The historically bad 2025 Colorado Rockies look very different than they did back on March 28 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. Let’s face it: This season is historic (in a bad way) for the Rockies, and the team has changed substantially since May 11 when Bud Black was removed as from his position as manager.
We felt like mid-season was a good time to re-visit where the Rockies are now, how they’re different with interim manager Warren Schaeffer, and if it’s possible to get a sense of where the team may be headed next.
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
I was bullish about Thairo Estrada’s signing and was cautiously optimistic about his arrival at Coors Field. With a history of damage done at elevation, Estrada seemed a strong candidate for a productive debut season with the Rockies. After all, he was just a season removed from some exemplary work with the San Francisco Giants, and what better way to get back on the horse than to take half of your at-bats at the most offense-friendly park in the game?
Of course, even if Estrada struggled, the Rockies would have backup options available. High-ceiling young star Adael Amador could finally make his move into Major League stardom, or perhaps the team would look to one of their newly-signed utilitymen, such as Tyler Freeman, Owen Miller, and Kyle Farmer, to allow Amador time to cook.
Even after seeing their longtime keystone man Brendan Rodgers depart the organization, the Rockies could realistically feel pretty confident that they’d made moves to solidify the position in his absence.
How’d that work out?
Where the Rockies are now
The starter
Ehhhhhh…
See, Estrada didn’t exactly get off to a hot start in 2025. He was forced to miss the season’s opening weeks due to a wrist fracture sustained in spring training. Those 56 games lost threw a serious wrench in Colorado’s roster makeup plans, forcing the team to utilize multiple players to fill the gap. Now, though, Estrada is back and ready to make an impact.
In his 29 games played thus far this season, Estrada is slashing .284/.312/.397, some of the better marks of any member of the team. It’s a small sample size, but they’re encouraging numbers nonetheless. On a team that’s struggled mightily at the plate this year, he stands out as a fairly productive bright spot.
Of course, that’s just at the plate. Estrada’s fielding has proved unspectacular at this point as he’s put up a -0.1 defensive WAR per Baseball Reference. Baseball Savant’s not too impressed by his arm strength or range, either, which all points to Estrada’s glovework being suboptimal in his as-yet short stint in Colorado.
In general, Estrada has been serviceable. A decent bat is something Colorado could certainly use in a lineup that often makes two- or three-run leads seem like impossible obstacles to overcome. While his defensive ability is a tad lacking, it’s not enough to keep him out of the daily lineup. It appears that interim manager Warren Schaeffer is going to continue to play Estrada at second base until another move forces his hand, and that’s understandable when considering the other options he has at his disposal.
The backup
On the Rockies roster, Tyler Freeman has innings logged at second and is absolutely killing it at the plate, but the coaching staff seems happy with his work in the outfield. As such, Kyle Farmer serves as the go-to option at second base on game days that Estrada out. Farmer’s had a season to forget thus far as he’s hitting .218/.264/.345 in 68 games played.
The versatile Farmer has played all over the field for Colorado, logging time at first base, second, third, shortstop, and designated hitter. He’s been utilized most commonly at second, and that’s where most of his value will be found.
Defensively, Farmer has been adequate. His peripherals paint a picture of a good, if not spectacular, defender that’s provided Colorado with a solid hand at the keystone. The journeyman infielder, despite not exceling this year, has been one of the names most consistently-seen names scribbled into the lineup card this season, and will likely remain so for the majority of the games remaining on the schedule.
There he is!
Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
After Farmer, the next man up would be Orlando Arcia. That is…not ideal. With respect, Arcia hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire since signing with Colorado in late May. Appearing in 28 games, 11 of them at second base, Arcia’s .188/.233/.294 slash line hasn’t inspired much confidence, and neither have his Range Factor or Defensive Runs Saved metrics.
The acquisition of Arcia was met with some trepidation from Rockies fans, and it appears that they were right to be skeptical. Twnety-eight games isn’t much to go on, of course, but it’s hard to see him suddenly taking a leap toward productivity, especially when his last few seasons with the Atlanta Braves were indicative of this kind of ineffectiveness.
While Arcia is likely to continue to see action with the Rox in ‘25, he seems all but destined to depart at season’s end. As such, we should look to the Minors for some indication on who may be the next to climb the depth chart, as newcomers such as Ryan Ritter have done. We’ll start with a name that you probably already know well.
Depth options
Triple-A Albuquerque
The man that many see as the savior of the Rockies second base position is Adael Amador, who was listed as our No. 3 PuRP prior to the season’s outset. He had a small taste of MLB action last season but was given a more extensive look in April and May of this year, wherein he appeared in 33 games. It was clear that Amador needed a bit more time to progress as he appeared overmatched by big league pitching, compiling a .153/.228/.218 line and finding difficulty in eliciting hard contact.
As such, Amador was optioned back down to Triple-A Albuquerque, where he remains. It’s not impossible that he’ll be on his way back to Denver before the conclusion of the 2025 campaign, though that will depend on how he and Estrada do as we march on.
In fairness, Amador’s making a solid case as he’s currently a very hot summer streak . Hopefully he can continue to ride that wave and earn the spot that many feel is waiting for him.
Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
However, it’s not so simple.
See, Julio Carreras is also making his presence known. The 25-year-old Carreras, a former No. 22 PuRP, is staking his claim by absolutely mashing at the season’s outset, though June was less productive. Currently on the Development List, it’ll be interesting to see how the Rockies plan to utilize Carreras in the future, and whether or not they’ll choose to invest in his speed-plus-defense makeup.
Also with the Isotopes is Owen Miller, who’s had an odd 2025 with Colorado. Initially acquired in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, Miller was designated for assignment and re-signed back in May, hanging out with the ‘Topes since.
Miller’s got MLB experience, having played on the Brewers, Rockies, and Cleveland Guardians over the last few seasons, but hasn’t been able to find consistent results. With his first nine games in Albuquerque not exactly going smoothly, he may find it hard to convince the higher-ups in Colorado’s organization that he’s ready for another shot in the Bigs.
I’d also be remiss not to mention Aaron Schunk, who’s played with the Rockies before, but is at present experiencing similar struggles as Miller.
Double-A Hartford
Dyan Jorge is Hartford’s answer at second base, though he’s also been used at shortstop. The No. 21 PuRP has the tools to be an impact player for the Rockies and may end up taking over sooner than later — though that’s dependent on figuring his swing out at the Double-A level, something he hasn’t quite figured out thus far.
GJ Hill, son of Glenallen Hill, also appears at second for the Yard Goats, though he’s far more often used in the outfield. Nick Kent has seen time there as well.
High-A Spokane
We’ll rifle through these last few:
Spokane’s got a good bunch of options for second base. Of them, Jean Perez is logging the most innings at the keystone, though Andy Perez (No. 19 COL prospect per MLB Pipeline) has the higher pedigree. Look out for Braylen Wimmer, who plays all over the diamond and is having a nice 2025.
Low-A Fresno
Roynier Hernandez and Tommy Hopfe have been splitting time at second for Fresno. Both are having decent, if not incredible, seasons and seem to be progressing on schedule.
They’re sleeper picks to impress fans and top brass alike as their MiLB careers continue.
Closing thoughts
Why is the title of this piece that second base is more open than one would expect? Well, it’s because Adael Amador has competition. Whether it be from Dyan Jorge maturing his swing, Julio Carreras revitalizing his career, or the two Grizzlies earning their place, Colorado has more options at second base than one may realize.
With Thairo Estrada almost certain to depart the organization after this season’s conclusion, will Amador finally take the throne? Or will another young upstart foil his coronation? Let’s find out together.
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