DENVER – In an organization that has regularly made ready-or-not calls to its pitching prospects, Rockies No. 19 prospect Welinton Herrera pitched in the Arizona Fall League like a guy who just might be ready when the call comes.
Herrera, 21, a left-handed reliever, became a fast-rising prospect this year. He authored a 0.49 ERA and 10 saves in 15 appearances at High-A Spokane, the save for the National League squad in the Futures Game during All-Star Weekend, and seven saves in 37 appearances for Double-A Hartford. Herrera struck out 99 in 64 2/3 innings over 52 regular-season appearances.
Likely to be placed on the Rockies’ 40-man roster when that decision is due on Tuesday, Herrera was assigned to the Salt River Rafters to sharpen his slider – which complements his 95-97 mph fastball and changeup. Results were solid – a 2.00 ERA in nine games, with 14 strikeouts in nine innings. Walks were high at eight, but much of that had to do with honing the slider.
Herrera’s slider development – and the strong usage of the fastball that led to righty Cade Denton earning AFL Reliever of the Year honors – were two pitching success stories for the Rockies this fall.
“It’s a new pitch – I’ve tried a grip, and it’s feeling better,” Herrera said in Spanish, with Rafters catcher and Diamondbacks prospect Kenny Castillo interpreting. “I’m trying to control the strike zone with the slider, and I’m trying to make it better here in the Fall League.”
With 19 players who saw time at Hartford last year and this year having made their Major League debuts the past two seasons, it was fair to speculate whether Herrera would get the call. Righty starter McCade Brown, similar to Herrera in that the Rockies would have to decide this year whether to place him on the 40-man roster, was called from Hartford to the Majors for seven starts.
Herrera accepted that he needed the work he is doing now.
“During the season, I wasn’t thinking much about the call from the big leagues,” Herrera said. “I know I worked during the season. I just want to keep working for whatever happens. I’m really excited for next season. I want to have a good season, all year.”
Already possessing a 95-97 mph fastball that overmatched Minor League hitters, Herrera heeded instruction from Hartford pitching coach Dan Meyer to use his secondary pitches, a changeup and slider. In his first 12 appearances at Hartford, Herrera dominated – a 0.93 ERA with 33 strikeouts to seven walks in 19 1/3 innings. But over his final 20 appearances his ERA was 5.33, with 37 strikeouts and 12 walks in 27 innings.
The feedback was he needed to locate his slider better to succeed against higher-level hitters. The Fall League, with baseball’s top prospects, is a good place to learn, test and grow.
NO. 2 PROSPECT, NO. 1 SPORTSMAN
Rockies No. 2 prospect/No. 61 overall Charlie Condon, a first baseman who could begin 2026 at Triple-A Albuquerque and push his way into a debut, was named the Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award winner in the Arizona Fall League.
The third overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, Condon achieved a .337/.439/.434 slash line with one home run (a grand slam), 13 RBIs, 17 strikeouts and 12 walks. And he was impressive when not in the batter’s box.
"Just seeing him on the field or off the field, just the way he interacts with fans, obviously with where he was drafted and all the demands – he’s really good,” said Rafters manager Eric Patterson, from the Pirates organization. “A lot of his teammates gravitate toward him. The humility – the way he’s there to give advice, the way he listens and he learns from his teammates and his staff – just can’t say enough good things about him. He’s a pro’s pro."
PITCHING CHANGES
The process of restructuring pitching development began Friday, when the club acknowledged that it parted ways with pitching strategist Flint Wallace, Minor League pitching coordinator Doug Linton and Triple-A pitching coach Chris Michalik. Also the club and High-A hitting coach Trevor Burmeister parted ways.
At the end of the regular season, the club and pitching coach Darryl Scott also separated.
During his introductory press conference at Coors Field, new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta foreshadowed change coming in the development of pitchers.
“We have some pitching jobs that we need to fill, including the top pitching jobs,” DePodesta said. “That’s not just hiring a person. That’s actually establishing a pitching philosophy for the entire organization. Those are front and center in my mind.”