For all their problems, the Colorado Rockies have a history of strong defense in the hot corner, which was, most recently, manned by Nolan Arenado and then Ryan McMahon.
Now, their heir apparent has arrived at Coors Field.
Given the Rockies’ rookie third baseman Kyle Karros (No. 4 PuRP) brings an MiLB Gold Glove with him to Coors Field, he seems prepared to make his own mark.
Because Karros only got called up August 8, we’re still firmly in small-sample-size
territory. But so far, his defensive numbers are promising.
He’s had 164.1 innings at third. Currently, Karros has earned two Defensive Runs Saved, one Out Above Avearge, and a Fielding Run Value of one.
The early numbers, then, show a player settling in.
Recently, Karros reflected on the ways in which defense contributes to his game, some of the shortstops he’s played with, and what he looks for in a glove.
Learning to value defense
In college, Karros quickly learned that playing stellar defense provided an edge.
“I think I credit a lot of it to UCLA,” Karros said.
”I made the lineup as a freshman because of my glove,” he said. “And I think there, I just saw the value in that side of the game and how you can impact the game each and every night, defensively.”
For Karros, defense provides a way to contribute when the hits just aren’t there.
“Offensively, the best hitters in the world, they have nights where they go 0-for-4, and they don’t contribute offensively,” Karros said. “But I feel like you can show up with the glove every single night. So I take a lot of pride in that.”
Plus, he values defense in and of itself.
“I think sometimes it gets overlooked, the defensive side of baseball, but not in my eyes,” Karros said. “I value it a ton, and take it just as seriously as, if not more seriously, than offense.”
Playing with good shortstops
It’s worth pointing out that Karros has a long history — even though he’s only 23 — of playing with exceptional shortstops, though he’s quick to point out that Gold-Glove winner Ezequiel Tovar is a next-level defender.
Of playing on the left side with Tovar, Karros said, “It’s amazing. It’s a treat, for sure.”
Then he paused to reflect.
”Well, I’ve got to give credit to all the shortstops I’ve played with. I mean, [Tovar’s] by far the best defensively. But I played in high school with Chase Meidroth, who’s in the big leagues now with the White Sox. We were the left side at Mira Costa High School.
“At UCLA, it was Matt McLain, who’s in the big leagues now with the Reds. We were the left side my freshman year.
“And now it’s me and Tovar over there. So I’ve been blessed with a really good shortstop my whole life, but like I said, none greater than Tovi over there.”
It was something Karros understood immediately when making his MLB debut.
“I know my first series in Arizona, there was a ground ball in the hole. I laid out for it and was expecting to pop up and get back to third to go with a potential play there, but Tovar cut it off before it even got to the grass and the made the play at first. So that was, that was a play where I was like, ‘Okay, this, this is a little different. The shortstop’s a little different.’”
For his part, Ezequiel Tovar recognizes Karros’ defensive skill.
“You know, he takes seriously everything he does. He wants to do his job and do it well,” Tovar said, adding, “He won his Gold Glove in the minor leagues, and they just don’t give those out to anyone. Obviously, he earned that.”
Game recognize game.
It’s all about the tools
When talking with a Gold Glover, it only make sense to ask about their equipment, and Karros was quick to show his current glove, which is “a pretty stock glove,” he said, a 12-inch with a high web.
”I’m going with a 12 inch right now,” Karros said. “I’ve tried bigger, just because I know some other third baseman use 12-and-a-halfs. I’ve tried it, but right now, I’m liking this one. I think I might play around with different one in the offseason, but I don’t want to make a switch mid-season.”
It’s a glove Karros got in the offseason of 2024.
But he was quick to reach up in his locker and pull out a black glove with a UCLA “B” on it, which he continued to use it as a professional after finishing college.
“I was using my UCLA glove for a while until I got a lot of feedback from players in the org, like, ‘Hey, you got to put the college glove away, just because it’s got the logo.’”
But there was more to Karros’ decision to retire his old friend.
“This was my go to for a while, and then, weirdly enough, I kind of broke this in with a batting glove under it, and then it got warm in Albuquerque, so I couldn’t play with the glove because I was sweating too much. So then I would go bare hand in [the UCLA glove], and it was too big. So then I switched to [the one I’m using now], and I’ve been going with it ever since.”
But his Gold Glove? He won that with his now-retired UCLA glove.
Or perhaps it’s not quite retired.
“Maybe when it’s cold out. I’ll bring [the UCLA glove] back because I like wearing a glove under when it’s cold, but when it’s warm, right now, it gets too sweaty with a glove in there. So I need this one that I broke in with a bare hand.”
Also worth noting: Karros isn’t interested in flashy gloves.
“I don’t like to do too crazy with any colors or anything,” Karros said. “I’m feel like I want to be as subtle as possible when I take the field. I feel like I have a unique personality and, like, flair and I’ll let that be my flair. I don’t want to be flashy with my gear and equipment and stuff. I’ll let my play draw the attention.”
Drawing comparisons
Karros has been open about his admiration for Arenado, his favorite third baseman.
“I think the biggest thing that stands out with him is just his personality,” Karros said.
”I love the way he goes about things. I love that he’s a California kid, Southern California guy. I think you can see that a little bit in his game. I like his swag off the field. Pretty much everything about him, I think he goes about it the right way.”
Plus, as an aspiring third baseman, Arenado provided a model.
“He was the top third baseman when I was a kid, so obviously I’m gonna watch him. I play third base and watch him and watch how he does it, and I think naturally that leaks into your game a little bit,” Karros said.
(In case you’re interested, the two have never met.)
Interim manager Warren Schaeffer is positive about Karros’ future.
“I see a really good player,” Schaeffer said. “I see a top-notch defender, potential Gold Glover in the future.”
And of a left side that features Karros and Tovar?
“Anytime you put two top notch defenders on the same side of the diamond, usually good things happen, and they can relate well to each other,” Schaeffer said.
“You saw it for a couple years with Tovi and Mac. They had a great relationship. I think the same thing is occurring with Tovi and Kyle.”
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