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#1. Ezequiel Tovar, SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 55 | 50 | 60 | 50 | 70 | 70 |
Background: For the better part of two decades the Rockies ran out a premier shortstop as part of their everyday lineup, beginning with Troy Tulowitzki’s rookie year in 2006 all the way through Trevor Story’s departure from the club following 2021. It was the most stable, consistent aspect for Colorado during that time. But it – finally – ended in 2022 as the franchise looked to veteran Jose Iglesias as a stopgap. A role, by the way, that he filled well enough, hitting .292/.328/.380 in 118 games. Almost like clockwork, though, Colorado’s farm system churned out another potential franchise cornerstone at the infield’s preeminent position. Enter: Ezequiel Tovar. Signed out of Maracay, Venezuela, for $800,000 in 2017, Tovar’s offense turned the corner as he moved into full-season action two years ago as he slugged an aggregate .287/.322/.475 with 30 doubles, three triples, 15 homeruns, and 24 stolen bases. And he took his production line to another level in 2022 as he put together his finest professional season to date – despite missing nearly three months of action due to a groin injury. In 77 minor league contests, most of which were spent with the Yard Goats in the Eastern League, the 6-foot, 162-pound infielder mashed .319/.387/.540 with 15 doubles, three triples, 14 homeruns, and 17 stolen bases (in only 20 attempts). His overall production with Hartford, according to Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average threshold by 53%. Colorado called up their burgeoning star in late September for a nine-game cameo (.212/.257/.333).
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only six 20-year-old hitters posted a wRC+ north of 150 in a season in any Double-A league (min. 250 PA): Oscar Tovar, Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers, Maikel Franco, Dilson Herrera, and – of course – Ezequiel Tovar.
A tremendous defender that likely wins a couple Gold Gloves during his future big league career. Tovar’s offense continues to take gargantuan strides forward as he moves quickly through the Rockies’ system. He’s now sporting a 55-grade bat, 50-grade power, plus speed, and a plus glove. It’s a recipe for a perennial All-Star. But he’s added a new weapon to his arsenal: the normally free-swinging shortstop is now walking at the highest clip since his debut season in the Dominican Summer League. Really good looking swing with incredible bat speed. He could be one of the game’s brighter stars and should settle in as a franchise cornerstone in Colorado for the next decade. Big league ceiling: .290/.340/.460.
Ceiling: 6.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: Debuted in 2022
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2. Zac Veen, RF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50/55 | 50/60 | 60 | 60 | 55 | 60 |
Background: Colorado may not have the best collection of young hitting prospects in the game, but they certainly deserve to be in the conversation. The club’s farm system sports the likes of: Ezequiel Tovar, Drew Romo, Benny Montgomery, Adael Amador, Yanquiel Fernandez, and – of course – Zac Veen. The ninth overall pick in 2020, sandwiched between the selections of Robert Hassell and Reid Detmers, Veen put on an offensive showcase during his debut in Low-A West the following season as he slugged a scorching .301/.399/.501 with gobs of extra-base thump and speed to burn. Last season, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound rightfielder handled the promotion up to High-A with aplomb, hitting .269/.368/.439 with 19 doubles, three triples, 11 homeruns, and an eye-catching 50 stolen bases (in only 54 attempts). The front office sent their young outfielder up to the true testing grounds, Double-A, but it proved a little too much for the former top pick. He hit a lowly .177/.262/.234 in 34 games with the Hartford Yard Goats. Veen did regain his stroke in the Arizona Fall League as he put together – arguably – the most dominant performance by any prospect, slugging .409/.500/.546 over his 12 contests.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only four 20-year-old hitters met the following criteria in a High-A season (min. 350 PA): 120 to 130 wRC+, a double-digit walk rate, and a strikeout rate between 20% and 24%. Those four hitters: Noelvi Marte, Michael Saunders, Taylor Trammell, and Zac Veen.
Interestingly enough, right-handed hurlers created more issues for Veen in 2022 than southpaws (.236/.330/.389 vs. .280/.380/.366). The former first round pick might be the best base stealer in the minor leagues and likely belongs on a short list for top base stealer at any level. Plus speed. And he’s just tapping into his above-average power potential. Very wiry and thin, Veen is far from maxing out physically. There’s plus raw power already. Throw in plus glovework in right field and Veen, like some of his farm system counterparts, looks like a potential star. Definite Bobby Abreu vibes going on. Big league ceiling: .280/.370/.475.
