In the process of writing about every player who received votes in our biannual Purple Row Prospects (PuRPs) list — this edition it was 55 players across 19 ballots — I learned a bit about trends and system strengths and weaknesses. So for anyone who missed a few write-ups or even who has a more casual relationship with the farm system, I wanted to synthesize some of those thoughts into a bigger picture than any individual prospect. Even with a new baseball operations regime that looks outward more often,
the players on this list are likely going to play a big role in the next 5-7 Colorado Rockies teams.
Here are the big picture items I took away after my review of Colorado’s top prospects as 2026 begins:
The system is weaker than it was at mid-season and sits in the bottom third of MLB
Some of this is understandable, as the Rockies graduated an abnormally large amount of players from rookie eligibility. The problem is that only Kyle Karros and Ryan Ritter project to have much of an impact on the 2026 Rockies from that graduated group, and both of them have seemingly been pushed into a backup role by offseason acquisitions. What remains is largely international amateur free agents (7) and players from the last two draft classes (10, including 4 of the top 5).
Considering the Rockies have lost 323 games over the last three years, you’d hope the Rockies would have a farm system that ranks higher than the bottom third of MLB, but that’s not the case.
Keith Law of the Athletic ranked the system 23rd overall in January:
There is talent here, and even before the change in GM, they were starting to turn the ship and do some more advanced things on the player development side, including creating their own pitching lab, so they could be set to see some real system-wide improvements in Year 1 with the new group in charge. There’s power potential all over the place, as they love those types in the draft, but all of those hitters have hit tool risk, and I’m sure Rockies fans will tell you that the team hasn’t developed a real starting pitcher in eons. Giving their player development people the resources and the autonomy they need will be a big step forward.
Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com, who ranks farm systems according the expected Major League value of their prospects, listed the org in 28th place at $88 million in value in January, down from 18th and $185 million last year (in part because he’s way down on Charlie Condon:
The Rockies turned over their leadership this offseason, and it will be interesting to monitor how the preferences for scouting and development shift; we don’t have much evidence yet.
The final first-round pick from the past regime is a polarizing player with big potential and big questions in Holliday, their only top-100 prospect. I liked deadline addition 2B Roc Riggio, acquired from the Yankees. But there isn’t anyone else in the top 200, maybe even the top 250, with a lot of the depth in the system ranking after that.
FanGraphs uses a similar system to ESPN.com and ranked the Rockies 24th ($137 million) in their late 2025 rankings.
The team has drafted and signed interesting players, but by and large those players just haven’t made the same kind of developmental leaps that other organizations have managed with their players. I suppose that’s why there’s a refreshed baseball operations department in charge.
2026 PuRPs Impact
Though a number of the mid-season PuRPs have already graduated, there’s another wave of players right behind them who could contribute to the 2026 team.
Already made their MLB debut (3):
- Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP): former first-round outfielder who made a dramatic change to his body this off-season and has already hit two walk-offs this spring
- McCade Brown (18): key rotation depth with potential to earn a full-time rotation slot
- Carson Palmquist (19): he’s mostly started as a professional but ended 2025 in relief, where he was in college – provides some funk from the left side
Likely starting in Double-A, Triple-A, or MLB this year and could make their MLB debut this year (13):
- Charlie Condon (1): 2024 first rounder who has impressed this spring while playing both first base and the corner outfield.
- Cole Carrigg (4): primarily a center fielder now, but can play all over the diamond (he’ll be Team Israel’s shortstop in the WBC)
- Jared Thomas (5): talented hitter with utility at all three outfield positions and first base (where he played in college), currently nursing a hamate injury
- Sean Sullivan (8): command lefty starter who gets lots of strikeouts despite sitting in the mid-80s on his fastball thanks to excellent deception and extension
- Griffin Herring (10): lefty starter who was acquired from the Yankees near the deadline last year as part of the Ryan McMahon trade, put up excellent numbers in his first professional season
- Gabriel Hughes (12): first-round polished righty starter who is now two-plus years out from Tommy John surgery, has yet to fully recover the nastiness of his arsenal
- Sterlin Thompson (13): former comp round A pick whose refined hit tool stands out in the system, though he’s limited defensively even in left field
- Roc Riggio (14): second baseman acquired from the Yankees at last year’s trade deadline as part of the Jake Bird deal, short of stature but does a lot of things well (include getting his raw power into games)
- Welinton Herrera (17): lefty reliever who can touch 100, still just 21 but on the 40 man roster and on the verge of the big leagues
- RJ Petit (23): gigantic Rule 5 righty reliever from the Tigers org, will either stick with the Rockies for all of 2026 or get returned to Detroit
- Michael Prosecky (25): college lefty reliever turned starter as a professional, possesses a strong curveball but needs a third strong pitch to stay in the rotation
- Cole Messina (26): was known for strong production and leadership in college, hasn’t yet shown the offensive heft he’ll need to succeed at the big league level
- Konner Eaton (28): lefty starter who rose all the way to Double-A in his first full professional season
Of the players listed above, the most likely to break camp with the team is Petit due to his Rule 5 status, though I wouldn’t rule out Veen, Condon, Brown, or Thompson either. If I were wagering on it, I’d expect Condon and Veen to lead WAR production for the Rockies among the above players in 2026.
