Three good things that should happen for the Colorado Rockies this season

No, these do not include a return to the postseason for the first time since 2018. That will have to wait a bit.

But there are plenty of reasons to watch what goes on at 20th and Blake this season — beyond the fact that no lustrous Colorado summer is complete without time spent at the ballyard.

No, it’s that the Rockies are quietly assembling a core that has the potential to guide the franchise out of its recent misery and back to better days — first to respectability, and then to the postseason.

Not all of the pieces are there yet. Some remain in Albuquerque, Hartford and points below. This project requires patience.

But there are signs of life — and hope.

MICHAEL TOGLIA HITS 35-PLUS HOME RUNS

And this is something that didn’t seem possible early last season, when the Rockies optioned him to Albuquerque when he had one of the most bizarre set of stats imaginable — leading the team in home runs at that moment while hitting a microscopic .106 as he sat in the throes of a 1-for-22 slump.

The 2019 first-round pick seemed to be trending toward the dustbin of high picks who didn’t flourish; there wasn’t enough consistency to go along with his bursts of power.

But when Kris Bryant went on the injured list in June, Toglia returned — and things began to change. This isn’t to say Toglia suddenly turned into Tony Gwynn, but his discipline improved. His walk rate spiked — from a career walk rate of 6.23 percent before he was optioned last year to 12.96 percent after he returned.

His strikeout rate dropped a bit but remained high — down to 31.05 percent from 35.51 percent. But the walk rate was the biggest factor in Toglia’s OBP going from a career .224 through last April to .331 afterward.

Michael Toglia goes deep for his THIRD home run today! pic.twitter.com/v0I9ogxrOl

— MLB (@MLB) July 14, 2024

From discipline came better pitches, from better pitches came better contact, and from better contact came more home runs — one every 19.5 plate appearances from June onward, compared with one every 32.1 PAs before.

And in the field, he became one of the NL’s best defenders, with 10 defensive runs saved.

His .343 OBP and .883 OPS in the Cactus League show that he’s poised to build off of his momentum from 2024. Thus, look for his growth to continue in 2025, to the point to where in the future Toglia pushes for All-Star and Gold Glove plaudits.

CHASE DOLLANDER WILL MAKE HIS MAJOR-LEAGUE DEBUT

At some point this summer, the Rockies’ 2023 first-round pick — who at various points was projected as the top prospect in that year’s class — will become the most ballyhooed young hurler unveiled by the Rockies since Jon Gray made his initial start 10 years ago.

Gray, the No. 3 overall pick in 2013 from the University of Oklahoma, took the Coors Field mound for the first time two years later, on Aug. 4, 2015.

MLB's No. 5 RHP prospect Chase Dollander (@Rockies) cruises in his 5th Cactus League start ⛴️

3 2/3 IP
2 H
0 R
2 BB
7 K pic.twitter.com/FSHrtINpbQ

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 19, 2025

Dollander will start the season in Albuquerque, but seems poised to beat Gray’s time frame and arrive earlier relative to when he was drafted.

His work in the major-league camp in the Cactus League was a mixed bag. His velocity and ability to mix pitches was impressive, but his command was inconsistent and he closed on a down note last Sunday after his two most impressive starts.

If Dollander can get enough polish in the minor leagues in the coming months, his maiden voyage should come sooner rather than later. Should he get a bit more control, his 97-MPH four-seam fastball looks major-league ready.

THE ROCKIES FIND THEIR CLOSER …

… but he comes from the minor leagues. Look for Zach Agnos, who posted a 0.867 WHIP in 24 appearances at AA Hartford after being called up from high-A Spokane last year, to emerge from a crowded field of young bullpen arms to claim that role by late September.

A 10th-round selection in the 2022 draft, the former East Carolina standout has impressed at every step through the Rockies’ organization with a four-pitch blend that can keep opposing batters off-balance.

Zach Agnos set the Emeralds down 1-2-3 to pick up his 10th save of the season on Sunday. To find out how you can save, visit https://t.co/FwE6U9joIg. #GoSpo pic.twitter.com/w7eRS9ir5T

— Spokane Indians (@spokaneindians) June 24, 2024