Colorado Rockies

Track Record: Hill has been a prized pitching prospect since his prep days in Arkansas, but injuries have since marred his development. He was limited to six games across 2019 and 2020 at Louisiana State because of elbow problems and the pandemic and then lasted only 29.2 innings in 2021 before tearing his ulnar collateral ligament. The injury required Tommy John surgery and sent the projected first-round pick tumbling down the draft board. The Rockies gambled on him in the second round and signed him for the full slot value of $1,689,500.

Scouting Report: When healthy, Hill has three plus pitches in a mid-90s fastball, a mid-80s changeup and a wipeout slider. But his velocity, command and offspeed were all inconsistent in the seven starts he made prior to getting hurt in 2021, resulting in a 6.67 ERA. Hill’s injury history goes beyond just his time at LSU. He broke his collarbone playing football and broke his wrist playing basketball in high school and has little extended track record of success, largely because of his frequent injuries. He is an excellent athlete with a powerful 6-foot-4, 234-pound frame, but he has yet to demonstrate the ability to consistently command his pitches to both sides of the plate.

The Future: Hill’s offseason throwing program has him on track to make his pro debut in 2022. His athleticism and stuff give him enormous upside, but he needs to accumulate innings and prove he can stay healthy.

Track Record: A two-way star in college at Georgia, Schunk made third base his primary focus as a pro and turned in a solid debut season at short-season Boise in 2019 after the Rockies drafted him in the second round. He spent 2020 at the alternate training site and instructional league and made his full-season debut in 2021 at High-A Spokane, where he split time between third base (44 starts) and second base (35) and struggled at the plate.

Scouting Report: Schunk has just fringy power and doesn’t fit the profile of a typical slugging third baseman. At his best, he takes competitive at-bats with a contact-driven approach and drives doubles from gap to gap. Schunk swung and missed way too frequently at Spokane, however, ringing up a 31% strikeout rate. Optimistic evaluators still see the potential for him to be an average hitter with his approach and natural bat-to-ball skills. Schunk is a slightly above-average runner and a good athlete who is a potential plus defender at third base. He is also developing at second base and saw a couple starts at first, too, where he is raw. Schunk has solid instincts on the bases and in the field that help his tools play up.

The Future: Schunk should start 2022 in Double-A and has the ability and work ethic to be a future everyday player for the Rockies. How his bat and power grow remain to be seen.

Track Record: Knee and back injuries limited McMahon’s time on the mound in college, but he was dominant when healthy. He posted a 2.25 ERA with 123 strikeouts in 112.1 career innings for Miami, then signed with the Rockies for $1,637,400 after Colorado drafted him No. 46 overall. He proceeded to impress in instructional league, then put up a 4.17 ERA in 22 games (20 starts) in his professional debut for High-A Spokane in 2021.

Scouting Report: McMahon’s fastball sits in the low 90s and can run up to 95 mph with some late action that can induce weak contact. He has above-grade command and also features a hybrid breaking pitch that moves like a slurve, as well as an average changeup that’s still a work in progress. He battles on the mound, attacks hitters, has good instincts and is athletic, but will probably need to shorten his arm action as he faces better hitting. His slider and curve also need more consistency.

The Future: McMahon’s ceiling is as a mid- to back-end starter if he can continue to hone his control and develop his changeup to keep hitters off a non-dominant fastball. He’ll likely start 2022 in Double-A.

Track Record: Welker dominated his first three seasons after the Rockies selected him in the fourth round in 2016. He hit .329 for Rookie-level Grand Junction in his pro debut, .350 for Low-A Asheville in 2017 and .333 to win the California League batting title for High-A Lancaster in 2018. Welker hasn’t been able to build on that success since. A shoulder injury limited him to 98 games in 2019 and, after spending 2020 at the alternate site and getting added to the 40-man roster, he was suspended 80 games for using the performance-enhancing substance DHCMT. He debuted for the Rockies on Sept. 8 and hit .189 in 37 at-bats.

Scouting Report: Welker has possibly the best pure bat-to-ball skills in the organization, but his recent offensive struggles have seeded doubts. At his best, he has a line-drive, on-base approach with a flat swing conducive to contact. He’s a cerebral hitter, but he needs to work on staying within his approach and not trying to do too much. He is prone to selling out for power and losing his swing mechanics. Welker has good hands and a strong arm, but he is a slow runner with limited mobility in the field who fits better at first base than third base. He still needs to get better at scooping low throws out of the dirt.

