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Can Rockies Tap Into Their Youth Movement?
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- Can Rockies Tap Into Their Youth Movement?
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
One should not expect to have many, if any, high-dollar free agents looking to get on board with the Colorado Rockies . Those types of players are looking to join franchises that are in "win now" mode.
Yes, the Rockies are in "win mode" themselves, but their goal is to finish at .500 or above next season. Colorado's long-suffering fans have been waiting and waiting to see their team get back to the glory days of many years ago
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The one thing that is carrying the ballclub right now is a youth movement worth paying attention to as the offseason rolls along.
Rockies' youth showed up in a big way
Look at what Chad Jennings of The Athletic wrote back in September when looking at one specific good thing that happened to the Rockies in 2026.
"None of the Rockies is going to win the Rookie of the Year award, but two of them — first baseman T.J. Rumfield and center fielder Cole Carrigg — do rank top-10 among National League rookies in fWAR," Jenning wrote at the time.
"Second-year third baseman Kyle Karros also has been solid, and 26-year-old catcher Hunter Goodman made his second straight All-Star team," Jennings continued. "There's still a lot of work to do in Colorado, especially on the mound, but at least some young hitters are finding success. Is that enough to actually build upon?"
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Jennings pointed toward Rumfield, who has been named a finalist for the Gold Glove Award, and Carrigg, who showed time and time again that he could deliver both at the plate in the field.
Carrigg, when he stepped onto the field , became a lightning spark for the Rockies' full lineup. He showed swagger, confidence, and an ability hit pretty consistently in his first MLB season. Sure, there were dips in the production at the plate, yet Carrigg totally showed that he deserves to be in the Colorado lineup next season.
Rumfield proved to be consistent
Rumfield just went out there and delivered all the time. Watching him play for the Rockies always was a treat, even with the franchise going down the road to a fourth consecutive 100-plus-loss record.
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What can you not say positive about Goodman. OK, his play behind the plate might have caused some fans to wince at times. A lot of those issues, though, came from pitchers not being able to consistently throw strikes over the plate. He was bouncing around trying to block pitches and save runners from advancing a base.
Goodman, though, delivered at the plate. He became the team's home run slugger and anchored himself as Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer's go-to guy for the long ball.
As Jennings pointed out, he's still young. He has time to grow and learn more about playing as catcher. In the batter's box, Goodman showed good timing and an ability to be selective in which pitches he swung at in 2026.
Karros and all of these younger players are now positioned to be a nucleus for a bright future in the Mile High City. Coors Field can become their playground for a lot of offense and some steady play in the field.
