Colorado Rockies Breakout MLB Prospects Entering 2024

Cole Carrigg, OF 

Preseason rank: 12
BA Grade: 50. Risk: High.

TRACK RECORD: Few players in the 2023 draft class have shown Carrigg’s versatility. During his three years at San Diego State, he played every position but first base and made three appearances as a pitcher. Carrigg had a breakout 2022 summer with Yarmouth-Dennis of the Cape Cod League and carried a late first-round buzz entering the season. He dealt with a shoulder injury and a concussion, which impacted his production. Carrigg dropped to the Rockies in the supplemental second round and signed for an above-slot bonus of $1.3 million. He debuted in the Arizona Complex League, put up gaudy numbers over 13 games and earned a promotion to Low-A Fresno for the final month of the season.

SCOUTING REPORT: Carrigg is a switch-hitting tool shed with a wide range of outcomes but a strong foundation of baseball skills. Some parts of his swing work, but he rotates his hips east to west as opposed to north to south, keeping him from landing before he rotates. He has solid bat-to-ball skills but his approach is overzealous and he expands the zone too often. His swings are similar from both sides, which leads to nearly identical timing issues. Carrigg has never hit for power despite possessing bat speed and a frame that portends at least average power. Carrigg’s other tools are outstanding. He’s an easy plus runner and his speed translates to the field and on the bases. He has a plus-plus arm that plays anywhere on the field. In his professional debut Carrigg saw time in center field, shortstop and catcher. He projects as a plus center fielder who can provide average defense at shortstop and fringe-average defense behind the plate.

THE FUTURE: Carrigg is a true super-utility player who could be an above-average regular if he fixes his timing issues.

Scouting Grades
Hitting: 45. Power: 45. Run: 60. Fielding: 60. Arm: 70.

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Sean Sullivan, LHP

Preseason rank: 16
BA Grade: 45. Risk: High.

TRACK RECORD: Sullivan spent his freshman season at Northwestern, where he pitched well before impressing over the summer in the Cape Cod League. He transferred to Wake Forest before his sopho- more season and dominated, earning all-ACC first team honors. The Rockies selected Sullivan in the second round and signed him for $1.7 million. Sullivan debuted in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League and made two appearances before he was promoted to Low-A Fresno for a single appearance. 

SCOUTING REPORT: Sullivan is a low-slot lefthander who lacks power but has a high level of deception on all of his pitches. He mixes a four-seam fastball, a sweeping slider and a changeup. Sullivan’s fastball sits between 90-92 mph and touched 95 mph during the college season. His fastball plays up due to his low release height, deceptive arm action and flat fastball plane. Sullivan’s primary secondary is a low-80s changeup that generated a high rate of whiffs and is clearly the better of his two secondary offerings. His low-80s sweeper lacks bite, and it likely won’t miss bats in pro ball. He has above-average command of his pitch mix.

THE FUTURE: Sullivan has starter’s traits and a deceptive operation that might allow him to overcome his lack of velocity.

Scouting Grades
Fastball: 55. Slider: 40. Changeup: 55. Control: 55.

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Derek Bernard, 2B

Preseason rank: 28
BA Grade: 45. Risk: Extreme.

TRACK RECORD: Bernard grew up in New York City and played travel ball for Canes New York 15U. He signed for $185,000, which was the seventh-highest bonus in the Rockies’ 2022 international signing class. Bernard debuted in 2022 in the Dominican Summer League, where he hit .308/.377/.439 with four home runs as a 16-year-old. Bernard repeated the DSL in 2023 due to the tax ramifications of his split bonus. He made the most of it, hitting .324/.421/.576 with seven home runs.

SCOUTING REPORT: Bernard is an aggressive power hitter who looks to do damage. His bat-to-ball skills and approach are fringy, which adds risk that the strikeouts skyrocket when he comes back stateside. Bernard’s power is his carrying tool, and he makes lots of hard contact. Bernard’s 90th percentile exit velocity of 106.3 mph in 2023 was well above the major league average, and he did so while playing a majority of the season as a 17-year-old. Bernard is likely to slow down to a below-average runner and could end up in left field.

THE FUTURE: Bernard is a young power hitter without a position and a lot of hit tool risk, but his raw juice is double-plus.

Scouting Grades
Hitting: 40. Power: 60. Run: 40. Fielding: 40. Arm: 50.