Ceiling: 5.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2023/2024
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3. Adael Amador, SS
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50/55 | 45/50 | 60 | 55 | 50 | 55 |
Background: Recognized as one of the top available free agents on the international market in 2019. Amador, a Santiago, Dominican Republic native, was swayed to join the Rockies’ rebuilding efforts for a small $1.5 million fee. The 6-foot, 160-pound middle infielder would have to wait another two years before making his highly anticipated debut. But his performance lived up to those expectations. Appearing in 47 games with the club’s Arizona Complex League affiliate, Amador batted a rock solid .299/.394/.445 with 10 doubles, one triple, four homeruns, and 10 stolen bases. His overall production, according to Weighted Runs Created Plus, topped the league average mark by 22%. Last season the young shortstop continued to impress as he moved into the California League. Amador, only 19-years-old in 2022, slugged .292/.415/.445 with 24 doubles, 15 homeruns, and 26 stolen bases (in 38 total attempts). He finished his first taste of full season action with a 128 wRC+ total.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only three 19-year-olds posted a 123 to 133 wRC+ mark with a sub-15% strikeout rate in any Low-A league (min. 400 PA): Manuel Margot, Jorge Polanco, and – of course – Adael Amador. For those counting at home: Margot, once a consensus Top 25 Prospect, is a career .254/.308/.386 hitter in 689 big league games and Jorge Polanco owns a career 111 wRC+ mark in 752 games with the Twins.
Part of the “new breed” of prospects that’s becoming more en vogue, simply put, Amador doesn’t swing-and-miss all that much, posting a swinging strike percentage of just 6.94% and a 12.1% strikeout rate. Unlike a lot of extreme bat-to-ball, contact-based hitters, he packs a punch as well, showcasing average power to go along with plus speed and a great eye at the plate. Average defender. Two years ago Amador looked like two different hitters at the plate – a left- and right-handed version. Last season, though, there was more consistently. Quick bat with a natural line drive feel. It’s eerily reminiscent to former All-Star second baseman Luis Castillo – with more pop. He’s going to be one of the bigger breakout players in 2023.
Ceiling: 3.5-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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4. Jordy Vargas, RHP
| FB | CB | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 60 | 50 | 45/50 | 60 |
Background: Vargas’s old man, Yorkis Perez, spent nine seasons in the big leagues, bouncing between six teams (Cubs, Marlins, Mets, Phillies, Astros, and Orioles) and was the prototypical replacement level player. The former left-handed reliever accrued just 0.7 Wins Above Replacement (Baseball Reference) and had four seasons of negative production against five positive. Colorado signed Vargas, a native of Moca, Dominican Republic, in January of 2021 for a cool half million dollars. A thin, wiry right-hander built in the Triston McKenzie mold, Vargas made his professional debut in the foreign rookie leagues a few months after signing. He would make 11 mostly dominant appearances, throwing 34.2 innings with 46 strikeouts and just 16 free passes to go along with a sparkling 1.30 ERA. Last season the front office took the cautious approach and bumped the teenager up to the Complex League. But after seven strong outings – five of his seven earned runs allowed were in one disastrous start – he was sent to full season ball. Vargas would finish the season with 51.1 total innings of work, averaging a fantastic 11.2 strikeouts and just 3.0 walks per nine innings. He tallied an aggregate 2.98 ERA.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, there have been only sixty-five 18-year-old hurlers to make at least one appearance in Low-A. That’s fewer than four per season, by the way. But, incredibly so, there were a whopping twenty-two 18-year-old hurlers that tossed at least one inning at the level in 2022.
One of my favorite pitching prospects in the entire minor leagues. If he can avoid the dreaded injury nexus, Vargas could be one of the best pitching prospects in the game. The wiry righty owns one of the loosest, easy flowing arms in the game. Plus fastball. Plus curveball. Average change that may see an uptick with some more fine tuning. Years ago Anderson Espinoza was the heir apparent to the Crown of the Top MiLB pitching prospect. Then injury after injury robbed him of a lot development time. Vargas has that type of potential.
