting .337 but without his trademark power in the Arizona Fall League.
Condon looks more like the college version of himself this spring, slashing .371/.439/.714 with three homers in 41 plate appearances. His first long ball traveled 449 feet, and the third left his bat at 115 mph.
"Charlie is back to driving the ball," Forbes said. "In the Fall League, we really had him focus on pitch selection and controlling the zone. Now, he's doing a better job of that, and the power is coming more often. We're seeing the fully healthy version of Charlie Condon now."
Checking in on Ethan Holliday
The No. 4 overall pick last July, Ethan Holliday signed for a high school-record $9 million. Challenged with an assignment to Single-A at age 18, he batted .239/.357/.380 with a 108 wRC+ in 18 games, but he also struck out at a 39 percent clip. He had the best power potential in last year's Draft, though some evaluators have expressed concern about the length of his left-handed stroke and how long it takes to get started.
"I think it's getting him used to velocity," Forbes said. "We've made some small adjustments just to make sure he can get to certain fastballs. Guys were going velocity on the top rail against him. He's learning how to recognize sequences with how he's going to get pitched, and he's becoming more aware of where his hands are so he's not cheating or getting too steep with his swing."
Holliday views his time in Single-A as the most impactful learning experience he could have had. He said the struggles were tough in the moment but will help him grow as a player.
"I've changed my setup a little bit, took out my toe tap, kind of went back to what I've always done with a little more of a stride and have my hands lower," Holliday said. "I'm just trying to be shorter to the ball, be more efficient. Trust that I have the power if I tap the ball, it'll go, and I'm very fortunate to have that ability. Now it's just how efficient can I be and how much can I learn from at-bat to at-bat."
Breakout potential: Roldy Brito
Multiple scouts who have seen center fielder/second baseman Roldy Brito this spring have pegged him as a future star. Signed for $420,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2024, he won the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League batting title (.368) and MVP award in his pro debut last summer, then hit .368 as an 18-year-old in Single-A. Besides his advanced hitting ability, Brito also has plus speed and swiped 35 bases in 84 games.
"People don't talk about Roldy Brito enough," Forbes said. "He's a hitter first, but he has sneaky pop, hits line drives all over the field, steals some bags. He's a better center fielder than a second baseman, but he can make the routine plays at second base, and he can turn the double play."
Draft sleeper: Antoine Jean
Left-hander Antoine Jean was one of the oldest prospects in the 2025 Draft, turning 24 three weeks after the Rockies popped him in the seventh round. He was also one of the most dominant pitchers in college baseball last spring, winning Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year accolades with Houston after leading NCAA D-I in opponent average (.168) and ranking second in strikeouts per nine innings (14.8). He's not overpowering but has good shape to his low-90s fastball and commands a pair of solid breaking pitches well, traits that earned him a spot on Canada's World Baseball Classic roster.
"All of Antoine's pitches play well together," Forbes said. "He has a lot of deception, and he knows how to sequence already. He's always thinking a pitch or two ahead."