Colorado Rockies news and links for Friday, February 21, 2025
Today, the Rockies take on the Diamondbacks in their first Cactus League game of the season. Spring training has finally arrived.
With snow in Denver, it doesn’t quite feel like baseball season yet. Add in Colorado’s six straight losing seasons with two consecutive 100-plus loss seasons, it’s more than fair to see how many Rockies fans might not be too excited about the 2025 season.
In several of the Q&A sessions at Rockies Fest, moderators and KOA radio voices Jack Corrigan and Jerry Schemmel asked players, manager Bud Black, and general manager Bill Schmidt why fans should be excited about 2025.
I wanted to share a few of the responses that I thought were most interesting, starting with reliever Tyler Kinley. The 34-year-old RHP is entering his eighth MLB season after spending the last five seasons in Colorado. The best record the Rockies have had since he’s been with the team is 74-87 in 2021. He expressed a lot of empathy for Rockies fans.
“We’re with you. We’re frustrated. It has been tough the past couple years,” Kinley said. “We know for you guys that you guys continue to show up, just like we’re going to continue to work, but don’t, don’t ever feel like we don’t understand what you guys are going through as fans as we’re fans as well.”
Kinley continued to speak earnestly about being encouraged by the talented young arms in the bullpen, how they did better toward the end of the season and he saw a lot of growth.
“We can’t wait to get rolling here with this new core and young group, we want to get you know the ball rolling as fast as we can and just kind of see what our ceiling might be and continue to push those limits,” Kinley said.
Switching to the starting rotation, multiple players, coaches, and front office staff talked about being better automatically because of the return of a healthy Germán Márquez and Antonio Senzatela to start spring training. Austin Gomber, a 31-year-old lefty who is entering his seventh MLB season and fifth in Colorado, echoed that statement, adding a change he’s seen.
“Since I have been here, this is definitely the most depth and young talent we’ve had in this position group. So I think that’s exciting,” Gomber said. “I think that’s kind of what everything starts with — the starting pitching and then our bullpen. I think, as you saw even last year, with a lot of the young guys that came up, electric arms, guys like [Ezequiel] Tovar and [Brenton] Doyle, taking that next step. I think there’s a lot to be excited about.”
Coaches are famous for their positive outlooks. Even if they don’t believe it, they have to say teams are going to do better in their messaging to players and fans. Just imagine if Black said it was hopeless and the Rockies were bound for another 100-loss season. It wouldn’t go over well.
However, prompted by Corrigan using the Denver Broncos against-the-odds playoff 2024-25 season as an example, Black seemed genuine in explaining why he thinks the Rockies will be better.
I think with the group of players that we have, their aptitude, their ability is trending in a way that leads me to believe that good times are ahead because we have talent, and guys are ready to really, individually and from a team then standpoint, make a statement of who they are and who we are,” Black said. “So the pieces are coming together. There’s a foundation being laid here that should last for a while. It’s sort of tough going through the early stages of that, but that’s where we are, and I feel good about that. I’m optimistic about this, and it’s a real optimism.”
Schmidt seemed to be on the same page, focusing on how staying healthy is the best way for the Rockies to show real improvement in 2025. At the same time, he believes the Rockies are better prepared if some players get hurt.
“We didn’t have the depth we needed last year to overcome the injuries,” Schmidt said. “I believe, and I hope injuries don’t happen, but if it does, I think we have some young kids who are going to be able to step up.”
Similar to his comments at spring training so far, Schmidt was also clear that starting spots will be earned in Scottsdale.
“There’s going to be competition in our camp and that hasn’t happened in a while,” Schmidt said. “So I’m looking forward to that.”
Only four current Rockies — Márquez, Senzatela, Kyle Freeland and Ryan McMahon — were with the team during their last playoff appearance in 2018. McMahon, the 30-year-old third baseman who was drafted by the Rockies in 2013 and made his MLB debut in 2017, expressed his excitement at the team’s growth and potential, despite the lack of expectations from the outside world.
“We’re excited to get down to spring training. You know, we’re not looking to be counted in right now by the writers and stuff like that, but we don’t really care,” McMahon said. “We’re going to put our head down and work. We’re going to come out here and play our butts off for you guys (the fans) every night. At the end of the season, we’ll look up and, hopefully, we’re in playoffs and get a chance at the dance.”
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Rockies spring training after dark: Notes from Salt River Fields (20 February 2025) | Purple Row
Catch up on the latest news from Scottsdale with Bud Black’s thoughts on new bullpen addition Scott Alexander, the potential of the young outfield prospects and how Chase Dollander did in his first stint against live batters like Kris Bryant and Ryan McMahon.
‘I’m already a fan’: Dollander draws high comps after strong BP session | MLB.com
Dollander, Colorado’s top draft pick in 2023 (No. 9 overall), shined on Thursday in Scottsdale. Ryan McMahon is quoted in the headline on the 23-year-old RHP’s stuff.
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