Ceiling: 4.0-win player
Risk: Moderate toHigh
MLB ETA: 2024/2025
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5. Benny Montgomery, CF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 45 | 45/55 | 65 | 50 | 50/55 | 55 |
Background: After selecting prep outfielder Zac Veen with the ninth overall pick in the 2020 draft, the Rockies went back to the high school ranks and selected Benny Montgomery with the eighth overall pick a year later. A product of Red Land High School, home to former Phillies great Greg Gross, Montgomery shredded the Arizona Complex League competition during his abbreviated 14-game debut two years ago, batting .340/.404/.383 with one triple and five stolen bases. Last season, Montgomery opened the year up with Fresno, but managed to log only 56 contests due to a combination of a lingering quad issue and an “undisclosed” injury. The former prep star mashed an impressive .313/.394/.502 with 20 doubles, three triples, six homeruns, and nine stolen bases with the Fresno Grizzlies. Per Weighted Runs Created Plus, his overall production topped the league average mark by a solid 32%.
Scouting Report: Just for fun, here’s here are Montgomery’s numbers with the Grizzlies prorated for a full 162-game season: 58 doubles, nine triples, 17 homeruns, and 26 stolen bases. Yeah, that’ll play. Now let’s look at how his numbers stack up against his peers in recent history. Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only three 19-year-old hitters met the following criteria in a season in Low-A (min. 250 PA): 127 to 137 wRC+, 26% to 28% strikeout rate, and a 6% to 8% walk rate. Those three hitters: Austin Riley, Moises Gomez, and Benny Montgomery.
A full year into his pro ball career, Montgomery is still showing a tremendous amount of pre-swing hand movement. And despite a borderline concerning strikeout rate last season, 26.9%, the young outfielder hit. And he hit well. One of the tools-iest outfield prospects in the minor leagues, Montgomery projects for average power – maybe a half grade higher if everything clicks the right way – with plus-plus speed, solid patience, and a playable glove in centerfield. I’m still not entirely sold on the bat – and likely won’t feel comfortable till he hits in Double-A – but there’s plenty of potential.
Ceiling: 3.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024/2025
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6. Drew Romo, C
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50/55 | 40/45 | 60/45 | 50 | 60 | 55 |
Background: Even after the graduation of Orioles’ franchise cornerstone Adley Rutschman, the catching position in the minor leagues is incredibly deep and plenty talented. Francisco Alvarez is going to be star. Diego Cartaya headlines a bountiful Dodgers farm system. A resurgent Bo Naylor re-established his value in 2022. Then there’s Henry Davis, Endy Rodriguez, Kevin Parada, Logan O’Hoppe, and the supremely underrated Edgar Quero. A bit lost in the shuffle – or at least so it seems – is the Rockies’ Drew Romo. The 35th overall pick three years ago and the fourth backstop drafted that year, Romo made his debut the following season. Despite missing the 2020 season (thanks to COVID), the switch-hitting backstop hit and didn’t stop the entire year. He would finish with a .314/.345/.439 slash line in 79 games with Fresno. Last season, the front office bounced him up Spokane, their High-A affiliate, but the former first rounder struggled a bit. He batted .254/.321/.372 with just 19 doubles, five triples, and five homeruns – though he did steal 18 bases in 21 attempts. His overall production, per Weighted Runs Created Plus, was 5% below the league average mark.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only four 20-year-old hitters met the following criteria in a High-A season (min. 400 PA): 90 to 100 wRC+, 7.5% to 9.5% walk rate, and a 17% to 21% strikeout rate. Those four hitters: Dustin Peterson, John Drennen, Nick Noonan, and Drew Romo.
Romo’s production line can be split into two separate seasons, a pre- and a post-injury stat lines. Pre-injury he batted .280/.348/.408. But after hitting the disabled list for three weeks and returning in mid-August he hit a lowly .165/.228/.247. Bet heavily on the former. Great looking line-driving hitting swing. Short, fast. It’s going to pepper balls from foul line to foul line. He’s probably not going to be a star – unless the hit tool climbs into plus territory – but he should be an above-average bat for 10 years. In terms of big league ceiling: .270/.340/.420. The defense may push him into All-Star territory.
