Brett Sullivan’s late-season surge has turned him from a depth piece into one of the more interesting questions on the Rockies’ roster.
On Sunday, the 32-year-old added to that case in a big way, driving a three-run homer in the seventh inning of Colorado’s 13-7 win over the San Francisco Giants. The shot was Sullivan’s seventh of the season and helped the Rockies finally create some separation in a game that was still within one run heading into the sixth.
That kind of pop is a far cry from what Sullivan had shown earlier in his big league career. Across his first three Major League seasons, he had only two home runs total. This year, he has already reached seven, and he’s doing it while batting .241 with 26 RBI and a .733 OPS in 162 at-bats.
Colorado brought Sullivan in on a minor league deal in December and gave him a spring training invitation before eventually selecting his contract ahead of Opening Day. For a player who appeared in just three games for Pittsburgh last season, it was another shot to stick.
At first, it didn’t look like much more than a temporary one. Sullivan struggled badly in May, hitting .081/.146/.162 over 42 plate appearances. But his bat has steadily come around since then, with his OPS climbing to .869 in June and .789 in July before the real surge arrived in August.
Through Sunday, Sullivan was hitting .308/.357/.769 this month with three home runs and 10 RBI in 28 August plate appearances. And it hasn’t been just a one-month fluke. Since the All-Star break, he has posted a .983 OPS.
The timing has mattered for Colorado, too. Hunter Goodman has been dealing with left shoulder inflammation, opening up more chances for Sullivan behind the plate. Sullivan’s production has helped the Rockies absorb the loss of one of their most productive hitters.
Goodman may not be out much longer. Manager Warren Schaeffer said the All-Star catcher is “doing good” when asked about his recovery. That could trim Sullivan’s playing time, but it also reinforces the point: when Goodman needs a break, Sullivan has shown he can handle the job and contribute.
Sullivan’s own spring training comment now looks pretty fitting. He said his main goal was “to be on that team” when talking about the Rockies. He’s done more than make the club - he’s made a real case to stay in the catching mix.
That leaves Colorado with a pretty interesting offseason call. Sullivan has given the team dependable depth behind Goodman and a legitimate argument for a role beyond 2026. Whether the Rockies keep him in that picture will be one of the front office’s decisions this winter.
In Other News...
Rockies Just Made A Telling Move After One Veterans Rough Season
The Rockies reshuffled their pitching staff Monday by recalling right-hander TJ Shook from Triple-A Albuquerque and parting ways with veteran Michael Lorenzen. It was a move that reflected how far Lorenzen had drifted from the role Colorado hoped he could fill after a rough season in which run prevention was a constant problem.
Lorenzen is now headed to waivers, leaving his next step uncertain while Colorado absorbs the shift on the roster and the payroll. Even if another club decides to take a chance on him, the Rockies would still be on the hook for the rest of his salary, a reminder that the cost of a disappointing season does not always end when the player leaves the active roster. [Read more 🡒]
Hunter Goodman Concern Keeps Growing For Rockies Lineup
Hunter Goodman was penciled into the Rockies starting lineup for their game against the Dodgers, then pulled at the last minute because of a shoulder issue that has become an increasingly awkward complication for Colorados everyday plans. Brett Sullivan slid in behind the plate in Goodmans place, another reminder that the Rockies are having to adjust on the fly while trying to keep their lineup intact.
The club is still treating Goodman as day-to-day, which leaves the situation hanging for now and makes his status one of the more closely watched items around the roster. Colorado also reshuffled its pitching staff in the same stretch, designating Michael Lorenzen for assignment, recalling TJ Shook and lining up Tanner Gordon to take Lorenzens rotation spot, but Goodmans availability may be the piece that has the most immediate impact on how the lineup looks game to game. [Read more 🡒]
Rockies Keep Letting Winnable Games Slip Away For One Painful Reason
The Rockies keep finding themselves in games that feel there for the taking, only to watch them tilt the wrong way late. A season defined by close margins has included 31 losses decided by two runs or less, a number that says as much about missed opportunities as it does about the teams overall talent level. When a club is hanging around in so many tight contests, the little things in the final innings start to loom large.
Colorado has already had bullpen moments turn into the difference between a win and another frustrating defeat, including losses attached to Antonio Senzatela and Juan Mejia. Until the pitching stabilizes, especially in those high-leverage spots, the Rockies will keep paying for every shaky inning. If they want any realistic shot at playing meaningful baseball deeper into the season, they have to start closing out the kind of games they keep letting slip away. [Read more 🡒]