Renck: With the Rockies, wait til next year is not a reason for optimism, but a warning. They have strung together six consecutive losing seasons, including the past two with more than 100 losses. But 2025 was supposed to be different, a time when a core of young players began executing a slow U-turn to relevancy. Then this. The Rockies ownership and management asks fans to believe in their top prospects and outfielder Zac Veen gets demoted back to the minor leagues. Do the Rockies have a plan for this season or was something else going on with Veen’s demotion?
Keeler: My momma taught me to always be wary of two things: 1.) Zero-down mortgages; 2.) The Abby Greer Award given to the Rockies’ “spring training MVP.” Our hometown 9 presented Veen with the latter on Friday, had the 23-year-old pose for a bunch of very nice pictures with it, then demoted him on Sunday. Smart major-league front offices make personnel decisions based on who a player should be over the next 4-18 months. The Rockies make their moves based on who a player was 18 months ago — probably because that’s how long it takes the 1966 computer in Bill Schmidt’s Batcave to process the files. This is all very on-brand, actually. Sad, but on-brand.
Renck: After an injury-marred minor league career, Veen delivered in spring training. He has elite bat speed, and pure speed. He hit .279 with a .353 on-base percentage and nine stolen bases in 61 at-bats. By stashing Veen in Triple-A the first few weeks the Rockies can keep him under team control for an extra season. This looks like manipulation, suppression, whatever you want to call it. Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt told Patrick Saunders that Veen needs to “improve his consistency in a number of areas,” OK. Sure.
Keeler: Ah, yes. Service time games — the only games the Rockies know that they can consistently win. Meanwhile, Sam Hilliard (nice guy, they’re all nice guys, it’s the Rockies Way) went into Monday’s game with the Brewers hitting .125 in the spring with a .478 OPS in hitter-friendly Arizona, but by golly, he’s good to go. Kris Bryant: .143 average, .600 OPS, bring on the Rays! The Rockies have the Nuggets’ problem, only lamer: A manager who doesn’t love playing kids and a front office who, for cost and planning purposes, keeps shoving kids down said coach/manager’s throat. Which is how you get a season of watching Jurickson Profar sort of stagger around left field in Coors on one good knee.
Renck: The Rockies can counter with this: Veen is 23 and has 92 plate appearances in Triple-A. But here is the rub: Veen heads to the farm to make room for 34-year-old Nick Martini and backup center fielder Sam Hilliard, who has struck out 25 times in 48 Cactus League at-bats. Martini hit .212 last season, which means he profiles as the next Jake Cave, someone who will be just good enough to take away at-bats from prospects. And then you trade away Nolan Jones for super utility player Tyler Freeman? If Veen is not ready defensively — because there is no other reason for Hilliard to be on the team — then say it. Otherwise, play him.