Ceiling: 3.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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7. Gabriel Hughes, RHP
| FB | SL | CH | Command | Overall |
| 60 | 55 | 50/55 | 45 | 55 |
Background: A product of Rocky Mountain High School, Hughes was an unstoppable force during his final two prep seasons in Idaho as he captured back-to-back Gatorade State Player of the Year awards. During his junior season in 2018, the burly right-hander / first baseman batted .461 and posted a 7-1 win-loss record to go along with a sparkling 1.85 ERA . And Hughes followed that up with .365 batting average and seven homeruns in the field and won seven games and posted a tidy 0.95 ERA. Hughes’ collegiate career got off to a fast start during his freshman season at Gonzaga, posting a 0.77 ERA through four relief appearances and one start in 2020 before COVID prematurely ended the year. And he continued to impress – as a 19-year-old – during his first full season with the Bulldogs the following year: in 61.1 innings, he averaged 9.8 strikeouts and 4.4 walks per nine innings to go along with a 3.23 ERA. He spent the summer working out of Team USA’s Stripes’ rotation, making three brief starts. In 2022 Hughes improved his ability to (A) miss bats and (B) limit troublesome free passes as he vaulted up the prospect charts. In a career best 15 starts, the big 6-foot-4, 220-pound righty struck out 138 and walked 37 in 98.0 innings of work. Colorado selected him in the first round, 10th overall, and signed him to a deal worth $4 million. Hughes would make one brief, three-inning start with Fresno, striking out and walking one.
Scouting Report: Per the usual, my pre-draft write-up:
“Consider the following:
- Since 2015, only four Division I pitchers struck out at least 12.5 hitters and walk between 3.3 and 3.6 batters per nine innings (min. 90 IP): Zack Thompson, Dominic Hamel, Hurston Waldrep, and – of course – Gabriel Hughes.
Hughes’ fastball consistently sits in the 94- to 96-mph range, easily making it a plus offering. He’ll complement the heater with an above-average upper 70s to low-80s slider and a quietly solid low 80s changeup that shows tremendous velocity separation. Despite being the top arm in the collegiate class, Hughes’ ceiling isn’t elite. Mid-rotation caliber potential. Seattle, with their version of Cleveland’s pitching development program, looks like a logical landing place, but he likely won’t be available. Look for a team like Colorado, Detroit, or the Angels to snag Hughes.”
Ceiling: 3.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024
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8. Yanquiel Fernandez, RF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50 | 55/60 | 35 | 50 | 55 | 55 |
Background: Two years ago the Rockies’ Low-A affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies, sported a trio of teenage phenoms in Zac Veen, Ezequiel Tovar, and Drew Romo. This season the California League club featured another trio of top teenage hitting prospects: Yanquiel Fernandez, Benny Montgomery, and Adael Amador. Born on New Year’s Day in Havana, Cuba, in 2003, the Rockies’ brass inked the 6-foot-2, 198-pound corner outfielder to a deal worth slightly less than $300,000 in 2019. Two years later he would make his anticipated debut in the Dominican Summer League, mashing to the tune of .333/.406/.531 with 17 doubles and six homeruns in 54 games. Last season, the organization aggressively sent the then-19-year-old straight up to Low-A. And he continued to hit. In 112 games with Fresno, the Cuban import batted .284/.340/.507 with 33 doubles, five triples, 21 homeruns, and five stolen bases. Per Weighted Runs Created Plus, his overall production topped the league average mark by 12%.
Scouting Report: Consider the following:
- Since 2006, only three 19-year-old hitters met the following criteria in a season in Low-A (min. 400 PA): 107 to 117 wRC+, a walk rate between 6.5% and 8.5%, and a strikeout rate between 20% and 24%. Those three hitters: Dilson Herrera, Jack Suwinski, and – of course – Yanquiel Fernandez.
Perhaps, unsurprisingly, Fernandez got off to a bit of slow start to the 2022 season. He hit a lowly .200/.304/.300 over the first couple of weeks. After that he got his feet underneath him and slugged .303/.353/.542 the remainder of the season. Fernandez shows an intriguing toolkit not highlighted by a lot of the club’s other top young bats. It’s a power-oriented approach with little speed. The early returns on defense are phenomenal. He doesn’t show any platoon splits, did a lot of damage in a pitcher-friendly ballpark, and made consistent contact. Broad shoulder with a bit of swagger that borderlines on cockiness. Beautiful left-handed swing, not quite picture-esque like a Darryl Strawberry or Ken Griffey Jr. But it’s beautiful nonetheless. Plus-raw power that may eventually grow into 30 homeruns in a season. Easy power – flick of the wrist type stuff.
