When delving into the state of the the Colorado Rockies farm system, there is quite a web of information to digest. One with a positive outlook might say this is a system with some impact players just about ready for Coors Field in Denver. A more skeptical critic may come to the conclusion the system may not measure up to the demands of the mighty National League West. While some of the lower levels performed well, all of the upper level teams failed to make the postseason.
This is the first organizational Top 50 without a clear Tier 1 prospect. It’s not out of the realm of possibility to see Adael Amador and Chase Dollander enter into Tier 1 conversation with solid 2024 performances.
Seven Prospects1500 writers contributed to this column and rankings including Scott Greene (@Scotty_Ballgame), Tony Bps (@tonybps1), Greg Bracken (@gregbracken07), Adam Greene (@aj_greene1015), Clint Fasse (@ProspectLarceny), Brian Fonseca (@100percent3G), and Jeremy Mahy (@JMahyfam). The writer’s Twitter handle follows each player write-up or paragraph.
Prospects1500 Tiers:
Tier 1: Players with high expectations of both making the majors and playing at an All-Star level for a number of years
Tier 2: Players with an above-average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 3: Players with an average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 4: Players who have the potential to make the majors; possible sleeper candidates for sustained MLB success
Tier 5: Players of interest, worth keeping an eye on, who may make (or have made) the majors but provide minimal impact
Levels listed for each player are the highest levels player reached in 2023
Tier 1
None
Tier 2
1. Adael Amador, SS/2B, 20, Double-A
The Rockies are hoping their top prospect fully recovers from hamate bone surgery last July. The switch hitting 20-year-old is a capable middle infielder, however it is his prowess at the plate that has the Rockies excited. Amador can hit for average and owns a discerning eye. His OBP in 3 minor league seasons is .401. In 2022 at Single-A Fresno, Amador displayed power and speed, slugging 15 home runs and stealing 26 bases. (@100percent3G)
2. Yanquiel Fernandez, OF, 20, Double-A
Power, swag, excitement. In the perfect scenario, the left-handed slugging Fernandez (33 HR in 2022) and Jordan Beck (see below) take over corner outfield spots in Denver, and blast the ball all around Coors Field. Fernandez did scuffle in his first go-round facing Double-A pitching. (@100percent3G)
3. Sterlin Thompson, OF/3B/2B, 22, Double-A
Featuring a seamless, smooth swing from the left side of the plate, Thompson posted an .863 OPS in 2023, 76 points higher than his total in his professional debut season. There’s a lot to like with his bat and versatility in the field, and he got some run at second and in the outfield when he played in the Arizona Fall League where he continued his hitting success. As a prep player that went onto play at Florida, he’s one of the more completed prospects in Colorado’s system. (@aj_greene1015)
Tier 3
4. Chase Dollander, RHP, 22, College
The Rockies selected the 6’2 right-handed pitcher with the 9th pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. For an organization who hasn’t had much good fortune with their pitching prospects, can Dollander be the guy that breaks through? The good news, plenty of swing and miss in Dollander’s arsenal. The troubling news, while he was stellar in ’22 (2.39 ERA, 108 K’s and only 13 BB in 79 IP); the ERA nearly doubled in ’23 to 4.75. As the next pitching prospect on the Rockies list arrives at #13 (southpaw Joe Rock), Dollander might just be the most keenly observed Colorado farmhand? (@100percent3G)
5. Jordan Beck, OF, 22, Double-A
See Fernandez above. Beck, the right-handed hitting former Tennessee Volunteer, hit 25 home runs in 2023. He’s also a solid defensive outfielder. (@100percent3G)
6. Zac Veen, OF, 22, Double-A
