The Colorado Rockies always select a lot of pitchers in each year’s Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. 2025 was no exception, as they drafted 14. However, it was Jonathan Bailey “JB” Middleton from the University of Southern Mississippi that was their first off the board.
The Mississippi native’s freshman season at Southern Mississippi was a difficult one. He dealt with a foot injury and struggled on the mound. Coming mostly out of the bullpen in eight appearances he gave up ten runs—nine earned—in
9 1/3 innings and yielded three home runs. Although with 11 strikeouts the potential was there.
“I had a few bumps my freshman year, which was good for me, because I was learning how to be resilient,” Middleton said. “I had a lot more games where I didn’t succeed my freshman year than games I did.”
Middleton had a solid sophomore season, once again pitching mostly out of the bullpen to the tune of a 4.34 ERA over 24 appearances with 45 strikeouts over 37 1/3 innings of work. He continued to work on building up his strength and arm talent.
It was his 2025 junior season when Middleton exploded onto the scene. In his first full year as the Golden Eagles’ Friday starter he went 10-1 with a 2.31 ERA in 16 starts. He struck out a whopping 122 strikeouts to 25 walks in his 105 1/3 innings of work.
“I think just being able to go out on Friday nights and do everything that I could to put us in that win column to start out the weekends [was the highlight of my year],” Middleton told Purple Row at this year’s fall instructs, “Being able to just have the camaraderie with all my teammates, and just that kind of chemistry that we all had, it was, it was really special being in locker room with a bunch of guys. It’s all pushing towards the same goal.”
Middleton finished his season with the second best WHIP among all NCAA pitchers at 0.85 and his 122 strikeouts were the sixth-most. He was named an All-American, named to the All Sun Belt team, and was a semi-finalist for both the Dick Howser and Golden Spikes awards.
The Rockies were already aware of Middleton, but now he was firmly on their draft board both for his performance and for his pitches. His four seam fastball is a lively one with elite carry. It sits mid-90s but can top out at 97 MPH and either rise to the top of the strike zone or sink to generate swings and misses. He also works with a mid-to-high 80s plus changeup with sharp arm-side tumble that can also draw chases.
However, it’s Middleton’s wipeout slider that truly turns heads. The pitch sits in the upper 80s with plenty of depth and is by far his hardest to hit.
“I think it tunnels pretty well off my fastball,” Middleton said of his slider. “It’s not a big sweepy pitch, it’s but it’s something that has some late break, and it’s able to get a lot of swing and miss.”
Middleton plans to keep fine-tuning the pitch heading into his first professional season.
“Right now it’s going to carry that in the off season, continuing to work on that and develop it, and have the consistency and feel with that.”
The Rockies drafted Middleton with the 45th overall pick in this year’s draft.
“I was nervous whole day, but I got to enjoy it with my family and a few friends. So it was pretty cool,” he said of the experience. “I kind of hung around and just waited it out, and I got one phone call from my agent, and, that was kind of it. It was a pretty surreal moment being able to enjoy that with my family and everybody that’s been with me along the way.”
Pitching for the Rockies is a tough task. Their player development has struggled to produce big league pitchers, and even in the best case scenarios the environment—and changes of environment for road games—makes it difficult. However, when Middleton met with the Rockies at the pre-draft combine he felt the team was a good match for him.
“You just really don’t know what’s going to happen, but I had it in the back of my mind,” Middleton said. “After my meeting with them at the Combine, I knew that’s a place that I would love to be. When I got the call [on draft day], it was, ‘It all worked out.’”
“I want to pitch there. Make a career out of it,” he boldly proclaimed.
Middleton, 21, knows his success isn’t guaranteed, but his eagerness to face the challenge head-on is refreshing.
“I’m always up for a challenge, and it’s not a pitcher friendly park,” he explained to Purple Row. “But, you know, learning to be resilient, and know[ing] that it’s going to be tough, but being up for that challenge ultimately, and being able to conquer that. Just do good things.”
While Middleton doesn’t know where he will be assigned for his first professional season in 2026, he’s going to spend his off-season preparing so he can make good on his words.
“[My goal is to] just get my body moving back in the in the way it’s supposed to be after taking a little time off,” he said. “So finding that rhythm and tempo and of course, get my arm back in shape, getting ready to go.”
Weekly Pebble Report: October 21st-October 27th
Arizona Fall League: Salt River Rafters (3-3, 8-8 Overall)
The Salt River Rafters enjoyed three blowout victories—one against the Glendale Desert Dogs and two against the Mesa Solar Sox—but ultimately finished the week at an even 3-3 to stay at .500 for the Fall League so far. Coming into this week they are tied with the Peoria Javelinas at three games back in the standings.
⬆️ Stock Up: The Condor continues to fly in the desert.
Charlie Condon (no. 2 PuRP) may not have hit a home run this week, but he simply continues to hit unabated. Condon went 10-for-20 at the plate with a double, two RBIs, and seven runs. He also drew an even five walks to five strikeouts across the five games he appeared in.
⬆️ Stock Up: Buffing the Dents out.
Right-handed reliever Cade Denton had an excellent outing this week, pitching two scoreless innings against the Scottsdale Scorpions. He gave up two hits, but didn’t walk a batter and recorded all six of his outs via the punchout.
Winter Ball Updates
- RHP Victor Juarez (no. 44 PuRP): Aguilas de Mexicali, Mexican Pacific Winter League (Mexico)
- 1.50 ERA in two appearances (6.0 innings) with 2 walks and three strikeouts.
- 2B Adael Amador: Aguilas Cibaenas, LIDOM (Dominican Republic)
- 3-for-15 in five games with two RBIs, two runs, two walks, four strikeouts, and an RBI.
- LHP Felix Ramires: Aguilas Cibaenas, LIDOM (Dominican Republic)
- 13.50 ERA in one appearance (2/3 inning) with one walk and no strikeouts.
- INF Julio Carreras: Gigantes del Cibao, LIDOM (Dominican Republic)
- 0-for9 in three games with three strikeouts.
- RHP Yujanyer Herrera (no. 36 PuRP): Cardenales de Lara, LVBP (Venezuela)
- 0.00 ERA in three appearances (3 2/3 innings) with one walk and five strikeouts.
- C Jose Cordova: Tiburones de La Guaira, LVBP (Venezuela)
- 0-for-3 in one game with one walk and one strikeout.
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