Max Belyeu had ties to the Colorado Rockies organization long before he was selected 74th overall in the 2025 MLB Draft.
Assistant General Manager of Scouting Danny Montgomery said the Rockies had their eyes on Belyeu as far back as the summer of 2024, when he was in his second year at the University of Texas.
The Longhorns have become somewhat of a pipeline for the Rockies recently. That’s thanks in no small part to former Rockies legend Troy Tulowitzki, who is an assistant coach and hitting coach in Austin.
Tulowitzki may want little to do personally with the Rockies organization after how his tenure ended, but that hasn’t stopped him from helping his players in Texas find and pursue a big league path with his former team.
“We talked to Tulo often,” said Rockies Senior Director of Scouting Operations Marc Gustafson. “We know what this player is all about. We know he’s built right. We know he’s made right. We know he has the swing that has the characteristics.”
That player was Belyeu, a big-bodied, slugging outfielder.
“Obviously Tulo was with the Rockies for a very long time, so he’s taught me what it meant to be a Rockie,” Belyeu said. “And then obviously with JT being in the system and learning from him, it’s just two great resources that I feel really helped me get a head start to my career.”
“JT” is outfielder Jared Thomas—currently with the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats—Belyeu’s friend and former teammate and another Rockies prospect that worked closely with Tulowitzki.
“It was a lot of mentality stuff,” Belyeu explained of his work with Tulowitzki. “That’s the stuff I really like getting from it. And then some hitting stuff, some approach stuff in the box.”
Belyeu credits Tulowitzki and being a part of a strong Texas program under head coach Jim Schlossnagle for teaching him how to be a competitor.
“Walking away from there, I really learned how to be in the moment and just kind of be like a savage up there playing,” Belyeu said. “I learned how much it can really benefit you when you’re so locked into the game and just trying to out-compete everybody else on that field that you’re up against.”
Belyeu already had a head start in the organization with friends and former teammates Thomas and 2024 fifth round pick Lebarron Johnson Jr. there to greet him. However, he’s also been quick to make new friends since reporting for duty at the team’s Arizona Complex.
“When I was down at the complex I really bonded with Ethan Holliday, Ethan Hedges, Tanner Thach, Matt Klein, and even some pitchers like Antoine Jean,” he said. “It was cool to learn from their experiences up until this point and hear how their minds work within the game of baseball.”
He has especially bonded with third baseman Ethan Hedges, who was selected by the Rockies just three picks later. Hedges joined Belyeu when he was assigned to the High-A Spokane Indians to start his professional career.
“Me and my buddy—he was down there with me—Ethan Hedges, we hopped on a plane together and flew up here [to Spokane]. and now we’re in the fire playing games!”
The significance of being assigned directly to High-A Spokane was not lost on Belyeu. While some could see it as a challenge from the organization, he chose to see things differently.
“You could also see it as a lot of belief, which I really respect and I think it’s awesome.”
Belyeu has made an immediate impact in the Indians lineup. In his first ten professional games he’s already hit three home runs and has five RBIs. He’s also drawn seven walks, scored nine times, and even stolen two bases.
“My mentality in these first couple of games was to just be myself,” Belyeu said. “I wanted to show them what I could do, but I would definitely say I’m not trying to force anything. I’m just trying to go out there and play my game.”
One of a select few 2025 draft picks to be playing on a minor league assignment, Belyeu wants to use this opportunity not only to play meaningful baseball, but to prepare himself for his first full season next year.
“I want to feel comfortable up there in the box, make sure that I’m competing,” he said. “And I really want to hone in on my approach so that next year I’m prepared. It’s nice just being able to be out here early and see all this stuff right now to prepare me.”
Belyeu (no. 15 PuRP) is prepared for the plate, but what of his reps in the outfield?
His outfield defense was an underrated part of his pre-draft profile with good speed and a strong, accurate throwing arm.
MLB Network’s Dan O’Dowd described Belyeu as a “plus right fielder with a plus arm. A stud athlete… and he has got a rocket for an arm.”
However, Belyeu knows he has work to do if he wants his defense to stand out among other outfield prospects.
“I think what I need to improve on is balls in front of me,” Belyeu explained. “Maybe it has some top spin… just learning how to read those better and knowing the situation of the game, whether I need to go out there and make a play or just lay low and catch it off the hop.”
But don’t mistake his acknowledgement of a need to improve as a lack of confidence from the new prospect.
