Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs per game (4.21) and generated the second-lowest slugging percentage (.400) in franchise history in 2024.
Not coincidentally, Colorado lost 101 games last season, two shy of the franchise low point established the year before.
Fortunately for the Rockies, they have some slugging outfielders on the way. They spent the No. 3 overall pick and a Draft-record $9.25 million bonus on outfielder Charlie Condon in July, just as Robert Calaz was putting the finishing touches on an MVP season and Triple Crown in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. Yanquiel Fernandez had a strong season at Double-A and could arrive in Denver at some point this year.
📩 SUBSCRIBE TO THE BASEBALL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
Condon was the most devastating hitter in college baseball last year, winning the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s best amateur after leading NCAA Division I in batting (.433), slugging (1.009), OPS (1.565), homers (37), extra-base hits (58) and total bases (233) as a redshirt sophomore at Georgia. He not only features top-of-the-scale raw power that plays from foul pole to foul pole, but he also has a relatively compact right-handed swing and makes good swing decisions.
Colorado has yet to see Condon at his best. A bone spur in his right finger led to him changing his grip on the bat during an underwhelming pro debut at High-A. Now he’ll miss the first month of this season after sustaining a non-displaced fracture of his left wrist while diving for a ball on March 11.
“I’ve been here a while,” said farm director Chris Forbes, who started with the Rockies as an area scout in 2006, “and Charlie is probably the most complete hitting prospect we’ve had. We didn’t get the best version of him last year because he got hit by a pitch on his hand at Georgia and tried to play through the injury. There could be more power in there because we haven’t tapped into the strength component yet.”
The prize of the Rockies’ 2023 international class, Calaz signed for $1.7 million out of the Dominican Republic. After posting a .984 OPS in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, he came to the United States last year and slashed .349/.462/.651 with 10 homers and 45 RBIs in 49 ACL games. Already quite physical at 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds, he continued to mash at Single-A in the final month as an 18-year-old, making exceptionally loud contact for his age.
“Robert didn’t even want to play baseball growing up,” Forbes said. “The kids in his town needed him to fill out their team and he wanted to ride his horse. They were frustrated because they knew how good he could be, so they threw rocks trying to knock him off his horse.
“The beauty of Robert is that he can’t describe how he does what he does. That innocence is intriguing. His body moves really quick. He’s still learning the game.”
Another product of Colorado’s international efforts, Fernandez left Cuba before signing for $295,000 in July 2019. As physical as Calaz, Fernandez totaled 46 homers in his first two full pro seasons but tapered off to 12 last year. He made adjustments and provided more consistent contact when he repeated Double-A to begin 2024 but scuffled following an August promotion to Triple-A.
“In Double-A, we saw his hit ability start to show up,” Forbes said. “He started recognizing what pitchers were trying to do to him and started taking what they gave him. Sometimes he tries to create power, and in Triple-A, guys mixed their pitches and located better and cut him up. He needs to lock into making better swing decisions.”
Camp standout: Zac Veen
The ninth overall pick in the 2020 Draft, Veen has played in just 111 games the past two seasons while dealing with wrist, thumb and back injuries. He’s healthy now and making an unexpected push for a starting outfield job with his play and nonstop energy in the Cactus League. Through last Saturday, he led the Rockies in homers (two), extra-base hits (seven) and steals (six) while slashing .325/.413/.625.
“This is a ton of fun -- the most fun I’ve ever had,” Veen told MLB.com’s Thomas Harding. “It’s so much fun because we’re playing baseball every day, and I get to play with a lot of guys I’ve watched growing up and guys that I came up with in the system. It’s a great time.”
Breakout potential: Kyle Karros
An ankle injury at UCLA helped knock down Karros down to the fifth round of the 2023 Draft, but the third baseman won High-A Northwest League MVP honors in his first full pro season and nearly captured the Triple Crown as well by slashing .311/.390/.485 with 15 homers and 78 RBIs in 126 games. The son of 1992 National League Rookie of the Year Eric Karros, Kyle is one of the best pure hitters in the system and could tap into some more power.
“We eventually see Kyle as a 20-25-home run guy,” Forbes said. “He’s done exactly what we’ve asked of him, which is stay with the hittability piece for now. We love the way he has carried himself in his first big league camp. He’s got pedigree and he sure got some good advice from his dad.”
Bounceback candidate: Benny Montgomery
The Rockies still have high hopes for Montgomery, whom they drafted eighth overall in 2021. He lost half of 2022 to a quadriceps injury and most of last season to surgery on his left shoulder. He needs to prove he can make consistent contact but still possesses an all-around tools package as good as any in the system, with double-plus speed and plus raw power, arm strength and center-field defense.
