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Purple Row

https://www.purplerow.com/ | 423 entries published

Of, by, and for Rockies fans. Every day.

Latest Entries

Warren Schaeffer’s postgame comments on Rockies 11-6 win

After losing their spring training home opener, the Colorado Rockies came back to soundly defeat their Salt River Fields roomies, the Arizona Diamondbacks, 11-6. For more details, go here. We’re not yet to the point in the season where we’re doing game recaps, but we wanted to share manager Warren Schaeffer’s postgame comments and some other […]

21 days ago | 5 reads

This Week in Purple: Two pitchers, two stories, one vision

Two veteran pitchers with the Colorado Rockies are gearing up for spring training as full-squad workouts began this week. Both are under contract 2026 with a club option for 2027; both are right-handed; and both will be competing in this year’s highly-anticipated edition of the World Baseball Classic. Michael Lorenzen and Antonio Senzatela also provide […]

21 days ago | 3 reads

Purple Row After Dark: What are your thoughts on the ABS system?

This season, we will get our first official taste of the Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) in Major League Baseball. It has been used in the minors, and was used in the Arizona Fall League the last few years, but will officially be making its MLB debut this year. Here’s the overview: each team has […]

21 days ago | 3 reads

Warren Schaeffer’s postgame comments on Rockies 3-2 loss

The Colorado Rockies lost their spring training opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2. For more details, go here. We’re not yet to the point in the season where we’re doing game recaps, but we wanted to share manager Warren Schaeffer’s postgame comments. Here’s that Cole Carrigg triple: And here are Carrigg’s postgame comments as well […]

22 days ago | 6 reads

Colorado Rockies prospects: No. 5, Jared Thomas

5. Jared Thomas (476 points, 19 ballots) Thomas went 42nd-overall to the Rockies as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2024, signing for an under-slot $2 million. He got that bonus due to excellent bat-to-ball skills, some emerging power, and above-average speed that gives him a high floor offensively. The 22-year-old, 6’2” lefty spent most of his […]

22 days ago | 1 read

Chuck Nazty’s impact and the importance of routines in spring training

Baseball players are famously superstitious. In Charlie Blackmon’s case, he confessed to being a “little stitiious,” while mic’ed up during the 2018 All-Star Game.  More than banking on luck, Blackmon was notorious for his dedication to his routine. Gabe Bauer, the Rockies director of physical performance, shared a prime example of Blackmon’s meticulousness during Rockies […]

22 days ago | 3 reads

Purple Row After Dark: Fun with Rockies Photo Day 2026

Every year, all 30 MLB teams have a dedicated “Photo Day” where players and coaches pose for team and media photographers. These shots get used in a variety of ways (you’ve probably seen them on Purple Row in the past), and it’s always fun to see what creative approaches the photographers take. If you think […]

22 days ago | 5 reads

Colorado Rockies prospects: No. 6, Robert Calaz

6. Robert Calaz (470 points, 19 ballots) At the end of 2024, Calaz seemed to be on a rocket ship toward the big leagues after a season in which he was named the MVP of the Arizona Complex League and tore up the Low-A California league in a small sample. Instead, the 2025 season saw the 6’2” […]

MLB

23 days ago | 2 reads

Charlie Condon welcomes the “challenge” of his first big league camp

Scottsdale, Ariz. – The Colorado Rockies invited 20 non-roster players to join Major League camp this year. Chief among them is their 2025 No. 2 prospect Charlie Condon (No. 2 Mid-Season PuRP). The IF/OF was drafted third-overall in the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of Georgia and has had a meteoric rise through […]

23 days ago | 3 reads

Purple Row After Dark: Come learn how to steal bases with Doug Bernier

Colorado Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer has been clear that this year: Spring training will be different. Yesterday, the Rockies provided us with a behind-the-scenes look of a coaching session. Here’s first base/outfield coach Doug Bernier working with the Rockies in small groups as they focus on stealing bases. Because the Purple Row Night Owls are […]

23 days ago | 5 reads

Introducing the 2026 Prospect Non-Roster Invitees: Pitchers

Although it may be hard to tell with the unseasonably warm weather this winter in the Mile High City, spring is in the air and on the horizon. Pitchers and catchers reported to the Rockies’ complex in Scottsdale, Arizona last week, with position players reporting yesterday. The first game of spring training is this coming […]

24 days ago | 4 reads

Colorado Rockies prospects: No. 7, JB Middleton

7. JB Middleton (409 points, 19 ballots) Middleton became the highest-ever drafted pitcher for Southern Mississippi when the Rockies took him 45th overall in the 2025 draft (Middleton was 41st in MLB Pipeline’s draft rankings), signing the now 22-year-old right-hander to a $2.072 million bonus that was $100k under slot. Middleton doesn’t possess ideal size for […]

