Entering the 2025 season, Michael Toglia seemed primed to finally solve the riddle of first base for the Colorado Rockies.

Since 2014, the first season following the retirement of Hall of Famer Todd Helton, 41 different players have logged innings at first base. By contrast, the team used 57 first basemen in their first 20 years of existence.

The Rockies have struggled to find a suitable and sustainable option to sit upon the throne that Helton built, instead having to rely on a revolving door of faces to varying results.

That’s what made Toglia’s outlook for this season so compelling. It was a year ago tomorrow that the Rockies recalled him from Triple-A, and he proceeded to slash .233/.331/.469 with 21 home runs through the end of the season while playing stellar defense. His 2.2 bWAR ranked fourth on the team, and the progress at the plate left the Rockies and fans hopeful he could be the slugger they’ve been looking for.

Unfortunately, it’s been a massive step back for Toglia this year, which has been another footnote in the disastrous season the club is experiencing.

When the Rockies optioned Toglia down to Triple-A Albuquerque last Saturday, he was hitting just .194/.266/.349 with six home runs while leading Major League Baseball in strikeouts (81) and strikeout rate (39.1%). It’s a regression that neither party could afford and leaves us asking the question yet again: What’s next for Michael Toglia?

The trip to Albuquerque is one that should bear some fruit and build confidence, at least that’s the hope.

Historically speaking, Toglia has done well with the Isotopes, slashing .272/.373/.535 with 32 home runs and 108 RBI in 125 games over three seasons. During his stint last season, he hit .277/.363/.571 with nine home runs in 30 games before the Rockies recalled him.

The main area that Toglia needs to improve upon while in the minors is improving his contact. By no means will he ever reach the heights of a Luis Arráez, but quality contact was a key note for his success last season. His 64.3% contact rate is roughly in line with his career norm, but his contact specifically on pitches in the zone has taken a dip this season.

Last season, he made contact on 81% of swings at pitches in the strike zone. This season, that number dropped to 78.2%, the first time it has been below 81% in his major league career. There has been no other discernible difference in his swing rates at pitches both in and out of the zone, and the overall contact rates aren’t different from last season. The decline of pitches in the zone is at least a starting point for better control of his hot zones to start doing damage.

For a player who is already going to whiff quite a bit, damage has to follow when you make contact. This season, Toglia has struggled to square up the baseball and hit it hard. His 19% squared-up rate is in the fourth percentile, while his hard-hit rate (40.2%) and average exit velocity (89.4 mph) rank around the middle of the pack.

Toglia’s 2025 Batting Percentiles

Baseball Savant

Compare that pale chart with the red-hot chart of 2024.

Toglia’s 2024 Batting Percentiles

Baseball Savant

A matter of a few points in those categories, even the ones where he is still in the bottom echelon of the league, can have a drastic effect on his play. A slugger who is not able to hit the ball hard and do it consistently with fly balls while drawing a copious amount of walks is going to struggle.

A major factor I’d like to see Toglia work on is a better two-strike approach. With two strikes, Toglia is batting .078/.151/.112, going 9-for-116 with one home run and nine walks. By contrast, fellow slugger Kyle Schwarber (a player Toglia could learn a thing or two from) is batting .158/.322/.350, going 19-for-120 with seven home runs and 25 walks.

An overall more consistent approach is something Toglia needs to find in Albuquerque. He has suffered from tough home-road splits this season, finding most success at Coors Field as opposed to the 2024 season, where the results were roughly the same both home and away.

Pressing to do too much, not being prepared properly to face opposing pitchers, and other factors may play into Toglia’s struggles, but the clock is ticking for the 26-year-old to figure things out. Both he and the Rockies can’t afford for 2024 to be a fluke season.

Otherwise, the team will have to keep looking for other options internally or externally for one of their thinnest positions.

★ ★ ★

On the Farm

Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 3, El Paso Chihuahuas 2 F/10

An incredibly valiant pitching performance by the Isotopes, followed by a few timely hits, secured an extra-inning victory. Mason Albright started on the hill, allowing just two runs in the first inning. After that, Albright ended up going five innings total, allowing five hits with four strikeouts. Even more impressive was the six shutout innings by the bullpen, highlighted by Luis Peralta’s five strikeouts over two innings to secure the win, followed by Antoine Kelly’s third save of the year. Adael Amador doubled in a run in the fifth. Michael Toglia doubled in a run in the eighth and Owen Miller drove in the winning run on a sacrifice fly.

Double-A: Portland Sea Dogs 6, Hartford Yard Goats 3

An early three-run lead was not enough for the Hartford Yard Goats as Portland rallied for five runs between the fourth and fifth innings against starter Jack Mahoney to pull ahead and eventually secure the win. The Yard Goats tallied six hits in the game, kicking off the scoring thanks to a Jose Cordova RBI triple. Cole Carrigg added a two-run single in the fourth. The Sea Dogs scored two in the bottom of the fourth, and three more in the fifth off of Mahoney, who ended up going 4 2⁄3 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits, including two home runs.

High-A: Spokane Indians 7, Hillsboro Hops 5

Charlie Condon had himself another solid night for Spokane as he played a key role in their victory. Condon went 2-for-4 with a go-ahead double in the fifth inning and a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh (check it out below!) Konner Eaton started on the hill, allowing five runs on six hits over six innings. Hunter Omlid delivered three shutout innings of relief to secure the victory. Braylen Wimmer had three hits on the night and Cole Messina had a double as part of his two-hit performance.

Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies 10, Stockton Ports 6

Despite committing five errors on defense, the Fresno Grizzlies utilized a five-run eighth inning to secure the win against Stockton. Bryan Mena started on the mound and five innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on eight hits with five strikeouts. Offensively, Tommy Hopfe delivered a key home run in the fifth inning. Derek Bernard led the offense with three hits, while Juan Castillo drove in three runs and Kevin Fitzer drove in two.

★ ★ ★

Jeff Passan: ‘Colorado Rockies have the disease of complacency’ | Awful Announcing

ESPN reporter Jeff Passan appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday and talked about the Rockies’ awful start to the season.

“I just look at what’s going on in Colorado right now, and it makes me sad,” said Passan.

Affected by Altitude Episode 166: Rostermania Runs Wild Again | Rocky Mountain Rooftop

In this week’s podcast episode, Evan Lang and I talked about the shuffling of the roster in the past week. We also chat about the wild month of May and any sort of progress that the team has made.

★ ★ ★

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!