Ceiling: 3.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024/2025
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9. Jordan Beck, LF / RF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 45 | 60 | 35 | 45 | 55 | 50 |
Background: Starred on the basketball court and the baseball diamond during his prep career at Hazel Green High School. Beck led the hoop’s team to the state semifinals in 2018 during his All-State career. And the 6-foot-3, 225-pound first baseman / outfielder batted .500 with 16 doubles, 13 homeruns, 52 RBIs, and 60 runs scored during his senior campaign en route to earning the Super 10 Player of the Year award. The Red Sox took a late round flier on Beck following the season, selecting him in the 14th round of the 2019 draft. After bypassing the opportunity to join the historic organization, Beck headed to the University of Tennessee – where he immediately made an impact for the SEC powerhouse. In 16 games during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, the Alabama-born prospect batted .275/.396/.475 with five doubles and one homerun. Beck turned in a solid, at times phenomenal, campaign during his 2021 season: In 67 games with the Volunteers he hit .271/.336/.523 with 16 doubles, two triples, 15 homeruns, and eight stolen bases. He spent the summer with the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod League, batting .267/.377/.400 in 27 games. Last year Beck continued to make strides in his performance for the nearly perfectly built Tennessee Volunteers: in 66 games he slugged .298/.391/.595 with 15 doubles, three triples, 18 homeruns, and six stolen bases. Colorado selected him in the opening round, 38th overall, and signed him to a deal worth $2.2 million. The Alabama native split his debut between the Complex League and Low-A , hitting an aggregate .296/.431/.477 in 26 games.
Scouting Report: Per the usual, my pre-draft write-up:
“The whiff rate isn’t a red flag, per se, but it isn’t going to leave anyone warm and fuzzy. And he’s made modest – at best – improvements over the past two seasons with Tennessee. He fanned in nearly 21% of his plate appearances in 2021 and he posted a nearly identical mark [in 2022]. 45-grade hit tool. 60-grade power. Average-ish eye at the plate. Good speed and glove to match. Consider the following:
- Since 2011, only four SEC hitters batted between .280/.375/.575 and .310/.425/.625 in a season (min. 275 PA): Greg Deichmann, Chad Spanberger, Andre Lipcius, and – of course – Jordan Beck. Deichmann was a second rounder by the Athletics in 2017; Spanberger was a sixth rounder by the Brewers the same season; and Lipcius, a former Volunteer, was a third rounder by the Tigers in 2019.
Upright stance with a bit of an intimidating presence at the plate, Beck has a surprisingly short swing – especially given his size. Big time power that no ballpark can contain when he fully gets into one. It’s going to come down to the hit tool. If he makes enough contact, Beck looks like a low end middle-of-the-lineup thumper. If not, he’s got Quad-A written all over him.”
Ceiling: 2.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024/2025
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10. Sterlin Thompson, 3B / RF
| Hit | Power | SB | Patience | Glove | Overall |
| 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
Background: Thompson’s tenure at North Marion High School lasted a single season (2020), but he’s going to become the most successful professional player to walk through the school’s hallowed halls. Ranked as the 55th best prospect by Perfect Game, Thompson made an immediate impact during his freshman season at the University of Florida. Primarily used as a right fielder, the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder batted an impressive .301/.396/.470 in 2021, belting out 10 doubles, three triples, and five homeruns in 55 games for the SEC conference powerhouse. After shredding the Florida Collegiate Summer League to the tune of .391/.482/.609, Thompson continued to swing a hot bat during his sophomore season with the Gators. In 66 games for head coach Kevin O’Sullivan, Thompson slugged .354/.443/.563 and set career highs in doubles (16), homeruns (11), and stolen bases (10). The Rockies selected the young Gator in the opening round, 31st overall, and signed him to a deal worth $2,430,500. Thompson split his debut between the Complex League and Fresno, hitting an aggregate .307/.351/.436 with seven doubles, two homeruns, and 10 stolen bases in 26 games.
Scouting Report: Per the usual, my pre-draft write-up:
“Consider the following:
- Since 2011, only four SEC hitters batted at least .340/.430/.550 with a sub-16% strikeout rate and a walk rate between 11% and 13% in a season (min. 300 PA): Austin Martin, Wyatt Langford, Jacob Gonzalez, and – of course – Sterlin Thompson.
Very simple, low maintenance swing with impressive bat speed. Thompson’s power grades out as average, maybe a tick better, but when he turns on the inside pitch he can give it a surprising jolt. He’s going to spray line drives from gap to gap. Solid-average speed and patience. Florida experimented with having the former prep-shortstop-turned-collegiate-right-fielder at the keystone last season. Obviously, the bat plays significantly better on the infield, as opposed to a corner outfield position. Lacks a difference-making tool.”
Ceiling: 2.0-win player
Risk: Moderate
MLB ETA: 2024/2025
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All statistics were provided via the following website: Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, TheBaseballCube, BaseballProspectus, ClayDavenport.com, and
