After playing in 148 games and slashing .258/.317/.416 with 16 home runs for the Colorado Rockies last season, Jordan Beck’s main takeaway concerned his health and physique.
“Just how to take care of your body,” he said. “I mean, you have an idea, I guess. We’d still play the minor leagues 140 games, but 160 is almost an extra month. So just staying locked in and, like, realizing that you guys stay still on top of it that last month or so too. I think that’s a pretty big deal.”
The rigors of the regular
season took their toll on a young, inexperienced Rockies team. Playing his first full season at the big league level, Beck was not immune to wear and tear and ended up slashing just .213/.247/.326 in the last month of the season with 31 strikeouts.
But the effort to make sure he stays healthy and productive throughout the year didn’t necessarily demand an entirely new offseason training program. Rather, Beck sees it as a change in mentality and approach.
“I wouldn’t say I necessarily changed a whole lot,” he said. “I think it’s just more like, when you come in and you get to the point where, hey, the body’s hurt and you’re banged up a little bit, just knowing how to attack it. Still get in the weight room and do what you have to do, but not overdoing it.”
Not overdoing it seems to be a theme for the 2026 Rockies under manager Warren Schaeffer. The club has delayed start times during spring training to ensure players are rested and ready to attack the carefully laid-out schedule before them. There is an emphasis on making sure players have what they need individually to better themselves, while making sure they are healthy and ready for the regular season.
Beck, the 38th overall pick of the 2022 draft, rose quickly through the Rockies’ system, making a rushed debut in 2024. Despite a sizzling bat in Triple-A Albuquerque, Beck struggled in his short time with the Rockies before a broken wrist derailed his season and sapped his power potential.
He got a full run in 2025 and cemented himself as an everyday player for Schaeffer in the outfield. Beck had to learn and develop on the job, both at the plate and in the spacious ground a left fielder is required to cover at Coors Field.
There are hints of what Beck can do for the Rockies’ lineup. He led the team with 19 stolen bases and 43 walks. Finished second on the team in doubles (27) and runs scored (62), while tying for second in triples (5). Beck ended third in homers (16) and fourth in RBI (53).
While it ended up being a fairly solid season for him, there is still a major theme Beck and the Rockies are hoping to improve for 2026: consistency.
Consistency in the positive sense eluded the Rockies last season. A prime example for Beck was in the power department. After slugging three home runs in a doubleheader on April 24 and two more in a game at home on April 25th, it looked like Beck had found his power stroke. Unfortunately, the long ball made rare appearances the rest of the season as he averaged two home runs a month from May through September.
While the power may have lacked, Beck dabbled with impressive marks in other categories. He managed a .291 AVG against left-handed pitching and was a menace at Coors Field, where he hit .303/.348/.466 with 18 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 36 RBIs in 76 games. He also turned in a spectacular month of July by batting .314/.359/.442 with three doubles, one triple, two home runs, eight RBIs and two stolen bases.
However, Beck hit just .248/.309/.393 against righties and struggled to a .204/.280/.355 slashline on the road. Additionally, while his 29.6% strikeout rate was an improvement on his 2024 numbers, it’s still high,and he had a 31.2% whiff rate.
It’s these types of issues that have prompted the Rockies to overhaul the front office and coaching staff to work on getting the most out of their players. Rather than a cookie-cutter approach, the new staff is meeting players where they are and looking to improve from there, something Beck is appreciative of.
“I mean, there’s a lot, but at the same time, just go out there and be me,” he said. “I think that there’s being comfortable and letting the staff let you know, like, hey, we like what you do. Like, you go, be you out there, and we’ll figure it out and hone skills from there.”
But Beck and other players are eager to have the discussions about improvement and how to get better as players.
“Well, it’s been great. [It] feels like they’ve got full reins to coach and be able to get us to get better,” he said. “To be honest, I felt like this is new for us, but it’s also good, because I think a lot of us want to get better, and [we’re] finding different ways to get better, and I think there’s a lot of different approaches now to try and get better.”
Beck is already getting a taste of the team’s desire for adaptability and change. In his three Cactus League starts, he has started in right field. After playing the majority of his games in left field last season, Schaeffer feels it’s most ideal to move Beck to right with the addition of speedy outfielder Jake McCarthy to play the spacious expanse. While Beck is more than capable of covering all three outfield positions, the move should not only preserve him physically but also better utilize his abilities on both sides of the ball.
As a goal-oriented individual, Beck’s motives boil down to a simple foundation in 2026.
“I think everybody’s got the same goal, just stay healthy and then get into the season, get ready to play and win some games.”
As for the expectations for himself?
“Kinda do everything you can do to get the most out of yourself.”
If Beck can find his consistency and achieve his goals, the Rockies are in for a treat.
Affected by Altitude Episode 200: Welcome to Camp Schaeffer | Rocky Mountain Rooftop
This week, Evan Lang and I reflect on 200 episodes of Affected by Altitude before doing into the changes at spring training under Warren Schaeffer.
Spring Training Should Have Rockies Considering Jalen Beeks Reunion | Rockies on SI
I found this article interesting, not so much that I believe the club should bring Beeks back, but it does bring to mind that the Rockies could still make moves in spring training to improve the roster. Though the bullpen still seems set, unless something notable comes together or someone gets injured.
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