The Future: Welker will be a part of the Rockies’ plans in 2022. He has time to grow as a backup at third base behind Ryan McMahon and first base behind C.J. Cron.

Track Record: Signed for a mere $77,000 in 2016, Olivarez spent his first two seasons in the Dominican Summer League before making his stateside debut for Rookie-level Grand Junction in 2019. He turned in a raw but promising summer in the Pioneer League and had a big 2020 with solid showings at the alternate training site and in instructional league. Olivarez was added to the 40-man roster after the season and entered 2021 with big expectations, but he posted a 6.05 ERA for High-A Spokane.

Scouting Report: Olivarez’s raw stuff is electric. He has easy fastball velocity up to 100 mph and usually sits in the high 90s. But his command is questionable and his offspeed pitches need honing, with an average changeup and a curveball that can be flat. Cleaning up and simplifying his delivery will help him achieve the release-point consistency needed to become a bonafide starter. He already creates uncomfortable at-bats from either side, but to complement his plus heat, Olivarez needs to keep a better lid on his emotions on the mound.

The Future: Olivarez can be a hard-throwing back-end starter if he can learn to command his fastball. If the command doesn’t come soon, he profiles as a late-inning bullpen arm.

Track Record: The Rockies signed Bernabel for $900,000 out of the Dominican Republic in 2018 and quickly converted him from shortstop to third base. He had a sluggish start in the Dominican Summer League but tore it up in 2021 by hitting .312/.367/.516 in 43 games split between the Arizona Complex League and Low-A Fresno.

Scouting Report: Bernabel is a free-swinger with raw power who rarely misses mistake pitches. That power should continue to grow, as it has throughout his short minor league career thus far. A bat-first prospect, Bernabel knows how to battle and make contact when behind in the count. Strikeouts aren’t really an issue despite his free-swinging ways. His line drive, pull-side approach is underscored by good balance and bat speed. Bernabel has a strong arm at third base but still has room to improve his footwork, lateral quickness, fluidity and internal clock. He is an average runner.

The Future: Bernabel has some gaps in his game to shore up, especially defensively, but his bat has him on a path toward Coors Field. He should be tested by Double-A pitching at some point in 2022.

Track Record: After starting his college career as a reliever, Weatherly switched to a starting role in 2020 and impressed. He went 2-0 with a 0.79 ERA in four starts as the Friday starter at Clemson and the Rockies drafted him No. 81 overall, signing him for $755,300. Weatherly impressed in instructional league and then got plenty of seasoning with Low-A Fresno in 2021, posting a 4.83 ERA with 96 strikeouts in 15 starts. A shoulder injury limited him down the stretch.

Scouting Report: Weatherly features a mid-90s fastball that can touch 97 mph with power finish. He has an effective changeup that induces swings and misses and his slider has the potential to be a plus pitch. While Weatherly has loud stuff, he needs to reign in his below-average control and work ahead of hitters more. He especially needs to improve his command of his slider. There are days when Weatherly is dominant and days when he’s not filling up the zone. He is a good athlete and has a high pitching IQ.

The Future: Weatherly has the raw stuff to become a mid-rotation starter. If his strike-throwing doesn’t improve, he profiles as a lefthanded setup man.

Track Record: Fernandez signed with the Rockies out of Cuba for $295,000 in 2019, and it quickly became apparent he had the talent to match some of the top players in that year’s international class. He made his pro debut as an 18-year-old in the Dominican Summer League in 2021 and ranked sixth in the league with a .937 OPS.

Scouting Report: Fernandez is a physical lefthanded hitter with a power stroke. It’s a loose swing with good bat speed, leverage and strength behind it, posting top-end exit velocities that approach 110 mph. It should be at least plus raw power once he fills out, with a chance to be a 30 home run hitter in his prime. He recognizes pitches well for his age and generally stays within the strike zone. Fernandez has big offensive upside and is a smart player, but his lack of mobility restricts him defensively. He has a strong arm, but he’s a well below-average runner who might slow down more, with some risk he could go to first base.

The Future: Fernandez will have to mash given his defensive limits, but he has the offensive upside to hit in the middle of a lineup.

Track Record: At 5-foot-6, Pinto is typically the smallest player on the field. That didn’t deter the Rockies, who signed him for $120,000 out of Venezuela, and he was outstanding in his pro debut in 2021. Pinto had more than twice as many walks (38) as strikeouts (18) in the Dominican Summer League, ranking second in the league in both batting average (.360) and on-base percentage (.486) and fourth in slugging percentage (.543).

