The Colorado Rockies have gone quiet as they have filled out most of their coaching staff and front office to begin the rebuild. There has been little news from 20th and Blake with the winter holidays making way for the end of 2025 and the start of 2026.
There will no doubt be much more to talk about with the Rockies as winter marches on and the date where pitchers and catchers report draws ever closer. There will be more hires, roster moves, and perhaps even a free agent or two that get signed. For
now, however, I’d like to reflect on some players likely to be on the 40-man roster on Opening Day.
Kyle Karros
2023 fifth round pick Kyle Karros made his big league debut in 2025 after a scorching hot ascent through the Rockies’ farm system. With former franchise face Ryan McMahon traded to the New York Yankees, there was suddenly a gaping hole at third base that needed an heir. Karros—a full six years on average younger than his teammates—had the potential to be that heir.
In 43 games—including 40 starts at the hot corner—Karros was one of just 11 Rockies players to turn in a replacement level or better performance with 0.0 wins above replacement per Baseball Reference.
Karros quickly showcased his defensive skills—long a focus of his development in both college and the minor leagues—after making his debut. Rockies fans have been spoiled for third base defense over the last decade with Nolan Arenado and Ryan McMahon flashing the leather. The former minor league Gold Glove Award winner picked up where his predecessors left off. In just 343 1/3 innings at third base, Karros was worth three defensive runs saved and four outs above average. These numbers are likely to improve with continued playing time and as he grows comfortable at the Major League level.
However, Karros’ offensive numbers showed a struggle to catch up with Major League pitching. He hit just .226/.308/.277 with four doubles and a home run in his first cup of coffee with the Rockies. Admittedly this was a bit of a disappointment after three strong offensive minor league seasons, including a blistering hot .306/.368/.500 with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes shortly before being called up.
We know Karros has power potential after his 15 home run MVP season with the High-A Spokane Indians in 2024, and he still has some growing to do in order to fill out his 6’5” frame. If the Rockies’ new hitting coach Brett Pill and assistant hitting coach Jordan Pacheco can help his bat continue to develop, Karros could use the 2026 season to make third base his for the foreseeable future.
Chase Dollander
In a miserable 2025 season, the Major League debut of highly touted pitching prospect Chase Dollander might have been one of the biggest individual disappointments.
After just one full minor league season in 2024—split between High-A Spokane and the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats—the 2023 first round pick did not originally make the big league roster out of spring training. However, he was quickly called into action just one week into the season and made his first Major League start on April 6th.
Dollander showcased his potential in an exciting win against the Sacramento Athletics, striking out six batters with just one walk over five innings. He did give up two home runs, but there was little else to complain about.
Unfortunately, much of the rest of his season was a difficult one. Although he book-ended his season with high notes, much of the middle was filled with struggles.
Dollander led all rookie starting pitchers on the team with 21 starts and posted a rough 6.52 ERA over 98 innings. At Coors Field he looked frequently uncomfortable. In the Mile High City he posted an unsightly 9.88 ERA over 42 innings and gave up 12 home runs across his 11 home starts.
He often struggled to locate his pitches and walked 49 batters. Opposing hitters teed off on his four-seam fastball, hitting 13 home runs off of the pitch when it was frequently left in the middle of the zone. He also gave up plenty of contact on all but one of his secondary pitches. Opponents hit just .161 and slugged .207 against his curveball—making it his only pitch with a batting average against of lower than .280—with only two extra-base hits.
Dollander will almost certainly see big league playing time in 2026. While he is no longer a rookie, his development is still very much a work in progress. The new pitching coaching and development staff will need to work closely with the former top prospect to get his development back on track and help him become the ace the rebuilding Rockies desperately need.
Adael Amador
It’s coming up on do or die time for infielder Adael Amador, if it hasn’t arrived already. The former top prospect has now had two cups of coffee with the Major League team, and neither has gone particularly well. In 51 games he has hit .176/.242/.250 with nine extra-base hits, 10 RBIs, and 33 strikeouts to 12 walks.
Amador had a perfectly cromulent minor league season with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes in 2025. He hit .303/.405/.478 with 16 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, and 59 RBIs. He stole 20 bases and walked more times than he struck out over 80 games.
When multiple injuries in the Rockies infield tested the team’s depth, Amador was given another opportunity at the big league level, including a few weeks of consistent starting time after Warren Schaeffer took over for Bud Black as manager in May. However, he was unable to find his footing.
Amador hit just .177/.256/.265 across 113 at-bats with seven doubles and his first career Major League home run. Much like his last big league sample size, his plate discipline suffered and he struck out more often.
Amador has spent the winter with Las Águilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican Winter League. In 25 games he has hit .182/.323/.273 with one double and two home runs as one of the youngest members of the team. He has also drawn 16 walks to 13 strikeouts.
The Rockies’ former top infield prospect and potential heir to second base is only 22-years-old. However, he also has just one option remaining and has lost significant opportunities to other prospects like Ryan Ritter. With a new front office installed for the upcoming season, Amador will need to prove he can still be a part of the Rockies’ future.
Karros, Dollander, and Amador are just a few examples of young Rockies with big league service time that need to take their next step forward in 2026. Who would you like to see do the same? Let us know in the comments.
A 2026 bounceback candidate for each team | MLB.com
After our painfully long “Ranking the Rockies” series this year showcased, there are plenty of Rockies players in need of a bounce back in 2026. MLB.com and Thomas Harding highlight shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who missed substantial time due to to injury during the 2025 campaign.
Prospects who broke out—1 for every team—this season | MLB.com
The MLB Pipeline crew—Sam Dykstra, Jonathan Mayo, and Jim Callis—over at MLB.com have taken a look at prospects who broke out in 2025 for each MLB team. When it comes to the Rockies, they chose third baseman Kyle Karros. Karros built on a fantastic 2024 campaign with strong performances in Double-A Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque, eventually earning himself a big league debut. Though as we discussed in today’s Rockpile, Karros will need to take another step forward in 2026.
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