Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders with the latest installment of his Rockies Mailbag.
Pose a Rockies- or MLB-related question for the Rockies Mailbag.
Do you see Clint Hurdle returning to the coaching staff for 2026?
— Austin Steffens, Greeley
The Rockies are planning for Hurdle to remain with the organization in some capacity in 2026. I don’t know the specifics yet, but I doubt he’ll be part of the big-league coaching staff under manager Warren Schaeffer. Hurdle spent last season with the Rockies, first as the hitting coach, then as the bench coach.
I’m told that with the club still hiring coaches, front-office personnel, and minor league staff, Hurdle’s role is still being discussed. We should know soon.
For Paul DePodesta and new GM Josh Byrnes, what’s more important: Building a top-10 offense or a top-10 pitching staff?
— Tyler, Windsor
Tyler, that’s a great question. Let me start with a reality check. Because of Coors Field and baseball at altitude, I don’t see the Rockies ever having a top-10 pitching staff. A top-10 offense? For sure, they have done that several times before.
As for what’s important, right now, the priority has to be upgrading the pitching. There were too many games lost last season when the starting pitching was so bad that the Rockies really never had a chance. Bad starting pitching sucked the life out of the team. Consider: Colorado starters had a 6.65 ERA. That’s the worst since ERA became an official statistic in 1913. The Rockies were outscored by 424 runs. That minus-424 run differential surpassed the previous modern record of minus-349, set by the 1932 Boston Red Sox.
In the first inning, the Rockies’ opponents scored 142 runs. The Rockies scored 53. Ouch. Colorado’s first-inning ERA was 3.61, and hitters raked them at a .322 clip. Double ouch.
When a team loses 119 games, as the Rockies did, almost everything was bad, but I think fixing the starting pitching is DePodesta’s No. 1 priority.
Are the Rockies making any progress?
— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.
Ed, first of all, thanks for being a mailbag contributor from afar. It’s much appreciated.
Short answer to your short question: Yes.
The Rockies said they would reshape the front office by bringing in outsiders. They have done precisely that by hiring Paul DePodesta (president of baseball operations), Josh Byrnes (general manager), Tommy Tanous and Ian Levin (assistant GMs), and Matt Daniels (pitching director).
There is a good mix of forward-thinking baseball folks trying to reshape the team. It’s a good start.
The roster is essentially the same as it was at the end of the season, save for the addition of lefty reliever Brennan Bernardino, who was acquired from the Red Sox. We’ll see what other roster additions are made in the coming weeks. But so far, I’ve been encouraged.
Hi Patrick, for the first time in nearly a decade, I feel somewhat optimistic. Our front office looks like it’s finally moving into the 21st century. Is this a push from Walker Monfort since his promotion?
And what do you think constitutes a successful 2026 season for the Rox? A 20-game improvement and not losing 100 games for the first time in four years?
— Mark, Arvada
Mark, I believe Monfort deserves a lot of credit. When he was promoted to executive vice president, several people within the organization said it was a smart hire, praising Monfort for being open-minded, forward-thinking and proactive.
I was skeptical. I didn’t think owner Dick Monfort (Walker’s dad) would cede as much power as he apparently has. I also didn’t think the Rockies would be aggressive in pursuing outside talent for the front office. I was wrong.
Still, a 20-game improvement to avoid another 100-loss season is a tall order. The team on the field still has so many question marks and flaws. Ask me again as spring training nears and the roster takes shape.
How do you think the offseason plays out for us, Patrick? Do you see us being more active than we have in previous years and targeting decent free agents? Thanks.
— Mike, Denver
Mike, this probably isn’t what you want to hear, but I don’t see the Rockies being very active in free agency this offseason. I do anticipate some trades, but I think the new front office is still trying to sort out the talent in the organization. A blueprint for the future is still being drawn up, and I don’t think this is the time to be spending a lot of money on free agents. However, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Rockies sign a veteran to play first base.
I’ve heard so much about Charlie Condon being the next big thing for the Rockies. When is he going to make his debut? And what’s going on with Zac Veen?
— Marshall, Parker
Parker, I’m excited about Condon’s potential. He’s a smart, talented and disciplined young player. He might be the first baseman the Rockies hoped Michael Toglia would become but never did.
At the winter meetings earlier this month, Paul DePodesta, president of baseball operations, made an interesting comment when I asked him about filling the hole at first base.
“(The) first-round pick from two years ago is also a pretty good-looking player,” he said, referring to Condon.
The 22-year-old Condon, selected out of Georgia with the third overall pick in 2024, flashed promise last season. At High-A Spokane, he hit .312 with three homers in 35 games. He struggled a bit after his promotion to Double-A Hartford, hitting .235 and slugging 11 home runs in 55 games. So, he’s got to get a lot more professional at-bats before he’s ready to face major league pitching. A call to the big leagues might come in the second half of the season, but I wouldn’t count on it.
As for Veen, I’m wondering if he’s ever going to make an impact in the major leagues. A combination of injuries, bad offensive habits, shaky defense, and immaturity has stalled his progress. Spring training 2026 — unless he’s traded — will tell us a lot about his Rockies future.
The ninth overall selection in the 2020 draft recently turned 24. He put up solid numbers at Triple-A Albuquerque last season, slashing .289/.354/.468 with 11 home runs, five triples, and 23 doubles in 90 games. He’s shown flashes of talent, but his minor league career has been a roller coaster.
His major league experience has been limited to just 12 games and 37 plate appearances. He struggled, slashing .118/.189/.235 with one home run and 14 strikeouts (37.8% K-rate).
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