Scouting Report: Pinto has a small but strong, compact build. He has outstanding hand-eye coordination and a short, quick stroke, rarely swinging and missing. His ability to recognize pitches and swing at good pitches are already advanced for his age, with a short strike zone that he doesn’t often expand. Pinto is more of an on-base threat than a power threat, but he has some sneaky pop for his size and isn’t just a slap hitter. Pinto’s tools jump out as well. He’s a plus-plus runner who led the DSL with 41 stolen bases. He has a plus arm too. He he spent most of his time last year at second base, his most likely defensive home.

The Future: Pinto has yet to make his U.S. debut, but he’s a breakout candidate and one of the organization’s most exciting players below the full-season level.

Track Record: Fernandez took a long, circuitous route to his major league debut in 2021. He originally signed with the Rockies in 2012 and was selected by the Giants in the 2017 Rule 5 draft. He missed the 2018 season after having Tommy John surgery and was claimed off waivers after the season by the Marlins. He never pitched for them due to injury and re-signed with Rockies following the 2019 season. Fernandez finally got on the mound for the first time in four years in 2021. He began at Double-A and worked his way up to Triple-A, where he posted a 0.64 ERA in 14 appearances to earn a September callup.

Scouting Report: Fernandez touched 105 mph before surgery and is back bringing the heat. In his MLB debut Sept. 5, he threw the fastest Rockies pitch in the Statcast era at 102.4 mph. When Fernandez commands his fastball, he is nearly unhittable. But that command hasn’t been nearly as consistent as he needs. He’s been a bit over-reliant on his power fastball to get him through the minors, meaning his slider and changeup aren’t as sharp as they need to be. His slider needs more depth and his changeup needs to be thrown with more consistency and confidence, especially early in the count.

The Future: Fernandez will be a part of the Rockies’ bullpen plans in 2022. It will likely be another growth year as he continues to hone his offspeed pitches and overall command.

Track Record: Davis had Tommy John surgery his junior year at UC Santa Barbara, but the Reds liked his stuf and gave him an above-slot $127,500 bonus to sign as an 11th-round pick. Davis returned to make his pro debut a year later and, after waiting out the coronavirus pandemic, was off to a strong start at High-A Dayton in 2021 when the Rockies acquired him as one of two prospects for Mychal Givens at the trade deadline. Davis showed well at High-A Spokane after the trade and was added to the 40-man roster after the season.

Scouting Report: Davis has a well-rounded four-pitch mix headlined by a 93-94 mph fastball that can get up to 96 mph with slight sink. He complements his fastball with a mid-to-high-80s slider, a high-70s curveball and a developing changeup. His potentially plus curveball is his best secondary, and he is confident throwing it in any count. Davis’ control is inconsistent and has been below-average at its worst. The Rockies primarily want him to throw more fastballs and continue to develop his fastball command. Davis’ biggest concern is his health. In addition to his Tommy John surgery, he has also battled shoulder soreness and blister issues at various points.

The Future: Davis has the stuff to be a back-end starter if he can hone his control and stay healthy. He’ll move to Double-A in 2022.

Track Record: The Rockies selected Rock at No. 68 overall and signed him for $953,100 after he led Ohio in ERA (2.33), wins (eight), complete games (four) and strikeouts (117) as a junior. He made his brief pro debut with eight innings in the Arizona Complex League and struck out 11 of the 29 batters he faced.

Scouting Report: Rock’s fastball sits in the mid-90s with cut, and he can pump it up to 96 mph. He is fairly skinny in his 6-foot-6 frame and still has room to get stronger and add more velocity. Rock also has a mid-80s power curveball and a developing changeup that he’s building confidence in A somewhat deceptive delivery and a lower arm slot make his pitches difficult for hitters to pick up, but also hampers his control. Rock has struggled with walks at various points throughout his career and needs to learn to be around the strike zone more with his deceptive mechanics.

The Future: Rock has the body and raw stuff to be a back-end starter if he continues to fill out, improves his changeup and hones his control. He’ll begin 2022 at one of the Class-A levels.

Track Record: After leading Michigan to a runner-up finish in the 2019 College World Series, the Rockies drafted Kauffmann No. 77 overall and elected to rest him that summer because of his high workload in college. A shoulder injury limited his development at the alternate site in 2020. The righthander made his pro debut in 2021 with High-A Spokane and the Rockies elevated him to Double-A after just two impressive starts, where he pitched to a 7.35 ERA in 19 games (18 starts).

