DENVER (AP) 鈥� Speedy Colorado rookie hustled out a recent double, losing his batting helmet and leg guard along the way. He slid into second with such force that he ripped his pants, before hopping up and performing a little shimmy shake toward the dugout.
That’s the new grit, the new attitude, of a team still in last place but finding a path upward under the watchful gaze of a . This isn’t the same from a year ago that flirted with baseball鈥檚 all-time worst record.
At 32-49, the Rockies are already a plus-14 wins from where they were a year ago at the halfway mark. They’ve turned the page on last season, too 鈥� on the last three seasons in which they’ve dropped 323 games (2023-25). That’s tied with the 1940-42 Philadelphia Phillies for the fifth-most losses by a squad over a three-year span in the modern era.
Players like Carrigg and TJ Rumfield are helping bring a youthful vibe to the field.
Outfielder Mickey Moniak said the mentality these days is winning instead of hoping not to lose.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 just a big step in the right direction. I think it鈥檚 only up from here,鈥� he said.
Last season, the Rockies didn鈥檛 win their 32nd game until Aug. 13. They were also 18-23 in one-run games. This season, they’re 11-10 in games decided by a run.
鈥淓ven during games where we鈥檙e losing, I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 a lot of panic,鈥� said the 24-year-old Carrigg, who鈥檚 hitting .271 with three homers since being promoted from Triple-A Albuquerque on June 9. 鈥淓verybody trusts each other. We all know that we鈥檙e all great baseball players, and we鈥檙e here for a reason. We have a really special group of guys.鈥�
This young nucleus, which includes All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman and shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, gives them promise down the road (they currently have around a 0.1% chance of making the playoff this season). The team hasn’t been to the postseason since 2018.
鈥淭here鈥檚 been a high level of commitment to elevate the story,鈥� manager Warren Schaeffer said.
A path forward
Rebuilds, though, take time.
That’s why a front office led by and are being patient to make sure a consistent message permeates through all levels of the organization.
鈥淲e鈥檝e still got a ways to go,鈥� said Byrnes, who was brought in as general manager from the reigning World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 encouraged by the progress.鈥�
An area the Rockies plan to upgrade is the pitching throughout the system. That could be addressed through the draft next month or before the trade deadline in early August.
鈥淧itching is always going to be a challenge here when it鈥檚 tested over six months, and it鈥檚 our daily ritual of who鈥檚 available, who鈥檚 not,鈥� Byrnes said. 鈥淐andidly, and it’s been done here before, to build a pitching staff that鈥檚 playoff-caliber and hopefully sustainable for several years 鈥� not just the players, but the methods behind it 鈥� is probably pretty high on the list for what we鈥檙e trying to do.鈥�
The trade deadline
The Rockies do figure to be sellers at the trade deadline, especially given their surplus of outfielders. DePodesta is already starting to field some calls.
Anybody untouchables?
鈥淭here would be certain guys that would be really, really hard for us to move,鈥� said DePodesta, the president of baseball operations. “That鈥檚 probably true for any team. There are guys that we feel are hopefully foundational players for us going forward.
鈥淎t the same time, I think we need to be opportunistic. We鈥檙e not where we want to be. So, if there are opportunities for us to get better, certainly both in the short-term and long-term, we need to look at that.鈥�
One thing the Rockies are preaching on the minor-league level is position flexibility. Carrigg, for example, played outfield along with shortstop.
鈥淚t鈥檚 good for you. It鈥檚 good for us. Let’s do it,鈥� Byrnes said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to require some work, but for the most part … it鈥檚 going very well.
“The most important thing we can do is deliver a team (fans) can root for, a team that wins, a team that plays in October.鈥�
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