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What to Expect from Rockies Pitcher McCade Brown

Originally posted on New Baseball Media
By Chris Studley | Last updated Aug 24, 2025 12:45 PM ET

Amidst a rebuild, the Rockies have given several young pitching prospects lengthy looks this season. McCade Brown will join that group, as the right-hander will make his Major League debut after a quick rise from A-ball to Colorado.

A Look at Brown

The Rockies drafted former Indiana University pitcher McCade Brown in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Brown only threw 6.2 IP across his first two collegiate seasons with the Hoosiers. In his junior season, the tall righty struck out 97 over 61 frames.

He didn’t have a terrible first full season, despite the 5.22 ERA he posted in Fresno (A) back in 2022. Brown struck out 118 over 89.2 IP. However, the 2022 season would be his last significant action until this year.

Brown missed all of 2023 due to injury and only made 12 appearances in 2024, and he accrued just 23.2 IP. The right-hander then started 2025 in Spokane (A+), starting what would be a fast ascension to the Majors.

The 25-year-old struck out 105 batters over 76 innings between Spokane and Hartford (AA) this season. He posted a sub-2.00 ERA across nine outings with the Indians before moving to Connecticut. His past two weeks before the promotion were sublime; Brown struck out 14 over 9.1 IP and didn’t allow a run.

Brown, a 6’6” right-hander, doesn’t have top-tier velocity. The right-hander comfortably sits in the low-to-mid-90s with both his four-seamer and two-seamer, the latter of which is more of a runner than a sinker. It has solid running action, can hit 97 MPH, and was a pitch he’s willing to back-door.

Additionally, Brown works in a mid-80s slider, along with a slower curveball and changeup.

He profiles as a power strikeout pitcher and, as some would probably like to know, wasn’t a ground-ball pitcher. Brown didn’t give up a lot of home runs (.7 HR/9) down in the Minors this season. However, both in 2024 and 2025, he posted a sub-1.00 GO/AO rate.

The Rockies scheduled McCade Brown to make his Major League debut on August 24.

Analysis

Given how well Brown pitched this season, the 25-year-old could have made himself a Rule 5 Draft option this upcoming fall. Instead, the Rockies get ahead of that and will place Brown on the 40-man roster for a trial run.

The Rockies will need to see what Brown, as well as some of their other young pitchers, have to get ready for 2026. Thus far, the results with some of their youngsters haven’t been great. Tanner Gordon owns an ERA north of 7.00. Carson Palmquist was hit hard in his first tour of duty in the Majors. Chase Dollander, one of their best young pitchers, owns a 12.7% Barrel% this season and has begun to mix in a sinker more.

For Colorado, it’s a chance to see what the team has with a right-hander who’s currently in his fifth full pro season. The Rockies have been in a years-long search for reliable pitching, and there is room for him on the roster.

Colorado cut ties with left-hander Austin Gomber this past week.

This article first appeared on New Baseball Media and was syndicated with permission.

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