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Several Notable Rockies No Longer Have Minor League Options

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Sam Hilliard is among several Rockies players out of minor league options this spring.

There are several notable Rockies players out of minor league options this spring. Here, we will explore those players and their likely outcomes. Colorado has already begun dealing with the players on their out-of-options list. Earlier on Monday, reliever Justin Lawrence was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates. After a solid 2023 in the Rockies bullpen, Lawrence faced major control issues in 2024. The Rockies saw all they needed to see from Lawrence this spring after he recorded a 9.00 ERA over three innings with three walks to two Ks. The remaining players on the list are veteran outfielders Nolan Jones and Sam Hilliard, newly signed infielder Thairo Estrada, and right-handed reliever Jimmy Herget.

Several Rockies Have Run Out of Minor League Options

Nolan Jones

Jones is by far the most notable player on this list. After coming over in a trade with the Cleveland Guardians ahead of the 2023 season, Jones exploded with the Rockies. In 106 games, he hit .297/.389/.542 with 62 RBI. He also recorded a 20-20 season and was excellent defensively, with 100th percentile arm strength, per Statcast. However, Jones followed 2023 with an extreme sophomore slump in 2024. In 79 games, Jones hit .227/.321/.320 with just three homers, 28 RBI, and five stolen bases. Jones failed to get going from the start and dealt with injuries throughout the season.

Seven games into Cactus League play, it seems that Jones could be forcing things at the plate. He no doubt wanted to flush his 2024 performance behind him right away. But over 18 at-bats, Jones is hitting a team-worst .056 with just one hit and five strikeouts to two walks. However, the potential Jones showed in 2023 makes him a very likely candidate to begin the season on the big league roster. The Rockies also have no shortage of excellent defenders to man the expansive outfield of Coors Field. Jones and center fielder Brenton Doyle make up one of MLB’s best defensive outfield duos.

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Sam Hilliard

Hilliard came back to the Rockies in 2024 after a brief stint with the Atlanta Braves. He showed some of the potential he flashed as a prospect in 58 games with the Rockies. In 138 at-bats, Hilliard hit .239/.305/.507 with 27 RBI and an impressive 10 home runs. He also fits the archetype the Rockies want in their outfielders: tall and fast. He recorded five stolen bases for Colorado.

Hilliard has regressed to the mean early on in Cactus League play. Over 15 at-bats, he has hit .133/.188/.133 with just two hits and a 7:1 K:BB ratio. It is still very early, but as a fringe player among a crowded outfield who is out of minor league options, Hilliard will have to perform better to make the Rockies’ roster. It is possible that he can return to the Rockies if they don’t sign him to the big league roster, provided he clears waivers. But there is still plenty of baseball remaining this spring for Hilliard to make his case for a big league spot.

Thairo Estrada

As one of only three major league signings by the Rockies during free agency, there was excitement around Estrada heading into spring training. He is primed to take over at second base, replacing veteran second baseman Brendan Rodgers, who was non-tendered earlier in the offseason. Estrada is fast, an excellent defender, and has raked in his career at Coors Field. On a short-term deal, he also serves as a bridge player for the Rockies while second-base prospect Adael Amador continues to develop.

Estrada has lived up to the billing in Cactus League play. In 17 at-bats, Estrada has hit .471/.471/.471 with a team-leading eight hits and five RBI. The results have been encouraging as Estrada steps into a big role with Colorado this season. Earlier this offseason, Colorado manager Bud Black said the defensive potential for his infield in 2025 could be on par with the stellar 2017-18 defensive trio of second baseman DJ LeMahieu, shortstop Trevor Story, and third baseman Nolan Arenado. So far, Estrada is making his potential at Coors this season even more fun to think about.

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Jimmy Herget

Herget was one of the few additions to the bullpen this offseason, as the Rockies claimed him off waivers from the Braves in November. The 31-year-old most recently spent 2024 with the Braves after three seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. Herget played the best baseball of his career with the Angels. Over 112 2/3 IP, he recorded a 3.28 ERA with a 107:27 K:BB ratio. He dealt with right shoulder inflammation with the Braves and only pitched in eight games in 2024.

In his career, Herget has relied primarily on his breaking pitches. In 2022, the last season that he played enough games to qualify on Statcast, Herget ranked in the 96th percentile with a 13 breaking run value. He also has a stellar career BB rate of just 7.4%, a welcome sight for a much-maligned Rockies bullpen that was plagued by walks in 2024. If Herget can make his breaking ball work in Colorado, he could be a steal for the Rockies in 2025.

Herget has recorded three straight scoreless outings with two holds and three strikeouts to zero walks. His 6.75 ERA can be attributed to an outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks to begin Cactus League play in which he gave up three runs, including a two-run homer by third baseman Ildemaro Vargas. Herget has been a quality reliever for the Rockies this spring and could be a solid veteran reliever this season. If he regresses moving forward and the Rockies decide to waive him, he will almost assuredly sign with a different team or choose free agency at this stage in his career.

 

 

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