“I think Benny is going to have a very good year,” Forbes said. “He’s healthy and looked good in our high-performance camp in January. He came in from high school and it took some time to get comfortable in the pro setting, but he looks like a man now.”
Jim Callis is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him @jimcallisMLB and @jimcallis.bsky.social. Listen to him on the weekly MLB Pipeline Podcast.
Dodgers Announce Full 2025 Loons Coaching Staff
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Dodgers, are excited to announce the team’s 2025 coaching staff. Second-year Loons’ manager Jair Fernandez will be joined by pitching coaches Sean Coyne and Eduardo Dominguez, hitting coach Kevin LaChance, and bench coach Joe Thon. Sean Coyne,
Great Lakes Loons Announce 2025 Promotional Schedule: Bigger, Better, Packed with Fan-Favorites, New Surprises!
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons are excited to announce the 2025 Promotion Schedule that includes an incredible lineup of promotions, theme nights, and special appearances. Fans flocking to Dow Diamond can look forward to unforgettable moments all season long. Highlights for the 2025 Promotional Schedule include: Star Wars
Jair Fernandez Returns as Loons Manager for 2025 Season
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons in conjunction with the Los Angeles Dodgers have named Jair Fernandez as their manager for the 2025 season. Fernandez will manage Great Lakes for the second straight season. Jair Fernandez is the 11th manager in the Loons' 18-year history and the fourth to
Michigan Baseball Foundation Grant Application Available Now
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Michigan Baseball Foundation (MBF) is pleased to announce the opening of the 2025 Grant Application today, November 15th, 2024. Grants are available for registered 501(c)(3) organizations that focus on youth-related activities or economic development. Applications must be for specific projects or initiatives the organization is undertaking
DOW DIAMOND HOSTS FIRST-EVER FIELD OF FRAMES FEST
MIDLAND, MI – Dow Diamond, home of the Great Lakes Loons, is thrilled to announce the debut of the Field of Frames Fest for September 26-28 2025, a dynamic and groundbreaking gaming and entertainment festival set to bring together gamers, esports enthusiasts, families, and industry professionals from across the region.
Loons Cap Season with 6-5 Win Over Dragons
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (69-61) (35-29) held off the Dayton Dragons (74-57) (40-25) winning 6-5 in the season finale on a windy 69-degree partly cloudy Sunday afternoon at Dow Diamond. - Three Loons walks tallied their first run in the first inning. Sean McLain’s bases-loaded base on
Loons Shutout Dragons 3-0 in Final Night Game of 2024
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (68-61) (34-29) struck out 12 Dayton Dragons (74-56) (40-24) in a dominant 3-0 win on a windy 60-degree sunny Saturday night at Dow Diamond. Jose Rodriguez finished six innings, a career-best, striking out five. The right-hander did not permit a hit, walking two.
Romero K’s 10, Loons Lose 4-1
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (67-61) (33-29) and the Dayton Dragons (74-56) (40-24) each struck out 13 times with a three-run three-hit inning propelling Dayton to a 4-1 win on windy 60-degree cloudy Friday night at Dow Diamond. - Josue De Paula scored the game’s first run with
Loons Strikeout 15 Dragons in 7-0 Shutout Victory
MIDLAND, Mich. –Great Lakes Loons (67-60) (33-28) pitching struck out 15 Dayton Dragons (73-56) (39-24) batters in a 7-0 win on an 84-degree partly cloudy Thursday night at Dow Diamond. - The Loons 7-0 win is their sixth shutout win of the season. Three have come in the last 21
Five-Run Fourth Inning Catapults Loons to 6-3 Win
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (66-60) (32-28) tallied five runs in the fourth inning to take the eventual final, a 6-3 win over the Dayton Dragons (73-55) (39-23) 6-3 on a 78-degree clear Wednesday night at Dow Diamond. - The Loons converted back-to-back two-out hits to grab a
Dragons Down Loons 1-0, Clinch Second-Half Playoff Spot
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (65-60) (31-28) allowed one unearned run off one hit but were shutout by the now Midwest League East 2nd Half champion Dayton Dragons (73-53) (39-22) 1-0 on a 71-degree sunny Labor Day Monday afternoon at Dow Diamond. - Peter Heubeck was excellent going
Cubs Shutout Loons 2-0, Split Series
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Both the South Bend Cubs (50-76) (23-36) and Great Lakes Loons (65-57) (31-26) pitching staffs struck out 12, with a Cubs homer and Loons wild pitch the difference in a 2-0 South Bend win on a 71-degree clear skied Sunday night at Four Winds Field. -
