\u201cI think about that a lot,\u201d the Rockies\u2019 No. 2 prospect and potential first baseman of the future said last week as he settled in to his first big-league camp.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s not what I\u2019m worried about, it\u2019s not what I\u2019m playing for,\u201d the softspoken product out of Georgia continued. \u201cI\u2019m trying to play the best baseball I can. But every guy in this locker room, and the guys in the (minor league) locker down the hallway, wants to get to Denver and help the Rockies win up there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several of the players drafted before and after Condon in the first round have already made their marks, or are about to. Condon might not keep track of such things, but sportswriters do:<\/p>\n
Second baseman Travis Bazzana, the No. 1 overall pick out of Oregon State, finished last season with Triple-A Columbus after a painful summer, but word out of Guardians camp is that his major league debut is on the horizon. Bazzana played just 84 games in 2025. First, he suffered a right oblique strain in May while playing with Double-A Akron, missing almost two months. Then he missed the final week of Columbus\u2019s season with a left oblique strain. Bazzana ended up slashing .245\/.389\/.424 with 17 doubles, five triples, nine homers, 39 RBIs over 374 plate appearances.<\/p>\n
![\"Colorado](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771698444_588_TDP-L-Rockies-Spring-RJS-11625.jpg\")
Colorado Rockies infielder, Charlie Condron, right, guards first base during the action of the first 2026 spring training game at Salt River Field at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona on Feb. 20, 2026. The Arizona Diamondbacks went onto beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2. (Photo by RJ Sangosti\/The Denver Post)<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Right-hander pitcher Chase Burns, selected second overall by the Reds out of Wake Forest, debuted last season, going 0-3 with a 4.57 ERA in 13 games (eight starts). He\u2019s in the mix to break camp as part of Cincinnati\u2019s starting rotation.
\nThe big winner of the \u201924 draft, at least so far, was the Athletics, who drafted first baseman Nick Kurtz with the fourth pick out of Wake Forest. On his way to being named American League rookie of the year, Kurtz hit 36 home runs with 86 RBIs in 117 games, joining superstars Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani as one of only three players with at least 400 plate appearances to post an OPS over 1.000.
\nKonnor Griffin, picked ninth overall by the Pirates out of Jackson Prep High School in Jackson, Miss., is just 19. He\u2019s currently the top prospect on almost all of the charts, and he\u2019s being talked about as a generational player. He has a real shot to break camp as Pittsburgh\u2019s starting shortstop.
\nOf course, there are cautionary tales, too. Jac Caglianone, picked sixth overall out of Florida, debuted last season and played 62 games with the Royals. After a sizzling start, he posted a .157\/.237\/.295 slash line with seven homers.<\/p>\n
However, Caglianone was sensational in the minors, slashing .337\/.408\/.617 in 66 games between Double-A and Triple-A last year until his season was curtailed by injuries.\n<\/p>\n
Which brings us back to Condon, who could debut this season, though not likely until the second half. His infant career has been slowed by injuries, and initially, he had a tough time adjusting to pro ball.<\/p>\n
In 2024, at High-A\u00a0 Spokane, he tried to play through a left-hand injury before shutting down late in the season, finishing with 35 games played. He hit just .180, with one home run and 34 strikeouts in 109 plate appearances.
\n![\"SCOTTSDALE,](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771698445_479_TDP-L-Rockies-Spring-RJS-11935.jpg\")
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 20: Colorado Rockies infielder, Charlie Condron, right, guards first base during the action of the first 2026 spring training game at Salt River Field at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 20, 2026. The Arizona Diamondbacks went onto beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2. (Photo by RJ Sangosti\/The Denver Post)\n<\/p>\n
Then, last year, Condon broke his right wrist diving for a ball in his first minor league spring training game and missed all of April. He worked his way through the Arizona Fall League before debuting with Double-A Hartford on July 2. In 35 games for the Yard Goats, he hit .235 with 11 home runs.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cMy first quarter of pro ball wasn\u2019t what I wanted or what anyone thought it would be,\u201d Condon said of his time at Spokane. \u201cAnd then I was really excited last year at this time, to show up and show the true version of myself. I felt really good and then the broken wrist happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was, he admits, a huge blow.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt like I had put myself in a really good spot to cruise through camp, put up some good numbers and then roll into the season,\u201d he said. \u201cThen something like that happens. So, you have to slow yourself down and think things through. I guess it was really just a test of patience and a test of being able to be in your shoes wherever you are.\u201d<\/p>\n
But it took some time to grasp that kind of insight.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s way easier to speak about it that way now, in hindsight,\u201d\u00a0 he said. \u201cThere was definitely that first week after I broke my wrist where I wasn\u2019t in the best spot mentally. I was upset about what happened, and I wished I could go back and change it. But there was obviously no way to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now he can only move forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have faith in my abilities, I know what I can do,\u201d he said. \u201cNow I get a chance to show what I can do in my first big-league camp.\u201d<\/p>\n