The historically bad 2025 Colorado Rockies look very different than they did when the season began in a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

With this in mind, the staff at Purple Row felt it would be useful to revisit the “State of the Position” series that we run in March as a season preview.

We’ve also asked authors of the spring pieces to re-evaluate their earlier remarks with an eye toward the trade deadline.

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What I said in March

When the 2025 season began, the hope was that Ezequiel Tovar could make another step forward, much like he did in 2024. On the heels of a Gold Glove campaign and 26 home runs to lead the team, the logical step that I wrote about in March was for him to rise to new heights.

Unfortunately, Tovar’s body had other plans.

In the opening series against the Tampa Bay Rays, Tovar made a diving play in which he injured his hip. He landed on the hip multiple times while making diving plays and still managed to play all 96 defensive innings for the Rockies through their first nine games until sitting out on April 10.

The Rockies and former manager Bud Black figured he would have to just play with some discomfort, but on April 16, they placed Tovar on the 10-day Injured List with a left hip contusion. He returned a month later on May 16, playing a few weeks until he was placed on the Injured List again on June 6 with an oblique strain.

In 32 games, Tovar has slashed .258/.301/.406 with six doubles, two triples, and three home runs. In the sample size, he has struck out at a very much improved 21.7% clip. Perhaps the most notable improvement was his patience at the plate. Tovar made a concerted effort not to be as much of a free swinger, and the work has paid off with a 5.1% walk rate, a welcome contrast to the 3.3% he posted last season.

He proved he is capable of further progress with his weaknesses, but the problem is that he hasn’t been on the field to let that growth take root.

In the wake of his injuries, the Rockies had to weather the storm of multiple injuries and a lack of production at shortstop. Tyler Freeman suffered an oblique strain early in the season, but has since become a staple in right field. Aaron Schunk was called up after Tovar’s first IL stint, but ended up on the shelf himself. The team even reunited with old friend Alan Trejo for a spell and got some familiar production.

Kyle Farmer was expected to fill in as the primary backup, and he evolved into the regular starter for some time, but the lack of production and overall defensive skill at the position to stick there long term (hence all the other options they’ve tried).

Still, the last month has at least given the Rockies a glimpse of one of their top pieces that may find a more permanent place with the club for the rest of the season.

Where the Rockies are now
The starter

In early June, the Rockies decided to call up hot-hitting prospect Ryan Ritter (No. 17 PuRP). After 52 games with Triple-A Albuquerque, Ritter was slashing .305/.413/.635 with 16 home runs. His power was on display plenty, but his plate discipline was also shining through with 50 strikeouts to 34 walks in 245 plate appearances.

The Rockies had been resistant to calling him up, but after Tovar’s second injury and the lack of other options, they bit the bullet and called up their 2022 fourth-round draft pick. Interim manager Warren Schaeffer has given Ritter full rein to figure out the big league level, and in 29 games, he is slashing .242/.298/.347 with one home run.

The growing pains have been evident for him at the plate, particularly when it comes to plate discipline. In 106 plate appearances thus far, he has 34 strikeouts to seven walks, and when he has made contact, owns a 42.2% ground ball rate.

Defensively, he has shown glimpses of his quality glove work, but it’s not as crisp as Tovar’s. Still, with Tovar on the cusp of returning, the Rockies may still benefit from Ritter being on the roster to fill in at second base and get starts at shortstop as needed.

The backups

At the end of the first half, the Rockies have focused on two veteran backups with the aforementioned Farmer and the addition of Orlando Arcia.

Farmer’s .218/.264/.345 slash and four home runs to go along with limited range at shortstop hasn’t exactly been the temporary option the Rockies have been looking for. There is no issue with throwing him out there once a week as needed, but anything beyond that certainly is.

The Rockies quickly picked up Arcia when he was released by the Atlanta Braves at the end of May. Defensively, he’s the best option to spell Ritter at shortstop, but his bat has left a lot to be desired. With a .188/.233/.294 slash and two home runs since joining the Rockies, Arcia isn’t providing the spark the Rockies hoped he could, but they do value his leadership in the clubhouse.

Depth options

The Rockies banked so much on Tovar that this season has proven how lacking they are in talent to step in at the big league level. Ritter has continued to show adjustment ability, but the system is bottom-heavy when it comes to shortstop talent this season.

Triple-A

With Ritter on the big league roster, the Albuquerque Isotopes have used veteran Owen Miller as the primary shortstop. Miller had a brief stint with the big league club, but never played shortstop. Alongside him, Schunk has mostly played third base for the Isotopes this season but could step in at shortstop in the big leagues if needed again.

Julio Carreras (No. 60 PuRP) played 370 innings at shortstop for Albuquerque last season but has been relegated almost exclusively to second base. In 50 games this season, he has slashed .280/.353/.373 with one home run, while spending a good bit of time on the Developmental List.

The Rockies selected Jose Torres in the Triple-A phase of the Rule-5 Draft back in December. A former third-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 2021, Torres performed quite well with the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats, batting .244/.310/.421 with 10 home runs. He was promoted to the Isotopes at the start of July and has only played in seven games, all at shortstop. He has some intriguing hit tools and a solid enough glove.

Double-A

Torres took up the majority of innings at shortstop while with the Yard Goats, but since his promotion, Dyan Jorge (No. 21 PuRP) has started to see more playing time at the position, having spent the first half of the season at second base.

Jorge has had plenty of intrigue over his first three seasons in the minors, but has struggled with the adjustment to Double-A this season. In 77 games, he is hitting just .188 with a .528 OPS. It’s not that he’s striking out a ton (65) or isn’t drawing walks (25); he simply isn’t making much impact when he makes contact.

Nic Kent has also seen a bit of time at shortstop but has mostly been a utility infielder, primarily at second base and third base. He is hitting .229/.322/.287 on the season.

High-A

The primary shortstop for the High-A Spokane Indians has been Andy Perez (No. 38 PuRP). The Cuban product has batted .250/.292/.373 with seven home runs for the Indians. Much like the other shortstops mentioned in this article, he’s an aggressive hitter who isn’t really going to have a high OBP, but can be a quality producer if he can make consistent contact.

The other name to keep an eye on, even though he’s mostly a second and third baseman, is Braylen Wimmer. Drafted in the eighth round in 2023, Wimmer has continued to impress in his second full year in the Rockies’ system. In 78 games for the Indians, he’s batting .302/.376/.503 with 14 home runs. Versatility is his calling card as he’s made a start at every defensive position save first base and catcher.

Low-A

Kelvin Hidalgo has been the primary starting shortstop for the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies with 50 starts at the keystone. The 20-year-old is hitting .254/.315/.359 with 15 doubles and three home runs in 82 games.

Nolan Clifford has also split his time there among the other infield positions, producing a .206/.330/.239 line.

Closing thoughts

The Rockies have certainly prided themselves on a rich history of shortstops, but without Tovar in the picture, the seams of the system start to show. There is intriguing talent on paper, but the results show that there is a certain profile that permeates through the system and doesn’t exactly stand out.

The absence of Tovar has left a void for the Rockies. Ritter has done an admirable job filling in, but the rookie has a lot to work on. The position desperately needs Tovar to come back and stay healthy for the rest of the season.

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