Scouting Report: Kauffmann relies on command and grittiness to elevate an ordinary pitch mix. He’s comfortable throwing his low-90s sinker to both sides of the plate, but hitters weren’t fooled by it (.398 wOBA against) and he needs to throw it in the strike zone more frequently. Kauffmann also deploys a low-90s four-seamer and an average changeup that needs more development, but neither miss many bats. His best secondary offering is his mid-80s slider which looks extremely similar to his fastball out of his hand and projects as an above-average pitch.

The Future: Kauffmann’s ceiling is an innings eater at the back of a rotation, though he could profile as a reliever as well. The Rockies challenged Kauffmann in 2021, unworried by the growing pains at Double-A, and the same will likely be true in Triple-A in 2022.

Track Record: After signing with the Rockies for $200,000 on his 16th birthday, Restituyo spent 2018 in the Dominican Summer League, then hit .259 in 55 games in a strong first impression stateside in the Northwest League in 2019. He stood out during the 2020 instructional league, and spent all of 2021 with Low-A Fresno, slashing .259/.288/.334 as the Grizzlies’ everyday center fielder.

Scouting Report: With growing gap-to-gap doubles power and sneaky pop, Restituyo has plenty of potential offensively. But he’ll have to clean up certain glaring deficiencies, such as his tendency to be over-anxious in the box and his swing-and-miss rate on breaking balls. He struck out at a 25.2% clip in 2021 and needs to work on his strike zone discipline overall. A middle infielder converted to the outfield, Restituyo has above-average range to his left and right but needs to work on his footwork and reads on flies over his head. Strong arm. He’s a fast, aggressive baserunner (69 steals in his career) who can put pressure on the opposing defense.

The Future: Restituyo projects as a reserve outfielder at the big league level, although his defensive versatility and speed could help him carve out a larger role. He’ll be tested in High-A in 2022.

Track Record: New Hampshire isn’t known for its baseball, but by getting drafted at No. 42 overall, Lavigne has a chance to become the first hitter drafted out of high school in the state to make it to the majors. He tore up the Pioneer League in 2018, slashing .350/.477/.519 with a .996 OPS, but came back down to earth in Low-A Asheville in 2019 (.236 average with 29.3 strikeout percentage). He played in instructional league in 2020 then was tested in Fresno and Spokane in 2021.

Scouting Report: Plate discipline is Lavigne’s strength, as he’s a patient (and sometimes too patient) hitter. He has a major-league frame, but lacks consistent power to all fields. With a smooth bat path and above-average bat speed, he has gap-to-gap potential, but tends to be too pull-happy. When he’s struggling, he’s not letting his natural strength and bat speed work for him. His speed is slightly above average for his size. He has an unimpressive arm and a long way to go overall on defense; improving his footwork has been a continued emphasis.

The Future: Lavigne’s ceiling is as an average everyday first baseman, but he needs to flash more power and the glove must improve drastically if he’s to be more than a reserve. Double-A will be a big test in 2022.

Track Record: It’s been a winding road since Oakland drafted Hannah No. 50 overall in 2018. The A’s traded him to the Reds at the 2019 deadline, then Cincinnati flipped him to Colorado after the 2020 season in a deal that sent Hannah and Robert Stephenson to the Rockies in exchange for Jeff Hoffman and Case Williams. He impressed as a non-roster invite in spring training in 2021 before slashing .255/.324/.351 in 71 games in Double-A.

Scouting Report: There’s not a lot of power in Hannah’s swing and his bat-to-ball skills need work. He struck out at a 32.8% clip in 2021 after a 23.5% strikeout rate in 2019, so his approach needs major refinement. He’s much better at making consistent hard contact against righties. Against southpaws, his power is negligible and he hit a paltry .178 from that side in 2021. He has plus speed but it’s not showing up on the basepaths yet. He has wide range in center field but his arm is average for the position and would be a better fit for left, where he’s also seen time.

The Future: Hannah profiles as a fourth outfielder who can add speed and occasional sparks to a lineup, but he doesn’t have the hit tools to project as a starter. He’ll be tested in Triple-A in 2022.

