SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Charlie Condon and Jared Thomas are putting in their time in the Arizona Fall League, but there’s no doubt their respective futures in Colorado are on their minds.

Condon (No. 2) and Thomas (No. 8) are both among the Rockies’ top 10 prospects, and both provide enticing possibilities for a continued youth movement in Denver. Condon potentially fills a sudden hole at first base after Michael Toglia’s struggles last season, with Thomas joining a crowded outfield situation.

The duo first played together in the regular season on May 21 at High-A Spokane, then made their Double-A debuts in Hartford together on July 2. Now both members of the Salt River Rafters, the AFL team where Rockies prospects play alongside prospects from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Pittsburgh Pirates, they joke about serving as each other’s “swing coaches” as the Rafters entered Wednesday trying to snap a three-game losing streak.

“It’s been a blessing so far,” Thomas told The Denver Gazette of working with Condon and sharing advice. “One thing about that kid, and I’d like to say for myself as well, is that we care about the game. We’re kind of obsessed with it. We bring what happened on the field to the house and we bounce around in conversation and that’s where I think you learn a lot is just talking.

TALKING STICK, AZ – OCTOBER 07: Jared Thomas #14 of the Salt River Rafters runs during the game between the Glendale Desert Dogs and the Salt River Rafters at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 in Talking Stick, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

“His brain works a little differently than mine so he’s seeing different things than I am, but then we get on the same page and it’s a huge help.”

Condon agreed.

“We look out for each other,” said Condon, drafted with the No. 3 overall pick in 2024. “We’ve had good and bad days together and we’ve had days where one of us is good and one of us is bad. For us, it’s all about keeping each other in the middle all the time. It’s nice to have a guy like him to bounce ideas off of and talk to all the time.”

Having each other in Scottsdale has paid off with Condon entering Wednesday hitting .357 in his first 56 at-bats with 11 RBIs and Thomas posting a .293 average with six RBIs. Each has continued to take the steps forward they exhibited in Hartford at the end of the season when the Yard Goats were chasing a postseason berth but fell just short.

Those moments of chasing pennants and playoff spots are something both players want to bring to the Rockies. They believe they can be a part of a brighter future.

Both Condon and Thomas acknowledge the reality of the 119-loss season just posted by the Rockies as part of three consecutive 100-loss campaigns. However, the word “solution” came up in conversations with both Wednesday.

“I think that’s where the solution is going to come from. It’s going to be a ground-up kind of deal,” Condon told The Denver Gazette. “It’s hard to really put it on a timeline because that’s not something that I can control, but I’m going to do everything I can to put that plan in place as quickly as possible.”

“That’s what you dream about when you think about playing in the big leagues,” added Thomas, who was drafted in the second round in 2024. “You want to go up to the big leagues and win. You want to have success. That’s definitely a big goal for a lot of us young guys, to get up there and help them win. That’s what we’re working toward every day.”

Charlie Condon of the Salt River Rafters looks on during the game between the Salt River Rafters and the Peoria Javelinas at Peoria Sports Complex on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025 in Peoria, Ariz. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Part of the learning that will come along with the next generation of Rockies isn’t just coming from the conversations between Condon and Thomas. They’re also taking advantage of the opportunity to pick the brains of prospects from other organizations on what is working for them.

“We may all be working on the same thing, but have a different lingo on how to explain it,” Thomas said. “Seeing things through a different explanation can make you a more mature hitter in the end.”

Both Condon and Thomas were drafted during the Bill Schmidt area. Both are watching from a distance to see where the Rockies go with Schmidt’s successor, a hire likely to be announced in the next 7-10 days. Whatever the decision in Denver, the duo will be ready to contribute where they can.

“I’m going to play wherever they want me to play,” said Condon, who has corner-outfield possibilities as well as first base, but profiles more at first based on Colorado’s immediate needs. “I’ve gotten really comfortable there (first base) again and I’d say probably it is, right now, the most comfortable position defensively for me.”

“My job doesn’t change,” Thomas said. “My job is to get to the big leagues and help the team win, so my outlook won’t change. The process of getting there might be a little different with the new GM, but I’m excited to see what that looks like.”