Charlie Condon was drafted third overall by the Colorado Rockies in the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft out of the University of Georgia. As a top-three pick, Condon will have high expectations placed on him. Per MLB Pipeline, he will have a short stay in the minors, as he is projected to join the Rockies in 2026. MLB Pipeline ranked Condon as the 6th-best outfield prospect currently. He is second in the National League, behind only Dylan Crews of the Washington Nationals (3rd), who played 31 major league games in 2024. It is exciting to anticipate Condon’s debut at Coors Field. But he will be joining a young and talented Rockies outfield that is getting crowded.
Rockies prospect Charlie Condon absolutely destroys baseballs … imagine him hitting at Coors Field?
pic.twitter.com/oPpWjJUpoS
— MLB (@MLB) January 22, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Current State of the Rockies Outfield
Star center fielder Brenton Doyle currently leads the Rockies outfield. Fellow outfielders Nolan Jones and Jordan Beck should be the frontrunners to start alongside Doyle in 2025. Sam Hilliard, Sean Bouchard, and Greg Jones are depth pieces behind them. However, if Hilliard starts strong, he could make a big push for more playing time. Bouchard played 31 games in 2024 hitting .187/.290/.297. Outfielder Nick Martini was invited to major league spring training with the Rockies to serve as another potential depth option.
Kris Bryant split time between right field, first base, and designated hitter last season. However, considering the numerous injuries he has dealt with and Charlie Blackmon‘s retirement, he could see more time at DH this season. Michael Toglia will be the Rockies’ primary first baseman but can play in the outfield if needed. Hunter Goodman split time between first base, catcher, and the outfield in 2024.
Rockies GM Bill Schmidt is building the roster with a clear goal in mind: to have more power, speed, and versatility on the roster. The Rockies are getting closer to that goal as their rebuild progresses. The Rockies will have one of their fastest rosters in years in 2025. They will also have versatility throughout the lineup, allowing them to see the continued development of their young players.
Rockies Exciting Outfield Prospects on the Farm
Three of the top five prospects in the Rockies Top 30 are outfielders, led by Condon at No. 1. Highly touted prospects Zac Veen and Yanquiel Fernández come in at No. 3 and 4, respectively. Per MLB Pipeline, Condon’s greatest tool is his power. He has “top-of-the-scale raw power that plays from foul pole to foul pole,” per MLB.com. He hit a whopping 37 homers and slugged over 1.000 during his 2024 season at Georgia. Condon’s run and arm grade out at 40 and 55 respectively, and MLB.com projects him as an average defender. Fernández and Veen are both projected to debut in 2025. Veen was drafted ninth overall in the 2020 MLB draft but his debut was delayed after wrist surgery caused his 2023 season in Double-A to be cut short after 46 games.
Veen is projected as a plus base-stealing threat and the Rockies are reportedly happy with where the 22-year-old’s swing is at. He hit 11 homers and stole 50 bases in 92 games with High-A Spokane in 2022. Veen will likely play as a corner outfielder when he does make his MLB debut. Fernández joins Condon as a prospect with exciting raw power. He hit 25 homers in 2023 with Double-A Hartford and can hit to all fields, but did strike out nearly 33% of the time.
MLB.com projects Fernández to profile well as a right fielder given his plus arm strength, and he could be a true middle-of-the-order threat for Colorado if he puts everything together. Cole Carrigg, Robert Calaz, and Jared Thomas round out the Rockies’ outfield prospects in the top 11 at No. 7,9, and 11, respectively. Carrigg is the epitome of the versatile player the Rockies are looking for, as he can play in the outfield, at shortstop, or catcher.
The Bright Future of Colorado’s Outfield Talent
Having too many options at a position can be a good thing. The Rockies have built an impressive pipeline of outfielders. Doyle recently won his second Gold Glove in as many seasons, affirming his place as one of the top defenders in MLB at his position. His offense took off in 2024 and he emerged as a true five-tool player for Colorado. Jones was one of the best rookies in the NL in 2023, hitting 20 homers while stealing 20 bases. However, he regressed in 2024 as he dealt with injuries and inconsistency, finishing with only three home runs and five steals in 79 games. Behind them are young players who have shown exciting flashes but still have to gain consistency at the major league level.
The Rockies have seen a power surge under current hitting coach Hensley Meulens. The Rockies are also bringing their power on the road, something teams in Colorado have always struggled to do. While the Rockies are still working to cut down on strikeouts, Meulens will take the improved homer production in the meantime. The prospect of Condon, Veen, and Fernandez hitting homers at Coors is exciting. For a little longer, Rockies fans just have to wait and imagine.
The post The Rockies Face an Outfield Logjam Ahead appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.