Track Record: After four seasons in Boston’s system as an outfielder, Aybar converted to pitcher ahead of the 2018 season. The move paid off, as Aybar posted a 4.58 ERA across 44 appearances at Low-A and High-A in 2019. He was traded to Colorado after the 2020 season in exchange for shortstop prospect Christian Koss, and the Rockies placed Aybar on their 40-man roster. The southpaw had a bumpy 2021 in Double-A with a 6.22 ERA in 49 appearances.

Scouting Report: Aybar has a mid-90s fastball that tops out at 99 mph with cut. When he commands that pitch to both sides, he’s nearly unhittable. And even when the heater isn’t totally sharp, it’s still electric enough to get him out of trouble. His offspeed pitches need sharpening, as his high-80s slider doesn’t have consistent cut and he’s still growing confidence in his low-80s changeup. He’s still raw in his pitchability and his overall command needs refinement. His arsenal limits homers and there’s more strikeout potential in his arm than his 23.7% K rate in 2021.

The Future: Everything comes down to command for Aybar. If he can pinpoint his blazing fastball and his offspeed pitches progress, he could be a focal point of the Rockies’ bullpen in a couple years. He’ll likely start 2022 in Triple-A and could pitch himself into a second-half call-up.

Track Record: A local product who starred at Regis Jesuit High School, Todd played two seasons at Arizona State before transferring to Colorado Mesa. The Rockies took him in the 32nd round, and he signed for just $1,000. Todd has grinded through the minors in the three years since. After a rough debut in 2018, he had a flashy 1.86 ERA across 26 games at the Class-A levels in 2019. The 2021 season brought growing pains in the high minors, but Todd capped the year with an all-star appearance in the Arizona Fall League.

Scouting Report: Todd’s low-90s fastball tops out at 95 mph with run, and he pairs it with a low-80s slider that has two-plane break. That breaking ball improved over the past couple years, along with his fastball and developing changeup. Earlier in his minor league career he had a tendency to overthrow, but that’s been corrected. He knows how to attack hitters and pitch to their weaknesses, battles through tough innings, and can finish hitters off deep in the count (31.4% K rate in 2021). Todd has solid command with room for improvement.

The Future: If Todd continues to rise as quickly as he has, he could debut in the Rockies’ bullpen in 2022. He’ll likely begin the season in Triple-A.

Track Record: The Rockies drafted Lawrence in the 12th round in 2015 and he evolved into one of the club’s most intriguing bullpen prospects. After a couple unimpressive seasons to start his career, Lawrence burst onto the radar with dominant seasons in the South Atlantic League in 2017 and the California League in 2018. He rode a wave of momentum into 2019 spring training as a non-roster invitee, but then sputtered to a 8.76 ERA across 38 games in the high minors. Then, Lawrence was suspended 80 games for the performance-enhancing substance DHCMT. He rebounded in 2021 with his Rockies debut, but struggled against big-league hitters with a 8.64 ERA in 19 games.

Scouting Report: Lawrence has a high-90s fastball with sink and he can routinely touch triple digits. His funky arm angle – which is somewhere between three-quarters and sidearm – creates deception throughout an at-bat. He has an aggressive demeanor on the mound and attacks hitters with his heater. The sharpness of his low-80s slider is improving. His command needs to get better, too, as evidenced by his 22% walk rate in the bigs in 2021.

The Future: Command and the consistency of his secondary pitches are what’s keeping Lawrence from sticking in the Rockies’ bullpen, where he will have plenty of chances again in 2022.

Track Record: After dominating his first two years for St. John’s, Hollowell took a step back his junior year, but the Rockies selected him at No. 189 anyway. He immediately impressed in Grand Junction in 2019, posting a 2.89 ERA in 17 games with seven saves as the team’s closer. He worked to fine-tune his delivery during instructional league in 2020. Then he recovered from injury to put up another strong (albeit short) year in Low-A Fresno with a 2.45 ERA in 22 games in 2021, with four saves. Hollowell is 12-of-13 in save opportunities as a pro.

Scouting Report: His fastball sits around 95 mph and is combined with his mid-80s power slurve, which is his out pitch and a big reason why he’s tallied a 36.4% strikeout rate so far. He has solid command with both pitches and walks very few batters, while also showing the ability to keep the ball in the yard (three homers allowed across 42.2 innings). He morphed a crouched-style delivery into an upright one, allowing him to use his height and frame to generate more movement on both pitches.

The Future: Hollowell is a projectable back-end bullpen arm, especially if his strikeout rate stays steady. He’ll be tested in the high minors in 2022.