BSN Exclusive: Inside the philosophy that sets the Rockies apart

ALBUQUERQUE, Nm. -The last time the Colorado Rockies sent out a starting pitcher that didn’t have a pedigree linked to the Albuquerque Isotopes was September 25, 2017.

Tyler Chatwood made the start that day and since then Colorado has played 168 consecutive games with an Isotopes alum on the hill.

On Opening Day 2019, Kyle Freeland will make the streak 169 games and the number will continue to rise for the foreseeable future.

Playing a large role in this development of young starting pitchers is Senior Director of Player Development Zach Wilson. 

Speaking with BSN Denver, Wilson discussed his pleasure in watching the homegrown rotation for the Colorado Rockies put up such an impressive streak.

“That’s the biggest reward of my job and all of our coaches jobs, our other front office staff, that’s the biggest reward for us,” Wilson said before watching two full rosters of Rockies players take the field in Monday’s exhibition game in Albuquerque, “To see them blossom into everything that they can become. That’s happening with so many young players right now.”

Bud Black recognizes that a successful organization must start with what is done outside the lines of the game with folks who never even step onto the field: scouts.

“I think that’s how we have to do it: the Rockies way. We’re an organization that scouts hard, we develop our players in a way to get them to the big leagues and we’re going to have to rely on a lot of young players from year to year.”

Wilson seconds the notion that this reliance on the youth is only enabled thanks to the folks behind the scenes who have also ingrained a mentality for the those starting pitcher contributing to the streak.

“I think that’s a credit to the players involved, to the coaching staff that has so many guys who have touched these players and pitchers,” Wilson graciously continued, “It’s also a credit to our philosophy that we’ve instilled in the last five years. When you have guys like we do, not only do they have stuff and pitchability, they have a no nonsense, fearless, tough, competitive spirit about them and that gets outs anywhere. So, when you combine all those factors and it starts with the scouting department.”

It might be said that the head and the heart are the intangibles for what sets apart this current crop of Rockies pitchers from any that came before.

“Not only (are we) scouting who guys are on the field, you have to scout who they are internally,” Wilson elaborated. “And that started with (the scouting department). Our philosophy and how we go about instilling that thought process in all of our guys so that by the time they get to Isotopes Park or Coors Field or Petco Park, they are taking the mound the exact same way with intent and fearlessness.”

Though the scouting department includes countless contributors, we sought out Jon Weil, Assistant GM of Player Personnel, one of the men at the heart of many recent transactions, including this week’s acquisition of LHP Phillip Diehl from the Yankees in the Mike Tauchman trade.

When it comes to young pitchers like Jeff Hoffman, Yency Almonte or German Márquez – all of whom were acquired within a six month span of trades from July 2015 to January 2016 – there’s more than just the eye test at assessing talent, as Weil explains.

“First thing you do when you evaluate a player is you look at stuff. Really, the big separator between whether a guy is going to be a good big leaguer and guy that’s (just) going to be a big leaguer is what’s in between the ears and what’s in the chest.”

How was it even possible to learn that this trio possessed the toughness required to be a Rockies starting pitcher?

“With those guys, it’s harder to (thoroughly scout) in pro ball because you don’t get in the homes like you do in the amateurs,” Weil explained between bites of sunflower seeds. “So, we have to dig in further, find more information, be detectives. Our guys are out doing that and going the extra mile to find what makes these guys tick because when they get to Coors Field, there is no fear. There is no fear up here. We have a no nonsense, aggressive pitching mentality.”

According to Wilson, the development of Hoffman and Márquez came with a specific approach, a certain pitching theology based in pitching in tougher environs as they came up through the lower levels. 

“Certainly, those guys had tremendous stuff and I think you’ve seen it out of both of them. When they climb up the back of that mound, they’re going out there with intent, too. Again, we got those guys before they were finished products so I sort of think them as our own guys, too. We had a lot of work to do with them when they came in and they took to who we are and what we’re about, our culture, and combined that with who they were and they’ve had tremendous success.”

Márquez, in particular, has been an uncovered gem by the scouting department, poached from Tampa Bay’s system before he had advanced beyond A ball.

“Márquez has proven that time and time again at the major league level that he’s not afraid to go out there. He wasn’t afraid the first time he took the ball as a major leaguer that shows up every fifth day,” Wilson glowed.

Even beyond the starting five, the position players have also shown growth from this organizational philosophy of development.

“The list that’s here, the Hampsons, the Rodgers, the McMahons, and all those guys.” Adding Wilson, “Whether it’s with the big league club or (at Albuquerque), or the other levels of the affiliates, to watch them grow every year is a real joy and that’s what makes this job worthwhile.”

And they quickly become family. “These guys bleed purple out of the gate,” says Weil.

From the Vice President of Scouting Bill Schmidt on down to the final area scout in the organization appears to have unlocked the winning formula for the rotation’s talent.

In Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden,” he wrote that one’s imagination can take them into the clouds; so long as as a foundation can be placed beneath, the castle will begin to emerge.

With Colorado’s architects having finally patented an outstanding structure for the entire roster for years to come, dynastic visions are beginning to emerge in the sky for Rockies fans.