As the first high school player selected in the 2020 Draft (9th overall), Veen spent significant time in the Rockies lower minors before promotion to Double-A. He plays both corners in the outfield well and brings plus speed, becoming a real stolen base threat over the last couple seasons. He struggled in Hartford in 2022, went to Arizona that fall and killed it, then back in AA he missed the majority of 2023 after surgery to repair his ECU. Veen is expected to be fully healthy for Spring Training camp. (@aj_greene1015)
7. Dyan Jorge, SS, 20, Single-A
The slender and athletic Jorge just might be a reason (along with #15 Ritter) the Rockies would consider trading Amador. Also 20 years old, the Cuban infielder might be ideally suited for second base, or perhaps the outfield, although most of his playing time so far has been at shortstop. The 6-3 Cuban native possesses excellent speed, and if his bat and strike zone recognition improve, the Rockies may have another top-of-the-order prospect. (@100percent3G)
8. Hunter Goodman, OF/1B/C, 24, MLB
Goodman put on an absolute power hitting clinic last season before his end-of-season call up to the majors. As the organizational leader in home runs and RBIs, he has a true 55-65 power profile. Defensively, there are questions about a long term home for him. He’s been played all over the field but catching might provide the highest defensive upside for him. The strikeout rate is higher than you’d like, but more time in the upper minors will help with a more conservative approach. (@aj_greene1015)
9. Benny Montgomery, OF, 21, High-A
The 2021 first round draftee is similar to Veen in several ways. The 6-4, 21-year-old year is long, athletic, and a capable defensive center fielder. The question is will the bat play in the bigs? In an ideal scenario, the development of Montgomery (and Veen) provide the Rockies with depth and ability in center field moving forward. Montgomery performed well recently in the Arizona Fall League (.436 OBP with a .936 OPS). The tough test of Double-A pitching awaits. (@100percent3G)
Tier 4
10. Drew Romo, C, 22, Triple-A
11. Warming Bernabel, 3B, 21, Double-A
12. Cole Carrigg, OF/SS/C, 21, Single-A
13. Joe Rock, LHP, 23, Triple-A
14. Carson Palmquist, LHP, 23, Double-A
15. Ryan Ritter, SS, 23, Double-A
16. Sean Sullivan, LHP, 21, Single-A
17. Gabriel Hughes, RHP, 22, Double-A
18. Robert Calaz, OF, 18, Rookie (DSL)
19. Victor Vodnik, RHP, 24, MLB
20. Jake Madden, RHP, 22, Single-A
Romo, Colorado’s 1st round pick in 2020, hit very well in 2021 during his 79-game pro debut at Single-A Fresno, but he’s been a .250-.260 hitter in High-A/Double-A for the last two seasons. After a promotion to Triple-A late in 2023 where he went 6-17 in 4 games, he slashed .231/.375/.359 in the Arizona Fall League. Temper expectations. Carrigg was selected in the 2nd round of the 2023 MLB Draft. His pro debut was a .350 AVG and 1.008 OPS across 36 games in Rookie ball and Single-A Fresno. Their 2nd rounder from 2022, Ritter, played across 3 levels this past season, making it to AA Hartford for 8 games. Expect the 23-year-old to man SS for the Yard Goats in 2024. Hughes may miss all of 2024 following Tommy John Surgery in July. He posted a 6.21 ERA across High-A/Double-A in ’23. His K/9 was very good (11.2), but averaged under 5 IP per start and needs to improve on the 1.35 WHIP, not what the org wants from their 2022 1st rounder. Calaz is an exciting 18-year-old outfielder who saw success in the Dominican Summer League to start his professional career. (@Scotty_Ballgame)
Tier 5
21. Mason Albright, LHP, 21, High-A
22. Connor Van Scoyoc, RHP, 24, Double-A
23. Jeff Criswell, RHP, 24, Triple-A
24. Jordy Vargas, RHP, 20, Single-A
25. Jack Mahoney, RHP, 22, Rookie (ACL)
26. Anthony Molina, RHP, 21, Triple-A
27. Jaden Hill, RHP, 24, High-A
28. Aaron Schunk, 3B, 26, Triple-A
29. Jackson Cox, RHP, 20, Single-A
30. Grant Lavigne, 1B, 24, Double-A
31. Julio Carreras, SS, 23, Triple-A
32. Braxton Fulford, C, 25, Triple-A
33. Tanner Gordon, RHP, 26, Triple-A
34. Bryant Betancourt, 1B/C, 20, Single-A
35. Jarrod Cande, RHP, 24, High-A
36. Juan Guerrero, OF, 22, High-A
37. Victor Juarez, RHP, 20, High-A
