The Rockies may still be headed for the bottom of the National League West, but the organization’s long game is starting to take shape around Charlie Condon.
Condon, a 23-year-old Triple-A infielder, has moved into the spotlight with shortstop Ethan Holliday out for the rest of the year. He’s now the most talked-about prospect in the system, even though he’s still waiting for his first crack at Coors Field.
The numbers at Albuquerque have backed up the hype. Condon is hitting .274 with 22 home runs, 74 RBI and a .913 OPS for the Isotopes. He’s gone from an afterthought in the eyes of some scouts to the face of Colorado’s next wave.
That rise has been a long time coming. Condon, a former Georgia Bulldog, was once viewed as too slight to do much damage at the plate.
Some schools passed on him after his prep career, doubting whether a 6'6" frame that had yet to fill out would ever produce real power. But after adding nearly 40 pounds over the next few years, he started crushing baseballs and eventually went third overall in the 2024 MLB Draft.
The bat has traveled with him at every stop in the minors, and Colorado is being careful about when it unleashes it for good.
A big reason for the patient approach is the philosophy shift that came with Paul DePodesta taking over as president of baseball operations. The Rockies want Condon ready, not rushed, and they’ve spent time working with him on his defensive versatility and his offensive approach.
During his college and pro career, Condon has dealt with injuries, swing-and-miss issues, and questions about whether his size and strength would hold up. There were also concerns about how he’d handle breaking pitches. Colorado has kept those things front and center as it shapes his development.
“He knows, because we shared it with him in Spring Training, that when we bring him, it’s going to be with the idea that he’s really ready - his foundation is solid," Depoddesta has said regarding Condon's call-up. "(but) his foundation is solid."
That caution suggests the Rockies could follow the path other clubs have taken with top prospects, choosing not to rush Condon into September games just to get him a look. If that’s the route they take, his debut might not come until Opening Day 2027. When he does arrive, Colorado believes he’ll have the tools and preparation to stick.
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