You don’t need me to tell you this, but 2025’s been a rollercoaster of a year for your Colorado Rockies.
The team has set dubious distinctions with their on-field play, frequently being compared to some of the worst teams in the history of the sport of baseball and finding themselves in the bottom of most statistical categories. With one of the tougher slate of games left to play, they’ll likely be fortunate to find themselves avoiding matching the record of the woeful White Sox of last year. Injuries,
poor play, and inconsistent results have made this season one of the most draining in the franchise’s lifetime.
It’s been tough.
One of the things I’ve noticed this season has been just how tough it’s been for the players. I find that folks often forget – or intentionally ignore – the human element of sports and their players, especially in a game as analytical and insular as baseball. With so many games being played and so many hundreds of players in the league and minor league systems, it can be hard to consider the emotional state of the men that take part in each of these contests. And yet, this year, we’ve been reminded just how intense the grind can be.
We recall Kyle Freeland’s emotional postgame press conference where, after seeing his team fall to 6-30 on the year, he implored Rockies fans to keep believing in them amid a brutal start. It was clearly a conversation filled with emotional weight for the left-hander, who has been known for passionate, vocal outbursts in the past.
This was not that.
This was a desperate plea from a hometown kid, playing for his local team, who found himself in the middle of possibly the most brutal stretch of baseball he’d ever seen. It was clear, at this moment, that it had all affected Freeland on a personal level, and I don’t blame him.
Kris Bryant wasn’t able to hold back his own emotions when, in the early days of the season, he was once again placed on the injured list amid continuous more back issues. Seemingly trying to convince himself as much as us that he wasn’t done playing baseball, Bryant was almost brought to tears as he detailed the pain he was in as he dealt with a degenerative back disease.
With his Rockies tenure – and the contract associated with it – having been a point of intense contention for fans in recent years, this made the interview all the more impactful. There was much said about Bryant after this news came to light, but regardless of your personal opinion of the beleaguered slugger, it was tough to see the former National League MVP now attempting to make sense of a situation with no clear outcome, and seemingly doing his best to assure us – and himself – that he’d be back.
Then, of course, is the recent Austin Gomber news. Gomber, famously the sole remaining piece of the Nolan Arenado trade, had been a solid, functional member of Colorado’s rotation in previous years. Now, in August of 2025, he was experiencing the most trying to season of his professional career. After yet another tough outing, this time at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Gomber spoke candidly about how lost he felt after the start.
And again, here was a professional baseball player – one of these seemingly stone-faced, unflappable athletes – laid low by the trials and tribulations of the struggles of a Major League pitcher. The toll that this season has taken was apparent, and it’s understandable that Gomber would be feeling some type of way in these dog days of summer. This was something different.
And the saddest part? This is seemingly how his story ended, at least with the Rockies. When the news came out that Gomber had been placed on outright waivers, this interview came flashing into my mind. All of the years of preparation, training, grinding, to make it to the Majors – having his time with Colorado end in this way just didn’t seem fair.
Obviously, I don’t blame the Rockies for the move. Despite their extreme win-loss record, they’re trying to field a competitive team every day, and as he was in that moment, Gomber wasn’t at the level they wanted him to be. It’s purely a me thing, though, to always consider the emotional side of these kinds of transactions, and the fact that there was such a visceral conversation the night before his departure just sort of hit me.
So what’s my point? In relaying these sad tales, what am I trying to convince you of? Well… nothing, really. I’m more relaying these stories because I think it’s important to remember that, yes, this season has been rough on us fans for myriad reasons, but it’s also been tough on these players. No one wants to play on a bad team, much less a historically-significant one, and I’m sure these last few weeks feel like ages amidst the travel, games, and general grind.
The players, like us, will take whatever small victories they can get.
On the Farm
Triple-A: Las Vegas Aviators 9, Albuquerque Isotopes 3
The Isotopes had their opportunities, but couldn’t capitalize enough to catch up to the Aviators as they fell 9-3.
Albuquerque tallied a respectable 12 hits – just one less than Las Vegas – but went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base, squandering their chance to match the offensive output of their opponents. Gabriel Hughes also had a tough outing as allowed five runs (four earned) in 3 1/3 innings, surrendering six hits and walking three while committing an error.
On the positive side, Drew Romo collected three hits, while Owen Miller and Sam Hilliard each had multi-hit performances. Karl Kauffmann also tossed 2 1/3 scoreless relief innings as he continues his bid for an MLB appearance.
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats vs Someserset Patriots postponed
The scheduled contest between the Hartford Yard Goats and Somerset Patriots was delayed due to rain (boy, we could use some of that, huh Denver folks?). As such, the teams will meet in a doubleheader on Thursday, with the makeup game being the second of the two.
High-A: Everett AquaSox 11, Spokane Indians 2
Spokane’s pitching staff was overwhelmed by Everett’s bats, who ran wild in the game’s latter half en route to an easy win. Everett Catlett allowed four runs in five innings, while Hunter Mann, Albert Pacheco, and Alan Perdomo all surrendered at least two runs each. The Indians could muster just six hits in response, with Aidan Longwell’s two-RBI triple serving as their lone offensive highlight.
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies 5, San Jose Giants 4
The Grizzlies scored in just one inning, but that was enough as a five-run sixth frame lifted them to victory over the Giants.
Roldy Brito’s three hits were tops on the day, while Kelvin Hidalgo and Roynier Hernandez each knocked in two runs. Marcos Herrera’s four runs allowed in five innings set up Fresno’s bullpen, who combined to allow just one sole hit amid four scoreless frames to seal the win.
Our friend Kevin Henry looks to the future, detailing the high praise that exciting young prospect Ethan Holliday is garnering.
What Austin Gomber’s Placement on Outright Waivers Means for Rockies | Sports Illustrated
After Gomber’s departure, Sports Illustrated discusses what that means for the team, and who may be next up to take his spot.
Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!
