2025 was a trying year for both the Colorado Rockies and their fans. A 43-119 record is nothing to brush aside, and hopefully signifies rock bottom for a franchise that exists in the same city as the Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets and Denver Broncos.
However, 2026 is a clean slate. There have been a lot of changes in the front office since the end of the season, but the talk means nothing until they walk the walk. Here are some things that they should strive for in 2026:
The Rockies pitching was abysmal in 2025. In total, their 6.65 rotation ERA ranked 30th and their 5.18 bullpen ERA ranked 29th. Ryan Feltner, despite only pitching in six games, led the rotation with a 4.75 ERA. Kyle Freeland pitched 31 games and posted a 5-17 record and 4.98 ERA. Pitching at Coors Field has always been a challenge, but this year was especially awful for the Rockies.
When he was first hired, PBO Paul DePodesta was asked how he planned to address the pitching challenge at Coors Field. So far, the Rockies have signed RHP Garrett Acton, LHP Parker Mushinski, LHP Adam Laskey, RHP John Brebbia, RHP Eiberson Castellano; traded for LHP Brennan Bernardino; and added RHP RJ Petit and RHP TJ Shook in the Rule 5 Draft.
At the moment, they all seem like possible reclamation projects. And with new hires from the Dodgers (who seemingly specialize in reclamation projects), perhaps a few of them will stick. But it’s easy to say that better pitching will be a key to success in 2026.
Coors Field has always been the butt of jokes about how much of a launching pad it is, or how it’s like “hitting on the moon.” However, in 2025, the Rockies ranked towards the bottom in nearly every offensive category. Their 160 home runs ranked 25th while the Yankees’ 274 ranked first. Their 597 runs scored finished 29th above the Pirates’ 583. Their 6.7% BB% ranked last while their 27.1% K% ranked second behind the Angels (27.1%). In triple slash, they ranked 23rd/30th/24th (.237/.293/.386). Comparatively, in 2024 they ranked 15th in home runs (179), 20th in runs scored (682), and 18th in batting average (.242). It was a noticeable dip. Hunter Goodman and Mickey Moniak were the only two Rockies to hit 20+ home runs.
With a new set of coaches eager to crack the code of Coors Field, especially the guy made famous by Moneyball, perhaps they can find ways to manufacture more runs in 2026.
If nothing else, the Rockies have been known for their defense over the years. Nolan Arenado won eight-straight Gold Gloves, and the Rockies have won at least one Gold Glove every year since 2010 (minus 2021). However, they did not have one in 2025. Ryan McMahon was a finalist for the fifth time, despite being traded to the Yankees mid-season, but he did not win again.
As a team, the Rockies ranked 30th in DRS (-59) and 26th in OAA (-26). They also committed 110 errors — second most in the league. In 2024, they committed just 82 errors. Defense has always been a stalwart on this Rockies team, but even that went by the wayside in 2025.
Warren Schaeffer spent 2023 and 2024 as an infield coach before becoming manager in 2025. He places an emphasis on fundamentals and defense, so hopefully that’ll translate back in 2026.
More transparency with fans and better relationships with other teams
The Rockies have always been known as an insular team that asks too much of other teams when trying to make a deal. Before hiring Paul DePodesta, Dick Monfort had not held a formal press conference since the end of the 2021 season. Bill Schmidt was available, but he was hard to pin down sometimes. So far, DePodesta seems open with the press and the fans. And in his hiring of Warren Schaeffer — a proud communicator — and Josh Byrnes, that seems to be changing. Walker Monfort even visited DNVR — something that wasn’t heard of before. Perhaps 2026 will be the year that the front office is more visible and transparent than we’ve seen in a while, which should help fans feel more at ease with the things happening at 20th and Blake.
What are your 2026 New Year’s resolutions? What do you think the players’ resolutions should be? Let us know!
For the Rockies, it’s making sure Charlie Condon is ready as their next first baseman. They don’t have a whole lot of other options.
It was a weird year for the Rockies, but Sarah Langs always comes up with interesting stats. For the Rockies, “On Aug. 1, the Rockies allowed nine runs in the first inning to the Pirates but still went on to win, 17-16. They became the sixth team to win after allowing at least nine runs in the first inning in MLB history, per Elias. They joined Cleveland on Aug. 23, 2006, the Phillies on June 8, 1989, the Phillies on Sept. 30, 1913, the Reds on May 17, 1896, and the Cleveland Blues on June 21, 1884.”
And what a game that was!
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