It’s the dead of winter and aside from some minor placeholder moves the Rockies offseason has been about as quiet as the Oakland Coliseum during a mid-July day game (RIP Oakland A’s). So let’s spice things up a bit and have some fun.
Here are 25 predictions to kick off 2025.
- The Rockies will have a 72-90 record.
I know, I know, it’s bold of me to assume that the Rockies will avoid another 100-loss season while returning largely the same lineup as 2024. But the big difference that gives me hope in 2025 is the bullpen.
Last season the Rockies bullpen had the worst ERA in baseball (5.41). But when they finally brought up most of their young arms to get work consistently, the new guys were superb.
Entering the final series of the season the Rockies rookie relievers Luis Peralta (0.00), Seth Halvorsen (0.00), Jaden Hill (4.50), Jeff Criswell (2.30) and Angel Chivilli (3.29), all age 24 or younger, combined for a 2.62 ERA (68.2 IP, 20 ER) with 66 strikeouts.
“It got to a point later in the year where if we had a lead late in the seventh forward we were pretty confident we were winning the game” Rockies star centerfielder Brenton Doyle said during an interview with DNVR earlier this offseason.
If the Rockies bullpen can be even a smidge better than last year (again, bar is set low) I’m positive they will bump their wins up a bit in 2025.
- Chase Dollander will make his MLB debut in the month of May.
Feel too early? Rockies General Manager Bill Schmidt doesn’t seem to think so. During our conversations in Dallas at the annual MLB Winter Meetings he repeatedly offered the hint that Dollander would be given a full chance to make the team with a big league invite.
The main reason I would see them holding off on Dollander is to preserve his rookie status by waiting until the rookie cutoff. I get that matters to some people, but it shouldn’t to the Rockies.
The Rockies are in need of some fireworks (not the literal kind, we have plenty of those). I wouldn’t be shocked if we see the most anticipated prospect in the system wearing purple pinstripes by May.
- Do we win our first game? No.
Rockies will be playing their first game of 2025 at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa Florida, a day after the regular season kicks off for every other team. This is because of the damage inflicted on Tropicana Field by Hurricane Milton that will force the Rays to play their games at the Yankees Spring Training stadium.
The combination of a weird start date, playing in a spring training park, and just the all-around circus of this game will be too much for the Rockies to overcome, in my humble opinion.
- Who is the biggest pitching surprise (positively) for the Rockies in 2025? Ryan Feltner.
Feltner had the best ERA (4.49) of all the Rockies starters in 2024 and also had the highest K% (19.9%). Hoping to see a breakout year for the young hurler.
- Nolan Jones will bounce back to shades of former self.
It’s no surprise the Rockies need all the help they can get to win games in 2025. A big piece of that is going to be the state of Nolan Jones, who last year underwent a big case of sophomore slumps.
Jones, who had a rookie-of-the-year-type 2023 season, fell off in 2024. Both hitting and fielding took a big dip while he battled through injuries and the birth of his first child.
Anyone who saw Jones play in 2023 though knows he’s a stud. He knows how much pressure is on him to get back to his former self next season and from some of the conversations I’ve had with his teammates, they all say he is one of the hardest workers on the roster.
I have faith in Mr. Nolan Jones to come back strong in 2025.
- Michael “Big Mike” Toglia will be in the Gold Glove conversation in 2025.
I’m shocked I still have to argue with people on this. Sure, Michael Toglia can hit the ball 500 feet, but anyone who knows baseball– specifically first base– is almost always more impressed by his defensive ability.
Take Todd Helton for example, a decent first baseman in his day I’ve been told. During his media availability in 2024 Helton credited Toglia as being “years ahead of me at his age” in terms of his natural talent and skills at first base. If you might remember, Helton ended up winning three Gold Gloves with the Rockies during his Hall of Fame career.
Despite Toglia not meeting the minimum play requirements in 2024 to be eligible for the award, his numbers were still solid.
Among all National League first basemen Toglia finished with 10 Defensive Runs Saved, which was more than Gold Glover Christian Walker (7) and second only behind Matt Olsen (13).
Mark my words, if healthy, Toglia will be in the running for a Gold Glove in 2025.
Alright, for the sake of time (and my sore fingers) these next six predictions I’m going to rattle off and give context afterwards.
- Brenton Doyle will win his third consecutive Gold Glove Award.
- Thairo Estrada will exceed expectations defensively up the middle with Tovar
- Zac Veen will overtake Jordan Beck to lock down the remaining outfield position.
- Ryan McMahon will be in the trade conversation again by the trade deadline.
- The Rockies will have two All-Star nominations (Doyle & Tovar)
- Kyle Farmer will end up catching in at least one game (crazy if true).
The main prediction I want to acknowledge here is number 10. I know this can be a controversial topic because we all love Ryan McMahon. But every year comes to pass and we all think maybe the Rockies will salvage the trade value left in his contract and get some pieces for him. And every year the Rockies refuse to budge.
Although it pains me to say it, I’m nervous that McMahon’s bat will never get back to its true form. He struggled immensely after the 2024 All-Star game and at the end of the season Bud Black mentioned shortening his workload in 2025 to avoid burnout.
His defense is still top notch, landing him a 2024 Gold Glove nomination which is why I think there will be considerable conversations in 2025 about what value the Rockies might be able to get from the former All-Star.
Let’s wrap it up with the remaining 13 predictions for 2025.
- Aside from Jacob Stallings, Hunter Goodman picks up the most innings at catcher (Romo needs to get his bat going).
- Jaden Hill finishes with the best bullpen ERA.
- Seth Halvorsen becomes the new closer.
- Of the new signings (Estrada, Herget, Farmer) Estrada will end up having the most successful season with the Rockies (mostly because he will play more).
- Of the new signings, Herget will struggle the most as he navigates his stuff at Coors Field.
- Brenton Doyle will solidify himself as the permanent leadoff hitter for the Rockies.
- Charlie Condon will end up in Hartford by the end of the season.
- Bud Black will get upset with a reporter for asking about minor league prospects before a game at least 5+ times (IYKYK).
- Rockies average attendance will be less than last year’s average of 31,000.
- The new City Connect jerseys will contain the Colorado flag (but not 5280).
- A game will get delayed or cancelled due to snow at least once. (The last time the Rockies had to reschedule a game because of snow was also on a Friday: May 20th, 2022.)
- Charlie Blackmon will be the celebrity guest for the Savannah Bananas (speaking this into existence).
- An NL West team will win the World Series. You be the judge of who you think that will be.
Woof. Lots of predictions. If I get more than 50% right that’s huge for me.
I’m going to go dunk my fingers in some ice now and look forward to Fan Fest.
Remember, baseball is just a month away! Happy 2025 Rockies fans.
