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.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Welcome New Owner, Diamond Baseball Holdings
Front Office Staff Remains in Place Under Existing Club Leadership RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIF. (December 12, 2024) – The owners of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes announced today they have entered into an agreement to sell the team to Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), an organization that owns and operates select minor league
Quakes Finish 2024 Season with Loss to Rawhide
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The 2024 came to an end on Sunday afternoon, as the playoff-bound Visalia Rawhide defeated the Quakes at LoanMart Field by a final of 6-2. Visalia jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning against Rancho starter Eriq Swan (0-1) and cruised to the
Gutierrez, Decker Dazzle in Rancho Win
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – One night after being eliminated from playoff contention, the Quakes staged a late rally and beat the Visalia Rawhide, winning on Saturday night by a final of 6-4 at LoanMart Field. Cameron Decker blasted a three-run homer (12) in the first, then broke a 4-4 tie
Quakes Eliminated by Rawhide
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Visalia Rawhide eliminated the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes from playoff contention on Friday night at LoanMart Field, taking a convincing 7-0 victory. The win for the Rawhide secures the final playoff spot, as they’ll be the #2 seed and host the Lake Elsinore Storm next Tuesday
Decker Keeps Quakes Alive with Walk-Off
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – Cameron Decker’s walk-off blast in the ninth made Friday’s game meaningful, as the Quakes outlasted the Visalia Rawhide on Thursday night by a final of 8-6 at LoanMart Field. After blowing a three-run lead in the ninth, Rancho, which didn’t have a hit since the third,
Quakes Fall, Now in Must-Win Mode
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Visalia Rawhide have pushed the Quakes to elimination, after Wednesday’s 5-1 loss at LoanMart Field. Now with four games to play in the regular season, the Quakes must beat the Rawhide in all four remaining games in order to qualify for the playoffs. A four-run
Quakes Very Much Alive After Shutout of Visalia
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes strengthened their playoff hopes on Tuesday night, as they shut out the Visalia Rawhide by a final of 2-0 at LoanMart Field. Needing five of six in the series in order to gain a playoff berth, the Quakes pitched one of their
Quakes Fall Sunday, Need Five of Six Next Week
San Jose, CA – The San Jose Giants took the final game of the six-game series on Sunday afternoon, grabbing a 5-2 win over the Quakes at Excite Ballpark. Cesar Quintas, who made a pair of diving catches in center field, had two hits, including a two-run homer (12) as
Quakes Smash Two Bombs for Third Straight "W"!
San Jose, CA – Zyhir Hope and Cameron Decker both slugged home runs and the Quakes won their third straight game over the Giants, taking a 6-4 victory at Excite Ballpark on Saturday evening. Hope’s two-run homer (9) put Rancho up early in the first, while Decker’s three-run shot gave
Quakes Win Second Straight in San Jose
San Jose, CA – The Quakes scored three runs in the ninth and held on for an exciting 6-4 win over the San Jose Giants on Friday night at Excite Ballpark. Cameron Decker’s RBI single tied the game and Samuel Munoz capped the inning with an RBI single to give
Quakes Explode for Big Win In San Jose
San Jose, CA – A seven-run explosion in the sixth inning helped Rancho end a five-game losing streak, as the Quakes pummeled the San Jose Giants on Thursday night by a final of 9-1 at Excite Ballpark. Elijah Hainline had two hits and two RBIs and Cameron Decker hit a
Giants Drop Quakes on Wednesday
San Jose, CA – The Quakes dropped their fifth straight on Wednesday afternoon, as the Giants took a 9-5 win at Excite Ballpark. A five-run sixth put San Jose ahead for good, as the Quakes dropped their second straight to open the six-game series and their tenth in their last
Late Loss for Rancho on Tuesday
San Jose, CA – Ty Hanchey’s tie-breaking homer in the eighth sent the San Jose Giants to the lead for good, as they defeated the Quakes on Tuesday night at Excite Ballpark by a final of 7-5. After the Quakes tied the game at 5-5 with Carlos Rojas’ second two-run
Storm Prevail on Sunday Over Quakes
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Lake Elsinore Storm concluded a successful trip to LoanMart Field with an 8-3 win over the Quakes on Sunday evening, giving the first-place Storm five of six in the series. Rancho, which has lost eight of nine overall, is still just two games out of
Quakes Drop Series to Storm
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Lake Elsinore Storm got out to a big lead, then held on for an 8-5 win over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Saturday night at LoanMart Field. The loss leaves the Quakes two games back of the Storm, but just one out of a playoff
Rancho Gets Blanked on Friday
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Quakes dropped a heart-breaker on Friday night in front of more than 3,500 fans at LoanMart Field, as the Lake Elsinore Storm took game four of the series with a 1-0 win. A first-inning run for the Storm was all of the scoring on Friday
Quakes Back in Gear, Blow Out Storm
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Quakes ended their five-game losing streak on Thursday night, using a six-run seventh to fuel a 9-2 win over the Lake Elsinore Storm at LoanMart Field. Zyhir Hope went 3-for-3 and reached base five times, capping his night with an eighth-inning homer to help halt
Storm Rally Late to Drop Quakes
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Lake Elsinore Storm rallied from three different deficits, scoring twice in the ninth inning to take a 7-5 win over the Quakes on Wednesday night at LoanMart Field. A two-run ninth against reliever Noah Ruen (3-2) gave the Storm their first lead of the game,
Rancho Drops Fourth Straight
Rancho Cucamonga, CA – Despite battling back from a five-run deficit, the Quakes dropped a 7-6 decision to the Lake Elsinore Storm in 11 innings on Tuesday night at LoanMart Field. Rancho’s fourth straight loss overall forces a three-way tie at the top of the South Division standings between the
Tie at the Top, as Quakes Fall on Sunday
Visalia, CA – The Quakes dropped their third straight game on Sunday afternoon, as the Visalia Rawhide pulled into a first-place tie with an 8-1 win at Valley Strong Ballpark. A six-run seventh broke open a one-run game, giving Visalia their third straight win over Rancho and four of six
Lead Trimmed to One After Loss
Visalia, CA – A ninth-inning rally fell short on Saturday night, as the Quakes dropped a 4-3 decision to the Visalia Rawhide at Valley Strong Ballpark. The win for Visalia gives the Rawhide two straight and three of five in the series, as they’ve trimmed Rancho’s lead in the second-half
Quakes Fall on Friday to Rawhide
Visalia, CA – The Visalia Rawhide broke a seventh-inning tie, scoring three times to take the lead for good in a 6-3 win over the Quakes on Friday night at Valley Strong Ballpark. Four walks and a two-run double off the bat of Angel Ortiz was the difference in the
Quakes Hang On for Win Over 'Hide
Visalia, CA – The Quakes held on for a 6-3 win on Thursday night at Valley Strong Ballpark, beating the Visalia Rawhide to take a three-game lead in the South Division with just 21 games to play. Samuel Munoz had a three-run homer (4) and Jose Meza had a two-run
Rawhide Down Quakes on Wednesday
Visalia, CA – The Quakes had a tough night on Wednesday, enduring a 9-3 loss to the Rawhide at Valley Strong Ballpark. Rancho committed a season-worst five errors and trailed throughout, as the Rawhide pulled to within two games with 22 to play in the second half. Quakes’ reliever Pedro
Quakes Drop Three Bombs in Visalia!
Visalia, CA – The Quakes slugged three homers and held on for a 5-2 win over the Visalia Rawhide, as they opened a critical six-game series at Valley Strong Ballpark on Tuesday night. Zyhir Hope (7), Cameron Decker (7) and Jose Meza (7) all went yard, helping the Quakes extend