24 days ago | 4 reads

2026 spring training storylines for position players

Last week, we explored some storylines concerning pitchers and catchers in spring training for the Colorado Rockies. Now that full-squad workouts have officially begun and games are right around the corner, we can turn to the position player group. Believe it or not, there are even more questions surrounding the position players, as battles and […]

MLB

24 days ago | 4 reads

Purple Row After Dark: Paul DePodesta revisits “Moneyball”

I’ve been a fan of Michael Lewis’s writing for a long time — back even before “Moneyball” was published in 2003. I’ve read his books and taught his writing in my courses. When the Colorado Rockies announced they were bringing in Paul DePodesta to be their president of baseball operations, my thought were less “You […]

24 days ago | 5 reads

Kris Bryant addresses the media as he starts 2026 on the injured list

Spring training for the Rockies this year is surprisingly full of hope on multiple levels, but for Kris Bryant, last year’s struggles continue. Bryant has been plagued with injuries since arriving in Colorado, but the most severe has been a debilitating degenerative lower back condition. Somedays Bryant is unable to lift even simple household items, […]

25 days ago | 5 reads

Colorado Rockies prospects: No. 8, Sean Sullivan

8. Sean Sullivan (398 points, 19 ballots) Despite a professional career that has been marred by injuries and an accompanying loss in velocity, Sullivan keeps getting upper-minors hitters out — a lot of them via strikeout. The 6’4”, 23-year-old lefty pitcher was dominant at Wake Forest, pitching 69 2/3 innings with with a 2.45 ERA, […]

25 days ago | 7 reads

Brett Pill takes a swing at the Rockies hitting problems

The 2025 Colorado Rockies led in a number of categories that most MLB teams would prefer not to lead. A case in point would be their Chase%, where the Rockies had an MLB-worst 31.7%. (The league average was 28.2%.) Learning to be more disciplined and discerning at the plate is a central challenge for the […]

25 days ago | 6 reads

Purple Row After Dark: Who will be the Rockies’ fifth starter?

Spring training is in full swing. Pitchers and catchers reported to camp last Thursday, and the rest of the squad is set to officially join them tomorrow. At the end of last season, the Colorado Rockies looked like they were going to once again trot out a very young rotation that saw Chase Dollander and […]

25 days ago | 5 reads

Colorado Rockies prospects: No. 9, Zac Veen

9. Zac Veen (388 points, 19 ballots) A star ceiling was promised when Veen was made the ninth-overall pick in the 2020 draft and signed for a slightly above-slot value $5 million — but there are some ifs to be overcome. If the 24-year-old lefty-swinging, righty-throwing outfielder can stay healthy; if he can manage the swing-and-miss in his profile; if he can […]

26 days ago | 6 reads

Chase Dollander is in “learning mode”

Scottsdale, Ariz. – Chase Dollander was drafted ninth overall in the 2023 MLB Draft and skyrocketed through the Colorado Rockies’ minor league system, finally making his MLB debut on April 6 last year against the Athletics. Dollander had an up-and-down season, but he ended on a strong note when he went head-to-head against Tyler Glasnow […]

26 days ago | 4 reads

Purple Row After Dark: Which non-roster invite has the best chance of making the Rockies?

When the Colorado Rockies released their list of spring training invitees, it included 19 non-roster invitees. President of baseball operations Paul DePodesta has been clear that the Rockies are looking for athleticism and versatility in position players and a developed arsenal in pitchers. So, Purple Row Night Owls, here’s tonight’s question: Which non-roster invitee (invitees?) […]

26 days ago | 4 reads

Kyle Karros is ready to make the Rockies his own

Scottsdale, Ariz. – After the Rockies traded Ryan McMahon at the 2025 deadline, Kyle Karros became the heir apparent at third base. The 23-year-old made his MLB debut on August 8 against the Arizona Diamondbacks and started hot, going 4-for-11 with two doubles, three RBI, two walks and two strikeouts. He hit his first home […]

27 days ago | 5 reads

Purple Row After Dark: Who’s your favorite Rockie heading into 2026?

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s Valentine’s Day! (And if you forgot, you’ve still got a few hours to buy some flowers for that special person in your life.) Earlier today, the Colorado Rockies sent out their valentine to fans: So here’s tonight’s question for the Purple Row Night Owls: As we watch position players […]

27 days ago | 7 reads