THIS IS A GUEST ROCKPILE BY JAMES RIGGENBACH
In baseball, we talk about the hit tool, the power tool, the five-tool player. Every scouting report is an attempt to answer the same question: What skills does this player bring to the field, and what could the player become?
On the position player side, those tools are well defined and broken down into five categories:
- Hit
- Power
- Run
- Arm
- Field
With the Rockies firmly in the “under construction” stage of a rebuild, I thought it would be fun to take a step back from pure results
and look at something else: What tools are in the Rockies’ toolbox right now?
Some of these tools are brand new. Some have been around for a while. Some are works in progress. And not all of them have translated into consistent production — but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth our attention.
So instead of focusing only on output (AVG, HR, RBI), I wanted to dig a little deeper into the underlying quality of the tools the Rockies currently possess, using Statcast markers like whiff rate, chase rate, exit velocity, and sprint speed to highlight tools that are either elite or emerging.
Let’s start with the foundation of any lineup.
The Hit Tool
A good hit tool is the ability to make consistent contact, control the zone, and make strong swing decisions. This is an area the Rockies have long sought to improve, and there are a few names that stand out.
Tyler Freeman has elite contact ability, producing a 12.5% whiff rate (97th percentile) and an 11.9% strikeout rate (94th percentile) in 2025.
Recent trade acquisition Edouard Julien doesn’t have Freeman’s bat-to-ball profile, but does show excellent plate discipline. Julien recorded a 19.8% chase rate and a 10.6% walk rate in 208 plate appearances last season. In 2023, he ranked in the 100th percentile in chase rate and the 98th percentile in walk rate.
These tools are much needed in the lineup.
The Power Tool
Power is the loudest tool. It doesn’t always come with consistency, but it matters — especially at Coors.
Hunter Goodman generates real pop when he makes contact, posting a 12.8% barrel rate (80th percentile) and a 46.9% hard-hit rate (72nd percentile) in 2025.
Mickey Moniak found the barrel at an even higher rate, producing a 13.8% barrel rate (85th percentile) and carrying an xSLG of .497 (90th percentile).
Additionally, Brenton Doyle posted a barrel rate in the 72nd percentile and ranked in the 81st percentile in sweet-spot rate. Even Ezequiel Tovar continues to grow into more pop, ranking in the 90th percentile in sweet-spot rate.
The power potential is emerging.
The Run Tool
Speed creates extra bases, forces mistakes, and can cause headaches for the opposing defense. This is a strength for the Rockies.
Jake McCarthy, Brenton Doyle, and Ryan Ritter all ranked in the 90th percentile or above in sprint speed, with McCarthy leading the way at 29.9 ft/sec (99th percentile).
Additionally, Freeman, Moniak, and Beck add sneaky impact sprint speed — with all three ranking in the 80th percentile or above.
The speed is real.
The Arm + Field Tools
Arm strength and defense keep games close and for a team trying to build, preventing runs matters just as much as scoring them.
Doyle’s arm is a weapon in center, ranking in the 97th percentile in arm strength — and his range continues to match the reputation — with 6 Outs Above Average (92nd percentile). Through an injury-riddled 2025, Tovar posted 3 OAA (83rd percentile), and in 2024 he reached another level entirely with 15 OAA (99th percentile).
This is elite defense at two premium positions.
Behind the plate, Goodman’s defense is developing. His blocking ranked in the 70th percentile, and his framing checked in at the 67th percentile, giving him a clearer foundation as an everyday catcher.
Putting the Tools to Work
When players combine multiple tools, amazing things can happen — Gold Gloves, Silver Sluggers, and everyday impact.
Other times, a tool is more one-dimensional but still incredibly useful: a pinch runner who changes a game with speed; a defensive replacement who saves a late lead; a power bat who only needs one swing.
The results may not be there yet, but the raw ingredients are — and 2026 is about learning how to use them.
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