Ramirez’s Grand Slam Gives Cubs Walk-off Win over Loons
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – After nine scoreless innings and down to their final strike across three different batters, South Bend Cubs (48-76) (21-36) left fielder Pedro Ramirez launched a grand slam to beat the Great Lakes Loons (65-56) (31-24) 4-1 in 10 innings on a 84-degree cloudy Friday night at
McLain’s Homer & Martinez’s 3 Ks Gets Great Lakes 6-4 Win in 12 Innings
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Great Lakes Loons (65-56) (31-24) held the South Bend Cubs (47-76) (20-36) scoreless in all three extra innings, with a Sean McLain two-run homer in the twelfth, the difference in a 6-4 win in 12 innings on an 87-degree partly cloudy Thursday night at Four
Three-Run 11th Inning Gets Loons Past Cubs 6-3 in Extra-Inning Epic
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Great Lakes Loons (64-56) (30-24) produced a three-run rally in the eleventh to push past the South Bend Cubs (47-75) (20-35) 6-3 in 11 innings on a 84-degree partly cloudy Wednesday night at Four Winds Field. - In the eleventh inning, Great Lakes pushed across
Loons Top Cubs in Shootout 12-7 In Rain-Shortened Contest
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Great Lakes Loons (63-56) (29-24) tallied 14 hits and 12 runs before being halted by rain, defeating the South Bend (73-46) (31-22) 12-7 in eight innings on a 94-degree partly cloudy Tuesday night at Four Winds Field. - The Loons padded their lead with two
Timber Rattlers Split Series, Win 5-2 Over Loons
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (62-56) (28-24) went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position dropping a series finale to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (73-46) (31-22) 5-2 on a 85-degree sunny Sunday afternoon at Dow Diamond. - Wisconsin was worst with runners in scoring position, going 0-for-14. Their first
Loons Blank Timber Rattlers 7-0
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (62-55) (28-23) plated seven runs in the fifth inning, all they needed in a 7-0 shutout victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (72-46) (30-22) on a 82-degree clear Saturday night at Dow Diamond. - Payton Martin went five innings, his fifth instance in
Wisconsin Routs Great Lakes 14-1
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Pepinillos Picantes del Norte (61-55) (27-23) were dominated by the Cascabeles de Wisconsin (72-45) (30-21) 14-1 on a 78-degree clear Friday night at Dow Diamond. - Wisconsin’s first three batters reached. Luis Lara led off the game with a single, and Cooper Pratt then homered. -
Timber Rattlers Snap Loons Five-Game Win Streak, Win 5-4
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (61-54) (27-22) took a lead into the ninth inning, but the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (71-45) (29-21) rallied for two runs to take it 5-4 on a 76-degree clear Thursday night at Dow Diamond. - Josue De Paula for the second time this week,
Loons Win Fourth in a Row, De Paula Drives in Two
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (60-53) (25-21) late offensive surge topped the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (70-44) (28-20) 4-2 on a clear 69-degree Tuesday night at Dow Diamond. - Wisconsin scored the game’s first run in the first inning. Three straight reached with two outs, with a Jadher Areinamo
DOW DIAMOND PROTECTIVE NETTING EXTENDED
MIDLAND, MI – The Great Lakes Loons are pleased to announce a significant safety enhancement at Dow Diamond. Starting with the upcoming homestand on August 20th, the protective netting will be extended to cover the left and right field bullpens, further ensuring the safety of guests. This extension follows new
Final Two Loons-Captains Games in Series Cancelled
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (59-53) (25-21) and Lake County Captains (65-47) (24-22) Saturday night game that was suspended due to heavy rain and Sunday’s scheduled series finale have been canceled due to wet grounds. At the time of the suspension on Saturday, Great Lakes was up 3-0
Tonight’s Loons Game Suspended, Slated to Finish Tomorrow
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (59-53) (25-21) and Lake County Captains (65-47) (24-22) Saturday night game was suspended due to heavy rain at Classic Auto Group Park. The game was delayed in the bottom of the second with the Loons up 3-0. Tomorrow Sunday, August 18th, will see
Loons Win Third Straight, Meador Goes Six Innings and Nevin Drives in Two
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (59-53) (25-21) grabbed their third straight win behind a Jacob Meador six-inning outing and the top three in the Loons order reaching base 10 times in a 5-2 victory over the Lake County Captains (65-47) (24-22) on a rainy 75-degree Friday night at