38. Zach Kokoska, 1B/OF, 25, High-A
39. Isaiah Coupet, LHP, 21, Single-A
40. Andy Perez, 3B/SS/2B, 19, Single-A
41. Cade Denton, RHP, 22, Single-A
42. Derek Bernard, OF/2B, 19, Rookie (DSL)
43. Kyle Karros, 3B, 21, Single-A
44. Jimmy Herron, OF, 27, Triple-A
45. Juan Mejia, RHP, 23, Double-A
46. Angel Chivilli, RHP, 21, Double-A
47. Evan Justice, LHP, 25, MLB
48. Zach Agnos, RHP, 23, Single-A
49. Blake Adams, RHP, 23, High-A
50. Seth Halvorsen, RHP, 23, Double-A
Van Scoyoc had some flashes of brilliance with the Angels organization last season, landing him on our Prospects of the Week on more than one occasion. Criswell flashed potential, striking out 135 batters in 121 innings for the AAA Isotopes. Schunk mostly played 3B for Hartford and Albuquerque the last two seasons, but also saw time at 2B. Talk about consistency, he launched 14 HR and tallied 77 RBI in both ’22 and ’23. Cox also had TJS in July and will hope to return in late 2024. 24-year old Cande started 19 games, and finished with a noteworthy 3.50 ERA in Spokane’s hitter friendly Avista Park. The 6’2 right-handler is a former 17th round draft pick from Florida Southern College. Right handed reliever Agnos recorded 27 saves for Single-A Fresno, while allowing opponents only 4 home runs. 2023 7th round draftee Halvorsen, a teammate of Dollander’s at Tennessee, across 3 levels and might just be the surprise of his draft class. (@Scotty_Ballgame and @100percent3G)
Prospects1500 is your comprehensive dynasty league resource, featuring deep MLB/MiLB top prospect lists, news and rankings.
Jeremy covers the St Louis organization and contributes on Prospects of the Week for Prospects1500. Born and raised in the Midwest, he is a lifelong fan of the Birds on the Bat. You can follow him on Twitter @JMahyfam for more baseball content.
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Adam Greene is a Sport Management and Marketing double major at UMass Amherst's Isenberg School of Management. His main focus is sport marketing, where he's already had internships with the local Westfield Starfires and Springfield Thunderbirds. He now writes for the Cape Cod Baseball League. From Longmeadow, MA, Adam is a huge Red Sox fan and has been following the team his whole life. When Covid hit, he started paying a lot more attention to the Red Sox minor league teams, and now, follows them almost as much as the big league squad. Follow him on Twitter at @aj_greene1015 and Instagram at the same handle.
President of Prospects1500. Founder of Diamond Duos dynasty fantasy baseball leagues and the MLB Fantasy Playoffs Parlay. Participant and champion in several dynasty/fantasy baseball and football leagues. Sales Manager for Reminder Publishing in real life. Huge Bruce Springsteen and pro wrestling fan. Along with his wife and two boys, lives in Longmeadow, MA. Follow on Twitter at @Scotty_Ballgame.
Brian is in his second year covering the Colorado Rockies. A lifelong sports enthusiast, Brian grew up in Northern California a fan of the great Oakland A’s teams of the early 1970’s. From 1998-2014 Brian coached the Men’s Basketball team at Reedley (Community) College, a short drive away from the home of the Rockies Single-A club, the Fresno Grizzlies. Recently Brian was named Athletic Director at Parlier High School (#100percentParlierPanthers!). Brian and his wife LeAnn were married in 2001, and have two children; son Noah and daughter Eleanor who attends San Diego State. Follow Brian on Twitter @100percent3G.
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Brian Fonsecahttps://www.prospects1500.com/author/rockies003/
So zero tier 1 prospects for the Rockies. Ouch. Need to be a fan good or bad though.
Zero Tier 1, correct. But… Adael Amador is arguably so close. With a good first half, the potential is there for him to be Tier 1 come our midseason updated rankings. Baseball America does rank him in their Top 25.
No love for McCade Brown? Dude looked great in 2022! Dominated A ball at 21 years old. I understand he had surgery. You don’t see him bouncing back?