Monday Scaling the Rocks: The Immortal Todd Helton

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 19: Todd Helton looks on after being presented with a bronze statue prior to the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Saturday, September 19, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ray Bahner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Ge

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Good morning, Purple Row!

After gathering feedback and doing some deliberating, we’ve decided to make last week’s Rockpile experiments permanent. Since the minor league season has ended, today will be the final daily Pebble Report, but we will continue to post a separate links roundup every morning.

Once the MiLB season starts up again, we will see if we want to keep the links separate or fold them back into the Rockpile. But that’s a future Purple Row problem.

In the meantime, here’s what’s going on

with the Rockies and around MLB. (It was a busy weekend!)

Rockies News & Links

Feltner growing into new ‘piggyback’ role after Sugano’s strong start | MLB.com — Ryan Feltner competed with Chase Dollander during spring training for a chance to make the starting rotation. Feltner beat out Dollander for the rotation spot, but as the season has gone on, Feltner has been used out of the bullpen twice (three times after yesterday’s game). And both times have been his best outings of the season. Thomas Harding asks the ‘cerebral right-hander’ for his thoughts on his new potential role, as the Rockies continue their pitching experimentation.
Rockies slugging prospect Condon caps career year with Triple-A homer (of course!) | MLB.com — Charlie Condon (No. 2 PuRP) has had an up-and-down (though mostly up) season in Triple-A after making a case for himself not only to make the Opening Day roster out of spring training, but also to be promoted numerous times throughout the season. He ended his season on a high note, though, with a home run in the final game of the season. Look for my end-of-season interview with him as tomorrow’s Pebble Report Spotlight!
Helton humbled by permanent reminder of his greatness at statue unveiling | MLB.com — After unveiling a statue of legend Larry Walker on August 23, the Rockies unveiled another one of legend Todd Helton. Thomas Harding recaps the Hall of Famer’s remarks on the honor.
Renck: Rockies legend Todd Helton gets a statue that perfectly captures his greatness | Denver Post ($) — Troy Renck offers his thoughts on Helton’s statue unveiling, remembers the Hall of Famer’s career in Colorado, and recalls how Helton got to be as great as he was.
Zac Veen’s discipline implies career revival is on the way with Rockies | Denver Gazette ($) — Zac Veen was recalled to the Rockies in mid-August and has been performing much better at the big-league level than he did during his first cup of coffee in 2025. Kevin Henry chronicles Veen’s mini-renaissance and looks towards the outfielder’s potential future with the franchise.

Around Baseball

Nolan Arenado grand slam lifts Diamondbacks in home finale win over Yankees | Arizona Sports — Nolan Arenado has had a career revival in Sedona Red this year, including hitting a go-ahead grand slam that ultimately proved to be the game winner against the Yankees on Sunday. He has hit 27 home runs this season, the most he’s had since 2023.
Umpire Laz Diaz calls out ‘nasty’ MLB climate as he ends storied career | USA Today — Laz Diaz is one of three umpires who are retiring at the end of 2026 after taking a buyout from MLB. The others are Angel Hernandez and C.B. Bucknor. Bob Nightengale got an exclusive interview with Diaz as he finishes up his career, which covers the evolution of the game as well as some of Diaz’s more memorable moments.
Cubs’ Alex Bregman undergoing tests after ‘terrible accident’ | ESPN — In a scary moment on Sunday, Alex Bregman was hit in the face by a foul ball while he was standing in the on-deck circle. Bregman underwent X-Rays and CT scans, and it has not yet been determined if he’ll fly back to Chicago with the Cubs, who just finished up a series with the Cincinnati Reds. But Bregman posted an update on Instagram saying he was OK, which is great news.
‘Stayin Alive’ Red Sox cap turnaround, clinch playoff spot | ESPN — The Boston Red Sox have been an excellent story in 2026, as they were 15.5 games out of first place on June 24th and have gone 52-25 since to clinch a playoff berth. According to the article, “The Red Sox are the fourth team to make the playoffs after being 14-or-more games under .500 in a season in the World Series era (since 1903). Two of the three previous instances made the World Series, with the Boston Braves winning it in 1914.”
Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper diagnosed with throat cancer, started treatment last week | The Athletic ($) — Long-time Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper was diagnosed with throat cancer and has started undergoing treatment. This comes on the heels of Mike Krukow’s retirement announcement. Kuiper will be unable to call the Monday and Wednesday games of the Giants’ final season, but he’ll call Tuesday and the final series against the Dodgers.