Rockies Seeing Results With New Base-Stealing Approach

Milestones To Aim For

Since 2015, the Rockies have had just three players surpass 25 stolen bases in a season: Charlie Blackmon (43 in 2015), Trevor Story (27 in 2018), and Brenton Doyle (30 in 2024). In that same time span, they were nonexistent on the basepaths in several seasons.

In 2022, Garrett Hampson was the only Rockie to finish with double-digit steals (12). In 2017, just Ian Desmond (15) and Blackmon (14) finished with double-digit steals. The same goes for 2016 with Blackmon (17) and DJ LeMahieu (11). Last season, no Rockie finished with 20+ steals. Jordan Beck led the way with 19, followed closely by Doyle and Tyler Freeman with 18 each. Their 87 stolen bases last season were an improvement. It was the most stolen bases the Rockies have finished with since 2018 (95). Ideally, they can keep up the early-season momentum this year and do something they haven’t done in over a decade.

Finish With 100+ Stolen Bases

Let’s take it back to 2013. The Rockies were in a familiar place, the NL West cellar. Although the 2026 Rockies will have markedly improved if they match the 2013 Rockies record of 74-88. Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez were still leading the Rockies’ lineup. Blackmon was in just his third season in the Majors. But the thing bringing the conversation back to 2013 is the Rockies finishing with 112 stolen bases that season. They have not finished with 100+ stolen bases since.

They have started out with the momentum to do so this season. Per the Rockies.TV broadcast, the Rockies achieved 10+ stolen bases through the first six games this season for just the second time in franchise history (1997). Until the Rockies figure out their hitting with RISP woes, they will have to keep being aggressive on the basepaths and attempt to manufacture runs. Like McCarthy, if Doyle stays healthy, he should easily clear 20+ stolen bases. It will be a group effort after that, as they are currently the two most proven base stealers on the Rockies roster.

But that would still keep the Rockies easily on pace if they stay as aggressive as they have been. Just Gonzalez finished with over 20 in 2013 (21). But even if they fall short of 100, they have to at least match 2018’s total of 95. The Rockies have been buried in the bottom ten of the league in steals since 2021, when they finished 15th with 76 steals. There is no excuse for that with the Rockies playing at such an advantageous offensive ballpark. But the new front office is emphasizing the right things in an effort to change that.

“Stealing” From a Division Rival

The Rockies chose the right team to trade with when it comes to increasing their team speed. Since 2022, the Diamondbacks have finished no lower than 15th in total stolen bases. Finishing as high as second in Major League Baseball with 166 steals in the 2023 regular season.

Excluding last season in which he was limited to 67 games, McCarthy finished second on the D-Backs in 2023-24 behind only the absurd steal totals of Corbin Carroll. In 2022, McCarthy was tied for the team lead with Josh Rojas (23). That production is sorely needed for the Rockies, and any time you can weaken a division rival by acquiring that production, it’s even sweeter.

More Will Be Needed

The Rockies will need more than improved steals to climb out of the NL West cellar. Hitting with RISP has to improve. The pitching has been mostly stellar so far, allowing five runs or fewer in each game. But the games at Coors are coming, and the Rockies will need more than fortuitous steals late in the game to help push across a run. Nevertheless, it’s a fun trend for the Rockies so far and an exciting part of their 2-4 start to the season.

Yes, 2-4 doesn’t scream off the page. But it’s all about perspective. The Rockies didn’t get their second win until April 6 last year. They didn’t get their first series win until June 2, when they swept the Miami Marlins. Getting that out of the way in the second series of the year against the defending American League champs on the road is a nice accomplishment for the Rockies as they prepare for their home debut on Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies. Seeing results early was going to be important for the Rockies to put last season in the rearview mirror. After staring at a likely 0-6 following the Marlins series, the Rockies will take 2-4 every day of the week.