2025 MLB First-Half Recap: Colorado Rockies

The Pitching

The Good

For a team that entered the break with a 22-74 record, last in the Majors in on-base percentage (.291), and on pace to break the Chicago White Sox‘s mark for the most losses in league history, it’s hard to find many positives from this season.

However, there have been some pleasant stories.

Arguably, the best one has been 2025 NL All-Star, utilityman Hunter Goodman. Goodman has been a wrecking ball for the Rockies this season, as he leads the team with 17 home runs and has become the team’s primary run producer. And, his production of late has been on par with some of the league’s best.

In fact, his .685 SLG, buoyed by 10 home runs since June 1, ranked second-best in the Majors (min. 80 PA). The only player ahead of him, ironically, is Mickey Moniak (.766), who has hit eight home runs since the first of June.

Moniak, signed in March after the Angels released him, had above-average bat speed but couldn’t make enough contact to grab a regular role. But with Colorado, playing time hasn’t been an issue, as Moniak’s produced.

Lastly, Jordan Beck (103 OPS+) has found success in his second MLB season.

The Bad

One could start in several places here. However, let’s start with Brenton Doyle.

Doyle was a breakthrough figure for the Rockies last season, as he belted 23 home runs and stole 30 bases, and played excellent defense. This year, the defense (+1 OAA) has been fine, as has the well-hit batted-ball metrics (12.1% Barrel%).

Unfortunately for the 27-year-old, Doyle’s been able to convert expected numbers (.417 xSLG) into actual numbers (.322 SLG). His -.188 OPS from 2024 to 2025 is sixth-worst among hitters with 350+ PA in 2024 and 200+ PA in 2025.

However, the problems the Rockies have had this season go beyond Doyle.

Ryan McMahon leads the National League in strikeouts (121), while Ezequiel Tovar only played 32 games in the first half thanks to injuries. And speaking of strikeouts, those have also been a problem for Michael Toglia (38% K%), who’s dealt with swing-and-miss problems throughout his pro career.

As for their rotation — a constant issue for several reasons — none of the four pitchers who’ve made 14+ starts this season have an ERA+ above league average. It’s not much of a shock: including their bullpen, the Rockies have given up the third-most home runs (129) in the Majors this season.

The Rockies have given some of their young pitchers, including Chase Dollander & Carson Palmquist, a look. Dollander, a heavy four-seam pitcher who lives up in the zone, got hit hard. He conceded 11 home runs off his four-seam fastball and posted a 13.1% Barrel% — in the fourth percentile — before Colorado optioned him in July.

What to Expect in the Second Half

Given how far we are in the season, it might be tough for the Rockies, with a .229 winning percentage right now, to avoid the 2024 White Sox’s futility marker. However, there will be storylines to watch.

Namely, will the Rockies move pieces out?

According to the New York Times, the Rockies are not inclined to trade “core” pieces, which would include Tovar, Doyle, and hard-throwing reliever Seth Halvorsen. However, McMahon, along with reliever Jake Bird and starter German Marquez, are players of interest.

Marquez is a free agent, while McMahon (free agent after 2027) and Bird (arbitration-eligible, 2028 free agent) have some term left.