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<\/p>\nFour and a half months \u2014\u00a0137 days to be exact \u2014 after the Rockies lost their 119th game in the 2025 season finale, pitchers and catchers begin reporting to spring training today.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s finally time for the Rockies to start proving that they are no longer a team falling into a losing abyss, but instead a team with a plan to change the direction of the organization.<\/p>\n
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For manager Warren Schaeffer, this is his first time going into spring training as the man in charge. At Rockies Fest in January, he sounded more than ready for the challenge and has a plan to do it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to talk about winning all the time. We need to be able to feel it in the spring training clubhouse on day one,\u201d Schaeffer said. \u201cI mean, it\u2019ll look completely different \u2014 standards, expectations need to be risen. But there always, always has to be a focus on winning. Winning in the little things, winning that night \u2014 every night \u2014 winning championships. And that\u2019s what we\u2019re all here for.\u201d<\/p>\n
The \u201cwe\u201d Schaeffer referred to is the mostly-new coaching staff and an overhauled front office led by president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta. Their work includes forming an organizational identity that ranges from who is drafted and to how players are developed to how analytics are used and strategies on the field.<\/p>\n
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Warren Schaeffer speaks at Rockies Fest<\/p>\n
Spring training will also provide the first glimpse of how the hiring decisions made by executive vice president Walker Monfort are panning out since he took the lead in the personnel searches. At Rockies Fest, Monfort\u2019s new role in leadership was on full display. Dick Monfort, Rockies CEO and Walker\u2019s father, stood to the side as Walker joined panels with the front office and with Rockies Hall of Famer Larry Walker<\/a>. He said he believes it\u2019s been a great offseason for the Rockies.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re all very excited about the people that we brought on board. We\u2019re excited about focusing more on our process, as it relates to player development, scouting, player acquisition,\u201d Walker said. \u201cBut really, I think what we\u2019re looking most forward to is seeing all these people in action.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition to a new look behind the scenes, the change will also be evident on the field at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Arizona. Going into spring training, the 40-man roster is far from being decided, let alone the Opening Day lineup. This spring training, there is an undeniable feeling that players have to earn their spots.<\/p>\n This is especially in the rotation as the Rockies have signed three new veteran starters in Michael Lorenzen<\/a>, Tomoyuki Sugano<\/a>, and Jose Quintana<\/a>. With struggles and injuries in 2025, the lack of depth in the starting staff forced prospects to be called up before they were ready and, it seemed like, without a solid plan for how to succeed.<\/p>\n The two signings this week of Sugano and Quintana certainly prove the Rockies believe some pitchers \u2014 possibly including Chase Dollander, Ryan Feltner, Tanner Gordon, McCade Brown, and Gabriel Hughes \u2014 either need more time and\/or less pressure if they prove they do need another stint to work out their stuff in Triple-A Albuquerque.<\/p>\n For more on the rotation and bullpen battles, check out Skyler Timmins\u2019s storylines to watch for pitchers and catchers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Of course, battling for roster space has always been the case in spring training, but the competition of \u201cwinning the little things\u201d that Schaeffer is focusing on will be pivotal in figuring out who makes the team.<\/p>\n The transforming organization is 43 days away from Opening Day on March 27 in Miami. On that day, we will see a starting lineup that has at least five different players.<\/p>\n First base, second base, third base, right field, and the Opening Day starting pitcher will all look different than they did in 2025. The Rockies started last season with four starters and called up Dollander<\/a> for game No. 9. This year, they head into spring training \u2014 as long as Quintana clears his physical \u2014 with much more depth in the starting staff.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n That\u2019s exciting. That\u2019s change in action before the action starts.<\/p>\n No one knows the struggle of the Rockies seven straight losing seasons more than Kyle Freeland. After posting an amazing 2.85 ERA with 17 wins in 2019, which was good enough to see Freeland finish No. 4 in NL Cy Young voting, his performance aligned with the Rockies freefall.<\/p>\n The only remaining starter from the 2017 and 2018 seasons when the Rockies last made it to the postseason, the lefty is now 32 years old. Born the same year the Rockies played their first game, he\u2019s purple and black to his core.<\/p>\n At Rockies Fest, Freeland echoed Schaeffer\u2019s words of being excited about a change that fans will be able to see on day one. Even as a veteran who could be set in his ways, Freeland is down for change in his form and pitch mix<\/a>, as well as the structure and vibe on the field and in the clubhouse.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n \u201cI know Schaeff is going to shake things up. The business spring training is going to be different than what I\u2019m used to, to what some of these guys are used to, and this organization is used to. So it\u2019s one of those things that\u2019s super exciting,\u201d Freeland said. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of a breath of fresh air that [with] new regime, new things are coming. It\u2019s very exciting. I can\u2019t wait to get to work down in Arizona with everyone down there.\u201d<\/p>\n I am excited, too.<\/p>\n Rockies\u2019 Ryan Feltner goes \u2018caveman\u2019 as he returns from injury-marred 2025 season | Denver Post ($)<\/a><\/p>\n In a great article on the pitcher who pitching coach Alon Leichman says, \u201chas what it takes to be an All-Star in this league,\u201d\u00a0Patrick Saunders dives into how Ryan Feltner spent his offseason \u2014\u00a0mostly in the gym. Trying to diagnose why he\u2019s struggled with injuries and taking out his anger in \u201ccaveman\u201d style, Feltner got stronger and has a better plan to be a sustainable pitcher for the Rockies in 2026.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n MLB spring training 2026: One player to watch on every team | ESPN.com<\/a><\/p>\n ESPN\u2019s Alden Gonzalez will have his eye on Chase Dollander to see how the heat-throwing, highly-touted prospect can respond after a challenging rookie season in 2025.<\/p>\n