They’ve talked about it for years now.
The Colorado Rockies would enter spring training with the prerogative of stealing more bases in the regular season, especially after the implementation of bigger bases in 2023. Players would run free during Cactus League action, particularly the speedsters, in the hopes that it would carry over into the regular season. Things appeared to be working as the Rockies placed in the top 10 in spring training stolen bases each of the last three seasons.
However, once
the games actually started, the running game ceased to matter as much.
Over the last three seasons, the Rockies have ranked 28th in baseball with 248 total stolen bases. That’s 284 fewer than the Tampa Bay Rays, who swiped 532 bags. As for the Rockies themselves, only eight players had more than 10 stolen bases from 2023 to 2025, with Brenton Doyle as the only player with more than 30 bags, coming in with a hefty 70.
Cory Cohen explored some of the follies of the Rockies’ running in 2025. Despite having a fairly quick team, the Rockies ranked 23rd in stolen bases but were caught 39 times, resulting in a league-worst 68.5% success rate. Jumps were slow, and there was a hint of trepidation in the running of the bases.
It’s understandable why the running game would cease during the regular season. Being down big more often than not, the Rockies were hesitant to give away outs on the bases.
“The game has to sort of dictate what you do,” former manager Bud Black said in 2025. “You’ve got to be close in the score or have a lead. If you’re behind a few runs, running yourself into an out or running yourself out of an inning can be detrimental.”
It’s a sentiment that current manager Warren Schaeffer echoed this season.
“There were times last year where we were down early, so you shut the running game down — you can’t run them, and you have to take the risk down a notch,” Schaeffer said.
However, both managers alluded to the fact that keeping games close and staying ahead are the ideals to make sure the running game remains a factor. While that has much to do with how the pitching is doing, the offense has its role to play to keep things rolling.
The running game remained a factor this year in spring training more than in previous years. The Rockies finished third in all of baseball with 45 stolen bases, but they had more attempts than anyone with 68 total attempts. Twenty-three different players had at least one stolen base in camp.
Only five games into the 2026 season, and the Rockies are showing that running and being aggressive will play a factor. In 2025, the Rockies swiped eight bases through their first 12 games. This season, the team swiped eight bases through their first four games, a franchise first. The expected culprits of speedy players such as Jake McCarthy — who had three seasons of 20 or more bases in Arizona — Jordan Beck, and Brenton Doyle will get their bases. Still, there is also a noticeable difference in how the Rockies will approach base stealing.
No one is exempt from the steal signal.
Kyle Karros isn’t exactly a speedster. In his recorded baseball history on Baseball Reference, Karros’s career high in stolen bases is the 12 he swiped in 2024 in 17 attempts with the High-A Spokane Indians. In fact, you would probably have to go back to his high school days to see if he stole more than 10 bases in a season before that. And still, Karros has already swiped two bases this year, with more likely on the way.
Hunter Goodman is also a candidate to run in the right situation despite not being a speedster. On Monday night against Toronto, Goodman attempted a steal of a second, and while he got thrown out, he had a good jump and was just beaten by a good throw. But if the Rockies’ All-Star catcher is going to try swiping bags, nothing is off the table for the running game.
Being aggressive base runners, particularly in the steals department, is something the Rockies can finally make good on in 2026. As they try to develop their new brand of baseball, using speed and aggression to create havoc on the bases is going to go a long way in helping this team score more runs.
Willi Castro said it best in spring training: “The mentality is to score because that’s how you win ballgames.”
The archetype of how base stealing can make a difference was on full display in Miami by the Marlins as they swept the Rockies. The Milwaukee Brewers lead the league with double-digit steals already, and they had the best record in baseball last season. When trying to win in the margins, the “Running Rockies” have to keep the foot on the gas pedal and run without fear. Only then can the strategy manage to stick around as they hope.
On the Farm
Triple-A: Reno Aces 8, Albuquerque Isotopes 1
What began as a pitcher’s duel ended up being a blowout in the home opener for the Albuquerque Isotopes. Gabriel Hughes (No. 12 PuRP) made the start for the Isotopes and was excellent through five innings as he allowed two runs on three hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. He actually came out to start the sixth inning, but surrendered a leadoff triple to end his evening. Things got out of hand in the eighth inning for the Isotopes bullpen after Ryan Miller and Patrick Weigel surrendered a combined six runs on four hits. Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP), making a rehab appearance, went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, while Blaine Crim went 1-for-3 in his rehab. Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP) had a good night, going 2-for-4 with a double, while veteran Vimael Machín had three hits, including a triple. The offense managed just one run on eight hits with 11 strikeouts and just two walks.
Affected by Altitude Episode 204: FacePalm Sunday | Rocky Mountain Rooftop
On this week’s episode, Evan Lang and I talked about the first series of 2026 against the Marlins and broke down the first weekend of play for minor league baseball.
There are plenty of interesting things to watch for with the Rockies’ Triple-A affiliate, one of which is the versatility of Cole Carrigg. The Rockies are stretching Carrigg out to play multiple positions after he spent 2025 as a primary center fielder, and he is continuing that journey with the Albuquerque Isotopes.
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