“I feel like I can play all three positions. I think my strengths are that I’ve got a really good arm, and I think I’m good at going balls.”
“I’m good at when balls are hit behind me and I gotta go run them down,” he clarified.
Weekly Pebble Report: August 19th-August 25th
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (3-3, 52-73 Overall)
The Isotopes had a solid series against the Las Vegas Aviators (Sacramento Athletics), splitting the set at three games each. Playoffs are pretty much out of the question for the ‘Topes, but with 24 games left they still have plenty of time to improve on their dismal final 2024 record and push as close to .500 as possible.
⬆️ Stock Up: Could Romo see a promo?
Catcher Drew Romo (no. 24 PuRP) had another strong week at the plate and continues to look ready for another call to the big league roster. Romo went 8-for-16 against the Aviators with a double and a home run while striking out just twice in four games behind the dish.
⬆️ Stock Up: Double-A knows how to hit in Triple-A
Adael Amador is pushing for a late-season call-up and another crack at the bigs this season after an excellent week against the Aviators. In five games he went 9-for-29 at the plate with two doubles, a triple, a home run, nine RBIs, three walks to two strikeouts, and three stolen bases. During Friday’s contest he was just a double shy of the cycle in a 4-for-5 effort.
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats (5-1, 62-57 Overall)
A five-game series win against the rival Somerset Patriots (New York Yankees) was just what the Yard Goats needed as the end of the season is in sight. Hartford is neck-and-neck with Somerset for the Northeast division lead and a date with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets) in September.
⬆️ Stock Up: The Condor Rises
Charlie Condon (no. 2 PuRP) is healthy, heating up, and appears to have tapped into the power that makes him such a tantalizing prospect. In six games against Somerset he went 7-for-19 with a triple and four home runs—including two in one game—while drawing four walks to five strikeouts.
⬆️ Stock Up: What can Brown do for you?
McCade Brown (no. 26 PuRP) made headlines for making his MLB debut over the weekend straight from Double-A. Just days before, he was busy mowing down Somerset batters. In his start against the Patriots he gave up just one hit over six scoreless innings and struck out eight batters on his way to a Pitcher of the Week title!
High-A: Spokane Indians (4-2, 55-65 Overall)
The clock is ticking for the Indians, who are 12 games back of the Northwest League lead with exactly 12 games left to play. They took four-of-six against the Everett Aqua Sox (Seattle Mariners), who would be their playoff opponent should they go on a run—and have several things go their way luck-wise.
⬆️ Stock Up: The Fish Man just keeps swimming
When he’s not busy jumping into ice cold Spokane rivers, Griffin Herring (no. 14 PuRP) is dominating on the mound. Under the watchful eye of his fellow finned biped Ribby the Redband Trout, Herring has an ERA of just 1.71 since joining the Rockies organization. He made two fantastic starts against the Aqua Sox, pitching 10 total innings and tallying 15 strikeouts while yielding just two runs (one earned) on three hits.
⬆️ Stock Up: Nothing Grosz about this one!
Josh Grosz (no. 28 PuRP) finally had something click after a rough start to his tenure with the Rockies organization. In his start against the Aqua Sox he went 6 1/3 innings while giving up three earned runs on six hits. He looked sharp through his first four innings, keeping Everett off the board, but did start to find himself in trouble late in the game. With one out in the seventh inning he gave up back-to-back solo home runs. However, Grosz also showcased his strikeout stuff by fanning nine batters.
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (5-1, 63-57 Overall)
After dominating the San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants), the Fresno Grizzlies now find themselves atop the California League by two games. With twelve games left to play, the Grizzlies will have a spot in the post-season if they can keep up their success.
⬆️ Stock Up: Get wrecked by Brecht
Brody Brecht’s first full professional season has been a damn good one so far. In 14 starts he’s posted a 2.83 ERA with a whopping 74 strikeouts over 47 2/3 innings. Against the Giants he was once again locked in. Brecht (no. 5 PuRP) spun five shutout innings and struck out five batters.
⬆️ Stock Up: He’s baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!
I honestly don’t know what to tell you. Roldy Brito is the guy who just keeps going. Brito (no. 29 PuRP) has been recognized by me almost every week since the Arizona Complex League and he’s just not slowing down. Brito went 11-for-27 against the Giants with a triple and two stolen bases. He’s hitting .387/.452/.904 since joining the Grizzlies after being the team’s MVP in Arizona.
Prospect of the Week!
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