Here's the state of the Rockies' farm system

November 12th, 2020

After two straight trips to the postseason, the Rockies have now had back-to-back losing campaigns, losing 91 games in 2019 (.438 wining percentage) and finishing with a .433 winning percentage in the shortened 2020 season.

The Draft continues to be the main feeder into the system, with 20 of the Top 30 (as detailed below) coming from that route. This past year’s Draft was particularly effective in terms of adding Top 30 talent and that 2019 record gave them the No. 9 overall pick, which the Rockies turned into exciting high school outfielder Zac Veen, now the club’s top prospect (with Brendan Rodgers finally graduating).

As a result of their 26-34 record this past season, the Rockies will once again pick in the top 10, this time at No. 8 overall. That should help them build up a system that ranked near the bottom of our farm system rankings this past year and was last considered a top 10 system prior to the 2017 season.

FARM SYSTEM RANKINGS

2020 Midseason: 28 | Preseason: 27
2019 Midseason: NR | Preseason: NR
2018 Midseason: NR | Preseason: NR
2017 Midseason: NR | Preseason: 8
2016 Midseason: NR | Preseason: 4
2015 Midseason: 3 | Preseason: NR

Only the top 10 systems were ranked from 2015 to 2019 preseason; the top 15 systems were ranked 2019 midseason.

TOP 5 PROSPECTS

1. Zac Veen, OF (No. 49 on Top 100)
2. Ryan Rolison, LHP
3. Michael Toglia, 1B
4. Ryan Vilade, 3B/OF
5. Drew Romo, C

Complete Top 30 list »

NOTABLE ADDITIONS

Draft: Zac Veen, OF, 1st round (No. 1); Drew Romo, C, CBA (No. 5); Chris McMahon, RHP, 2nd round (No. 8); Sam Weatherly, LHP, 3rd round (No. 16); Case Williams, RHP, 4th round; Jack Blomgren, SS, 5th round (No. 28). Complete Draft list »

The Rockies had a very solid 2020 Draft class, nabbing four players in the Top 100 of our Draft Top 200 list. Veen, Romo and McMahon all have first-round potential, while Weatherly was one of the most dominant college pitchers in the nation during the abbreviated 2020 season.

2021 IMPACT PROSPECT

Ryan Rolison, LHP: The Rockies’ 2018 first-round pick (No. 22 overall) has just one full year of pro ball under his belt and has yet to pitch above Class A ball. But he has the kind of advanced feel for his stuff that could allow him to easily start the 2021 season in Double-A and ascend fairly rapidly to Coors Field to impact the big league rotation.

2022 TOP PROSPECT

Zac Veen, OF: He’s No. 1 now and there’s no reason to think he won’t be in the top spot in 2022. Look for Veen to hit the ground running and put up monster numbers in hitter-friendly Asheville.

Best Tools

Hit: Zac Veen
Power: Brenton Doyle
Run: Bladimir Restituyo
Arm: Yonathan Daza
Field: Ezequiel Tovar
Best athlete: Brenton Doyle

Fastball: Riley Pint
Curveball: Ryan Rolison
Slider: Sam Weatherly
Changeup: Ryan Rolison
Control: Antonio Santos

How the Top 30 Was Built

Draft: 20
International: 9
Free agent: 1

The four Top 100 Draft prospects from this year’s crop are in the top 16, with fifth-rounder Jack Blomgren also landing on the Draft-heavy list. Every player in the top 10 is an original Rockie draftee with Yonathan Daza breaking the streak as the top international signing. Don’t be surprised to see some of those signings, namely lefty Helcris Olivarez and shortstop Adael Amador, shooting up this list in a hurry in the coming years. Ashton Goudeau is a Minor League free-agent signing who made his big league debut in 2020.

Top 30 by Position

C: 1
1B: 2
3B: 4
SS: 4
OF: 5
RHP: 8
LHP: 6

The Rockies remain a bit hitter-heavy (16 hitters vs. 14 pitchers), though that’s +2 on the arms compared to last year. They still have bats at the top of the list, with seven of the top 10 trying to hit their way to the big leagues.