Colorado Rockies Prospects: 2024 Midseason Top 30 Update

Notable Risers 

Carson Palmquist, LHP

Many questioned how viable Palmquist would be as a starter due to his lack of power. He’s made improvements in this regard, though he’s still hardly a flame thrower. Palmquist executes with deception and a variety of pitch shapes. His command is still fringe-average, but he’s managed to navigate lineups consistently in 2024. 

Sean Sullivan, LHP

The Rockies have done well in recent drafts targeting lefthanders with unique release traits. Sullivan only sits in the high-80s with his fastball, but his angle and arm slot make it a difficult pitch to barrel up. This makes him a unique prospect with the potential to add modest velocity in the coming years. For now, his pitchability and deception allow the package to work.

Notable Fallers

Dyan Jorge, SS

Once a touted signing, Jorge has shown little impact with the bat and doesn’t have the defensive chops to carry the entire profile. He’s a solid all-around player but looks more like a part-time contributor than a potential everyday major leaguer.

Notable New Additions

22. Jaden Hill, RHP

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: A highly-touted recruit from the Arkansas prep ranks, Hill endured pandemic disruption bookended by two injury plagued seasons at Louisiana State. Hill injured his elbow twice at LSU and had Tommy John surgery in his draft year. After a difficult and injury plagued start to his professional career, he’s so far rebounded in 2024 in a relief role.

Scouting Report: With a long history of elbow injuries, the Rockies made the prudent move to transition Hill to a relief role. He possesses a powerful pitch mix, and his stuff will fit in at the backend of a bullpen. Hill mixes a four-seamer, slider and changeup, with his fastball sitting 96-97 mph and touching 99 at peak with heavy armside run but a lack of hop. His slider is a sweeper at 82-84 mph and is his least thrown pitch. Hill’s best pitch is his mid-80s changeup, which shows good vertical movement and velocity separation off his fastball. Hill shows average command of his arsenal overall.

The Future: A power reliever capable of working in high-leverage innings at peak. 

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 50

23. Welinton Herrera, LHP

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Herrera signed out of the Dominican Republic during the January 2021 international signing period. He spent two seasons in the Dominican Complex League before jumping stateside in 2023. Herrera began 2024 with Low-A Fresno, earning promotion to Double-A in late June. 

Scouting Report: A relief-only prospect capable of working multiple innings, Herrera has plus stuff with unique release characteristics. He mixes just two pitches in his fastball and slider, but shows good command. His fastball sits 94-95 mph from a 5-foot release height, allowing the pitch to play plus or better. His slider is a low-to-mid-80s gyro slider that tunnels well off of his fastball.

The Future: Herrera has the feel of a middle reliever capable of shutting down lefty heavy lineups.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Control: 55

24. Alberto Pacheco, LHP

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High

Track Record: Pacheco signed during the 2018-19 international free agency period for $400,000. He made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League over the summer of 2021. After coming stateside in 2022, Pacheco has spent all of 2023 and 2024 with Low-A Fresno.

Scouting Report: Pacheco is an undersized lefthander that mixes a fastball, slider and changeup. Pacheco’s fastball sits 92-94 mph with generic movement, while his change sits mid-80s with two-seam fastball shape. His slider is his best pitch and swing-and-miss weapon, sitting 83-85 mph with tight gyro shape. Pacheco shows average command of his arsenal overall.

The Future: Pacheco is a projectable lefty without premium stuff who is showing starter traits.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50

26. Zach Agnos, RHP

BA Grade/Risk: 40/High

Track Record: A former two-way player at East Carolina, Agnos went to the Rockies in the 10th round of the 2022 draft and signed for $165,000. Agnos has been developed as a relief pitcher over the past two seasons, reaching Double-A in June 2024.

Scouting Report: Agnos possesses significant stuff across his four-pitch mix, led by a fastball that sits 94-95 mph and averages 19 to 20 inches of induced vertical break. Agnos also employs a mid-80s sweeper, low-90s cutter and changeup. His slider is the best of his secondaries, generating substantial swing-and-miss. Agnos’ changeup has played plus in 2024, and his cutter offers a bridge look between the fastball and the sweeper. Agnos shows above-average command of his entire arsenal.

The Future: Agnos has plus stuff and is refining his command now that he’s focused on pitching. He has closer upside.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Cutter: 45 | Control: 55

30. Jace Kaminska, RHP

BA Grade/Risk: 40/High

Track Record: Kaminska spent two seasons as a member of Wichita State’s rotation before transferring to Nebraska the spring he was drafted. Kaminska had a solid, if unspectacular season in the Big Ten, but it was enough for the Rockies to select him in the 10th round of the 2023 draft. He debuted in the Arizona Complex League, making a single one-inning appearance. Kaminska was assigned to Low-A Fresno out of camp to begin 2024.

Scouting Report: Kaminska is a burly righthander that works entirely from a semi-windup and mixes five pitches. Despite that deep arsenal, Kaminska’s usage is dominated by his four-seam fastball and curveball. The fastball is unique, sitting at 93-94 mph and generating 19 inches of induced vertical break on average with heavy cut. The pitch dominated Low-A hitters this year, generating a high rate of whiffs. His curveball is a high-70s, two-plane breaking ball for which he shows advanced command. Despite three other secondaries, Kaminska has used his slider, cutter and changeup rarely this season. Overall, he shows plus command of his extensive pitch mix and the ability to land all of his pitches in the zone.

The Future: Kaminska has a good combination of two average-or-better pitches, a deep arsenal and advanced strike-throwing skills. He projects as a backend rotation depth starter but perhaps has room for more.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Cutter: 40 | Control: 60

Significant Injuries

Zac Veen, OF

Veen went on the injury list for Double-A Hartford on May 19 with a back injury, but his rehab assignment was nearing completion as of early July.

Jordan Beck, OF

Beck broke his hand on a diving play in the outfield on May 18. The team hopes to have a timeline for a return after Beck meets with team doctors before the All-Star break.

Jordy Vargas, RHP

Vargas had Tommy John surgery last July. He’s expected to miss all of the 2024 season, but has begun throwing bullpens at Colorado’s Arizona facility. 

Benny Montgomery, OF

Montgomery underwent surgery on his left shoulder in May and will miss all of 2024. 

Gabriel Hughes, RHP

Hughes had Tommy John surgery last July and is working his way back. He has begun to throwing bullpens. 

Jackson Cox, RHP

Cox underwent Tommy John surgery in July of last year. He’s returning to mound work alongside Gabriel Hughes and Jordy Vargas.