The top half of the PuRPs ranking remains flush with outfielders, the bottom half with pitching
Seven of the top 15 PuRPs are primarily outfielders, including four of the top nine and four who will begin the year at Double-A or higher. The five players below Double-A include the 2025 breakout prospect in the system, Roldy Brito (who has received some top 100 love by FanGraphs), 2024 breakout Robert Calaz, and the toolsy Max Belyeu.
You can never have too much pitching at Coors Field, so it’s no surprise the Rockies have historically prioritized pitching in the draft and in trades. The pre-season PuRPs list contains 16 pitchers, but only five of them are in the top 15. The top two of those ranked pitchers (Brody Brecht and JB Middleton) will likely begin 2026 below the Double-A level.
As I do each PuRPs cycle, I’m going to look at the current system and project which players could be on the 40-man roster in the lead-up to the Rule 5 draft this off-season. The upcoming Rule 5 Draft will see players who were signed either in 2022 (if they were 18 or younger at signing) or 2023 (signed at 19+ years old) become eligible for the first time.
When I did this exercise in August, I listed 43 players who would be under contract, on the 60-day IL, had a likely team option, or were prospects that were very likely to be added before the Rule 5 draft. Today, 25 of the top 29 on that list (Yanquiel Fernandez, Angel Chivilli, Warming Bernabel, and Bradley Blalock are the exceptions) which I deemed “likely” are still around, while among the bottom 14 there are only six that are still in the org.
The new regime has accelerated the roster churn this off-season so far and I would expect the pace to continue during their first season in charge. With that in mind, let’s take stock of the 40-man roster moves which could occur between now and the end of the year.
Sure things (current)
These players are on the current 40-man roster, have already seen major-league action, and will still be on the roster after the Rule 5 draft barring trades (which is a condition that applies to every category). Players with multi-year guaranteed deals are generally ranked higher than arbitration-eligible and pre-arb players:
- Ezequiel Tovar
- Hunter Goodman
- Jordan Beck
- Brenton Doyle
- Chase Dollander
- Willi Castro
Likely (current)
These players have major-league experience, are currently on the 40-man, and will likely be on the post Rule 5 draft 40-man roster — but under-performance could cause them to lose their spot to a DFA or non-tender — or they could retire. I also consider players with a likely to be picked up player or club option in this category. Presented roughly in my order of confidence:
7. Kris Bryant (60 Day IL, possible “retirement” in which he’s still collecting checks a la Prince Fielder)
8. Michael Lorenzen (club option)
9. Seth Halvorsen
10. Victor Vodnik
11. Juan Mejia
12. Kyle Karros
13. Zac Veen
Likely (future)
These players haven’t yet seen MLB action but are in good shape to retain their 40-man roster spot or get added to the 40-man roster in advance of the Rule 5 draft. Players who don’t need to be Rule 5 protected after the season (most notably Condon) aren’t listed, though a couple of them could also squeeze their way onto the roster. Again, presented in order of confidence:
14. Gabriel Hughes
15. Cole Carrigg
16. Sean Sullivan
17. Welinton Herrera
18. Jackson Cox
19. Sterlin Thompson
20. Roc Riggio
Under contract but at risk
These players are on the 40-man now but are serious candidates for a DFA or non-tender during or after the 2026 season (I also consider players with a possible player or club option in this category as well as those signed as minor league free agents who won’t have the service time for major league free agency) — presented from most safe to least:
21. Kyle Freeland (his vesting option requires 170 IP in 2026, which he hasn’t done since 2022)
22. McCade Brown
23. Ryan Feltner
24. Ryan Ritter
25. Adael Amador
26. Carson Palmquist
27. Tanner Gordon
28. Jake McCarthy
29. Zach Agnos
30. Jaden Hill
31. Jimmy Herget
32. Mickey Moniak
33. Pierson Ohl (will be 60 Day IL)
34. Edouard Julien
35. Brennan Bernardino
36. Keegan Thompson
37. Tyler Freeman
38. RJ Petit
39. Troy Johnston
40. Blaine Crim
41. Luis Peralta
42. Braxton Fulford
43. Jeff Criswell (60 Day IL)
I wouldn’t be surprised if any of the above players were not in the organization after 2026, but in particular anyone below Herget should consider their 40-man roster slot vulnerable. That gets us to 43 players (including four new prospects), so we’ve already got a full house.
Remember though that the Rockies will probably re-sign some free agents and/or exercise options, which also will take up spots (at the expense of some of the more vulnerable players above, some of whom could be designated for assignment or non-tendered).
Here’s how I would rank other players (among those with no non-IL MLB service time) in terms of getting a 40-man spot after 2026:
- TJ Rumfield (could win the primary 1B job this spring)
- Braylen Wimmer
- Jordy Vargas
- Yujanyer Herrera (depending on TJ surgery recovery)
- Jack Mahoney
- Michael Prosecky
- Ben Shields
- Carson Skipper
- Cade Denton
- Eiberson Castellano
- Kelvin Hidalgo
- Andy Perez
- Roynier Hernandez
- Luichi Casilla
- Marcos Herrera
- Dyan Jorge
- Victor Juarez
- Benny Montgomery
- Isaiah Coupet
- Austin Smith
I would guess the top three guys may be protected. I listed 20 players here and still somebody from off this list could make a surprise appearance, as I think the bottom 10-12 slots on the 40-man are quite fluid. With the 40-man roster, change is always the expectation.
Hopefully that summary of the system and the 40-man roster was helpful, I’d love to read your own projections and opinions in the comments. Until next time!
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