Colorado Rockies Hit the Reset Button - And This Time, It Feels Real
For years, the Colorado Rockies have been caught in a frustrating cycle - flashes of promise followed by stretches of stagnation. But 2025?
This is something else entirely. If you’re feeling a little dizzy from all the change, you’re not alone.
The Rockies have undergone a full-scale transformation from top to bottom, and for once, it’s not just window dressing.
Outside of owner Dick Monfort - who even joked that it “kinda feels like they are pushing me out” - the entire leadership structure has been overhauled. Every key decision-maker is new. And while the front office shakeup has been years in the making, the arrival of Paul DePodesta marked the moment things truly shifted.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about swapping out names on office doors. This is about a complete reimagining of how the Rockies operate, from player development to analytics to how they approach the unique challenges of playing at altitude. DePodesta, the former Cleveland Browns executive with deep roots in baseball analytics, didn’t waste any time making his vision clear.
During his introductory press conference, DePodesta laid out a blueprint that felt different. It wasn’t just corporate jargon or vague promises.
It was a commitment to building a smarter, more modern organization - one that embraces data, innovation, and the realities of playing 81 games a year at Coors Field. And that vision started taking shape quickly.
Enter Josh Byrnes as the new general manager - a hire that fits hand-in-glove with DePodesta’s philosophy. Byrnes brings experience, a sharp analytical mind, and a willingness to challenge convention. Together, they’ve already started reshaping the Rockies' identity.
Nowhere is that more evident than on the pitching side. The Rockies didn’t just tweak the staff - they blew it up and rebuilt it from scratch.
Alon Leichman, known for his data-driven approach in Miami, is the new pitching coach. He’s already making waves with a system that includes calling pitches from the dugout - a bold move aimed at maximizing strategy in real-time.
Gabe Ribas joins as an assistant from Detroit, bringing a development-first mindset. Matt Bushmann takes over the bullpen after a stint in Chicago, and Matt Daniels, poached from Minnesota, steps in as the new director of pitching.
These hires aren’t just fresh faces - they’re part of a broader philosophical shift. The Rockies are no longer just hoping to survive Coors Field.
They’re actively trying to solve it. That’s a massive change in attitude.
For years, the altitude has been treated like a curse. Now, it’s a challenge to be met head-on, with brains and creativity.
Will it work? That’s the million-dollar question.
But this group isn’t just throwing darts at a board. They’re coming in with ideas, experience, and the kind of outside-the-box thinking that’s been sorely lacking in Denver.
And that’s what makes this moment feel different. This isn’t just another rebuild. It’s a full-blown reset.
Sure, the front office will get plenty of attention - and deservedly so. But the long-term face of this new Rockies era might not be DePodesta or Byrnes.
It might not be a coach or even a GM. The person who could end up defining the future of the franchise more than anyone else?
Walker Monfort.
Walker, the son of owner Dick Monfort, has quietly risen through the ranks and now finds himself in a position of real influence. He represents the bridge between the old guard and the new wave. If this transformation sticks, it’ll be because Walker Monfort helped steer the ship in a bold new direction.
Of course, the hope is that eventually, this era won’t be defined by executives at all. The best-case scenario?
A player steps up and takes the mantle. Maybe it becomes the Charlie Condon era.
Or Ethan Holliday. Maybe Ezequiel Tovar, Hunter Goodman, or Brenton Doyle breaks out and becomes the face of the franchise.
But until that happens, this is the DePodesta Era - a time defined by vision, change, and a willingness to challenge everything the Rockies have done before.
Individually, each move this offseason - from the coaching hires to the front office restructuring - signals progress. But together, they paint a much bigger picture: the Rockies are finally ready to evolve. They’re stepping out of their comfort zone, embracing modern baseball, and trying to build something that can last.
There’s a new sheriff in town in Denver. And for the first time in a long time, the Rockies look ready to turn the page.