SCOTTSDALE, AZ: Charlie Condon of the Colorado Rockies at first base in a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. The 6-foot-6 slugger hopes to make his MLB debut in 2026. (Photo by Kyle Cooper)
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SCOTTSDALE, AZ – The two teams with absolutely the most to gain in the 2026 MLB season met in front of a sparse crowd at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Ballpark on Monday.
The Rockies saved the best for last as long-time prospect Zac Veen blasted a walkoff homer 468 feet to right-center to win it. The 23-year-old lefty launched an 85-mph cutter from lefty Shane Murphy to win the faceoff, 5-4.
It was a wonder to many that they could indeed face off as both lost so much face the past three years. Between them, the teams combined for an unfathomable 325-647 record in 2023-25. The Rockies lost 119 in 2025; Chicago dropped 121 in 2024.
Clearly there is nowhere to go but up. How to get there is the problem.
Yet 2026 is a new year and hope springs eternal in baseball training camps. Until mistakes start showing up again – as they did in the first inning for the White Sox.
Both clubs played solid yet still mind-numbingly uninspiring baseball the rest of the way until Veen’s truly inspiring shot. Optimists call that progress.
Colorado took a 3-0 lead, helped considerably by Chicago pitcher Shane Smith and catcher Kyle Teel.
Smith hit two batters with pitches, allowed a single to Ezequiel Tovar and RBI double to Willi Castro. Another run scored on a groundout and Teel’s throwing error sent home another.
Back to the drawing board.
Chicago’s Rebuild
Munetaka Murakami became the center-piece of the White Sox lineup when he signed a two-year $34 million contract to leave Japan. On Monday, he went 2-for-4, looking bad twice and good twice.
MESA, AZ: Munetaka Murakami of the Chicago White Sox hits a single in a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park on Feb. 20, 2026. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
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He struck out in the first inning on a Michael Lorenzen changeup in the dirt, then flailed away for strike three on a high fastball by John Brebbia in the third. He later had a ground single and impressive line-drive double.
Chicago gave reliever Seranthony Dominguez a two-year, $20 million deal. He gave up single to Castro in a scoreless inning. He looked sharp, throwing in the mid-90s and landing 7 of 12 pitches for strikes.
Lamonte Wade Jr., 32, signed to a minor-league deal, played first. He struck out andhad an RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Multi-talented Luisangel Acuna, 23, acquired from the New York Mets, played center and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
CHICAGO: Shane Smith of the Chicago White Sox pitches against the Baltimore Orioles at Rate Field on Sept. 16, 2025. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
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Smith and Teel had nice rookie seasons in 2025 and along with outfielder Brooks Baldwin, shortstop Carson Montgomery and infielders Michael Vargas and Lenyn Sosa remain at the heart of the club’s future.
Rockies’ Road To Recovery
Colorado has not been nearly as active as the White Sox in trying to avoid a fourth straight losing season and eighth in arow under .500.
The biggest hope, Charlie Condon, missed much of 2025 with a fractured left wrist sustained last March. The third overall pick in the 2024 MLD Draft got $9.25 million to sign, then played 99 games last summer, batting .268 with 14 homers. Sent to the Arizona Fall League to get in some games, he hit ,337 with 13 RBI in 22 games.
He came on as defensive replacement Monday. He gave fans a bit to cheer – briefly – by hitting a fly ball that was caught on the warning track in left field.
DENVER: Zac Veen of the Colorado Rockies tosses his bat after hitting his first career Major League home run in a game against the Washington Nationals at Coors Field on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Kyle Cooper/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images)
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Veen, a first-round pick in 2020, has 51 homers and 149 stolen bases in the minors. Given a 12-game trial last year, he hit .118 (4-for-34) for the Rockies.
Off-season signings Lorenzen, Castro and Brebbia looked good enough in brief time Monday to provide some hope.
Lorenzen, signed for one year, $8 million with a $9 million option for 2027, started and threw 7 of 9 pitches, mostly slow stuff, for strikes. He yielded a leadoff single to Chase Meidroth, who was caught trying to steal.
Castro, 28, signed for two years, $12,8 million, played second, hit cleanup, and went 2-for-2. The switch hitter can also play third, short and all three outfield spots well.
Brebbia, 35, is on a minor-league contract. The lefty reliever threw 7 of 11 pitches for strikes in a perfect inning.
2026 And The Future
The White Sox probably are on more of an upswing. Chicago showed a 19-game improvement a year ago though it was hardly noticeable in finishing 28 games back in the AL Central.
The Rockies finished 50 games back of the eventual champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
Neither club is likely to contend this year. The best fans can hope for are moments such as Veen’s volcanic swat.
For the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies, 2026 is still an important year to start learning how to win.