The Rockies’ First Base Situation

Rockies Have Glaring Hole at First Base

Currently, the only first basemen on the Rockies’ roster are a pair of 28-year-olds in Blaine Crim and Troy Johnston. Crim was acquired by the Rockies on waivers from the Texas Rangers this September. From September 13 to the end of the season, Crim served as the Rockies’ everyday first baseman in place of Bernabel, who was dealing with a concussion, and Toglia, after he was sent down to Triple-A for the final time. Johnston was claimed off waivers from the Miami Marlins this offseason.

Crim showed some offensive potential, hitting .241 with five home runs and 12 RBI. But that is far too small a sample size to rely on him as the primary option for next season. Toglia was supposed to be the answer, but his disastrous season this year put the Rockies back at square one. The club has failed to find a true long-term answer at the position since franchise legend Todd Helton retired in 2013.

This will be one of the biggest tasks facing the Rockies’ front office this offseason. Clearly, the Rockies are looking to start with a fresh slate when it comes to finding an answer at the position. Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer inferred as much in his media availability at the Winter Meetings on December 8 when asked about the Rockies releasing Bernabel, Toglia, and catcher Drew Romo.

New Process of Doing Things

Rockies’ fans may not have to wait long to “trust the process” this offseason. Paul DePodesta has already made a trade as the President of Baseball Operations for the Rockies. He could be much more active on the trade market and in free agency compared to his predecessors in Colorado. When asked about the possibility of signing a free agent first baseman this offseason, DePodesta said he has some meetings set up with agents who represent first basemen and did not rule it out.

Top free agent first baseman Pete Alonso, 31, could be a bit unrealistic. But there are quality veteran options behind him, including Ryan O’Hearn, 32, and Nathaniel Lowe, 30. The Rockies also have a very intriguing in-house option currently in their farm system. Per Thomas Harding of MLB.com, Charlie Condon, the Rockies’ second overall prospect, could get the chance to compete for the position this spring.

Condon, 22, was drafted third overall in 2024 out of the University of Georgia. Condon certainly has the size for the position at 6’6″, 216 lbs. He struggled to hit for average in 55 games with Double-A Hartford this season. But he had an above-average .807 OPS and impressive production. Condon recorded three triples, 11 home runs, and 38 RBI in 200 at-bats. He then continued to showcase his power potential in the Arizona Fall League, posting an .873 OPS in 22 games. Even if he doesn’t win the job right away, Condon is projected by MLB.com to make his major league debut this upcoming season.

Exploring All Avenues

The Rockies have been one of the most insular organizations in sports for years now. They have been viewed as an outlier by their peers and behind the rest of the league in several areas. It is early. But DePodesta and new General Manager Josh Byrnes seem well on their way to changing that perception. Both are outside hires that the Rockies sorely needed and have longstanding relationships with fellow executives around the league. Byrnes comes over from the Los Angeles Dodgers after serving as their senior vice president of baseball operations since 2014.

It will be a herculean task to get the Rockies back to a consistently competitive baseball club following a historically bad season. But the new front office is off to a good start. They have indicated that no stone will be left unturned when it comes to player acquisition. One of which potentially being players in free agency this offseason.

On November 26, Schaeffer was quoted by Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post as saying, “You are going to see winning baseball in Denver a lot sooner than you think.”

That remains to be seen. But the Rockies have already emphasized a new culture being put in place. They have not been afraid to release several longstanding Rockies, such as Toglia. Perhaps signing a free agent first baseman will be the next step in the effort to get the Rockies back on track. But no matter what the Rockies decide, the first base situation in Colorado will be very intriguing to watch this offseason