Colorado Rockies 2023 MLB Draft Report Card

Fastest Runner: Super utility man Cole Carrigg (6) is an above-average or plus runner who can beat out ground balls for infield singles, cover a lot of ground in center field and steal bases with volume and efficiency. He went 13-for-16 (81.3%) in stolen-base attempts in his 36-game pro debut. 

Best Defensive Player: Carrigg (6) could win this category at three different positions. His defensive versatility is the biggest calling card in his scouting report, and he is a legitimately good defender at two premium positions—shortstop and center field—and has the tools to get there at catcher as well. He’s athletic with solid actions in the middle infield and double-plus arm strength that plays at every position. He perhaps lacks the polish that comes from playing one position exclusively, but has the athleticism to add that, depending on how the Rockies want to use him in the field. He spent time at catcher, shortstop and center field in his pro debut. 

Best Fastball: Righthander Chase Dollander (1) has some of the loudest upside in the 2023 draft class and averaged 95-96 mph with his fastball. He’s been up to 98 mph with the pitch, and in the past he has also shown plus riding life, though the pitch shape backed up during his 2023 draft year. If he can rediscover that carry, his fastball has plus attributes all-around with excellent command at his best as well. 

Best Secondary Pitch: Dollander’s mid-80s slider looks like a legitimate plus offering when he’s hitting on it. Like his fastball, the pitch was a bit more inconsistent during his draft year, but the pitch still generated a 34% whiff rate and has high spin rates and bite that should make it effective vs. both righties and lefties.

Best Pro Debut: Carrigg (3) had an exceptional pro debut and looked like a completely different hitter than the one amateur scouts were critical of with San Diego State, when he was expanding the zone and slapping the ball weakly around the field. He slashed .350/.408/.600 in 36 games between rookie ball and Low-A Fresno with five home runs, five triples, 10 doubles and much better exit velocities than expected—including an 87.1-mph average.

Best Athlete: Carrigg’s ability to play multiple premium positions speaks to his athleticism. In high school, he was also a talented point guard and was a first-team all-conference selection and defensive player of the year at the position.

Most Intriguing Background: Karros has big league bloodlines as the son of former Dodgers first baseman Eric Karros, who won a Rookie of the Year award in 1992, was a silver slugger in 1995 and hit 284 home runs over a 14-year career.

Closest To The Majors: Righthander Seth Halvorsen (7) had an injury-plagued college career and he is old for the class as a 23-year-old, but he reached Double-A in a solid pro debut and has a big fastball that sits in the upper 90s and was up to 98 this summer. The control has been shaky in the past, but over the last year or so he’s been a fair strike thrower and he could move quickly as a reliever.

Best Day Three Pick (Or NDFA): Lefthander Bryson Hammer (12) signed for $200,000 early on day three and features a pair of solid secondaries with a low-80s power curve and mid-80s, bat-missing changeup. He was third among Rockies debut arms with 5.1 innings, and he struck out six batters and walked two in that brief stint in rookie ball.