The Colorado Rockies may still be finishing out the 2026 season, but the early look at their 2027 Opening Day lineup points to an offense with real teeth.
A big part of that optimism starts with the young wave already pushing through. Cole Carrigg and TJ Rumfield have given the Rockies a pair of emerging bats to build around, and Hunter Goodman’s power keeps the middle of the order dangerous. The one glaring question mark is designated hitter, where the club never really settled on a true everyday answer during the year.
That’s where Charlie Condon comes in.
Goodman filled the DH spot when he needed a break from catching, but the Rockies are looking for someone who can occupy that role every day. Condon, who was shifted off his primary position at first base because Rumfield is not going anywhere, looks like the answer waiting in the farm system. He also spent half of his Triple-A time in 2026 in the outfield, which gives Colorado more flexibility than it had before.
And the outfield picture is in decent shape already. With Carrigg, Mickey Moniak, and a career-best season from Jake McCarthy, the Rockies have enough coverage there to make the rest of the roster work.
Condon won’t be locked into DH every day, either. There will be days when regulars need a break from the field, and that opens the door for him to use his glove. But if Carrigg, Moniak, or McCarthy need to sit, they should still be able to stay in the lineup as hitters.
The numbers make the case pretty cleanly. Condon posted a .900 OPS in the minors with 27 home runs, 98 RBI, 25 doubles, seven triples, and nearly 80 walks.
At that point, there isn’t much left for him to prove down there. He needs major league at-bats, and Opening Day in 2027 should be the stage for that move.
Rumfield, meanwhile, is shaping up to be more than just a bat in the middle of the order. He was often viewed as the team’s cleanup hitter, but after finishing as one of seven players in the majors with a .300 batting average and leading the National League in on-base percentage, he fits the leadoff spot better.
If that alignment comes together, Colorado could have a lineup with only one regular finishing below a .748 OPS: Ezequiel Tovar. The top four hitters would all sit above .800, which is the kind of production managers love to see from the heart of a batting order.
It would also be a younger group than most, especially once Condon finally arrives. But youth is part of the appeal here. This is a lineup built with fire, speed, and plenty of pop, and for a Rockies team that has to pile up runs to win, Condon looks like a key piece of that next step.
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