The Rockies’ newest draft class comes with a built-in reminder: talent is only the starting point, and the climb to Denver won’t be rushed.
Colorado’s No. 37 pick, Daniel Jackson, is already one of the names the organization is most excited about. At 21, he’s shown plenty of versatility and plenty of punch, and his path took a major turn when he entered the transfer portal to join the Georgia Bulldogs. That move paid off in a big way, giving him more exposure and more confidence.
Jackson’s college run put him in rare company. He became part of a special group of players to win the SEC triple crown, and he was one of the reasons Georgia reached the College World Series for the first time in 18 years. He finished the 2026 season with 32 home runs and 87 RBIs and picked up numerous accolades along the way.
For Colorado, the obvious question is where Jackson fits with Hunter Goodman already established as the starting catcher. The answer may be that he doesn’t have to fit there at all.
Jackson can also handle the outfield, and as a first-year pro, he’ll likely be willing to do whatever helps him get on the field. The Rockies are expecting him to stay focused on baseball and help the team however he can.
If Jackson stays healthy and gets enough reps in the outfield, a major league debut in three years is a realistic path. With his talent and determination, a two-year timeline isn’t out of the question.
Tyler Bell brings a different kind of upside. The switch-hitting shortstop is one of the most gifted players at his position in the draft, and Colorado is hoping it has something close to its own Francisco Lindor down the road. Bell is the second-highest draft pick in Kentucky history, and he’s already built a résumé that suggests he won’t be hanging around the minors forever.
If Bell had come straight out of high school, the road would likely have been much longer, at least four to five years before reaching the majors. Because he performed at the collegiate level, the Rockies may be looking at a three- to four-year window instead. There are cases where players spend more than five years in the minors, but Bell doesn’t give off that kind of profile.
His numbers back that up. Bell hit .343/.510/.608 with nine home runs, 29 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 41 games. That kind of production could push him forward faster than expected, and Colorado could even consider getting him work at second base to speed up the process.
In Other News...
Rockies Near A Trade Decision That Could Sting Fans Most
The Rockies are heading toward an August 3 trade deadline that could force Paul DePodesta and first-year manager Warren Schaeffer into some uncomfortable calls. With the front office still sorting out what this roster should look like going forward, Colorado has several names that could draw interest, and the club is weighing not just immediate return but how much it wants to keep reshaping a team still in the early stages of a new era.
Jake McCarthy is among the players drawing attention as a possible move after the All-Star break, while veteran right-hander Michael Lorenzen also sits in the mix as a trade chip. For a Rockies club that has spent much of the season evaluating pieces as much as results, the deadline is starting to look less like a routine checkpoint and more like a test of how aggressively DePodesta wants to act in his first summer running baseball operations in Denver. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Suddenly Linked To A Rare Catching Deadline Prize
The Rockies are heading toward the deadline in seller mode, and Hunter Goodman has already become one of the more intriguing names to watch. The All-Star catcher has emerged as one of the best offensive catchers in the game, which is exactly why a team like Boston would be paying close attention if Colorado decides to listen on veteran pieces.
For the Red Sox, the appeal is obvious: catching help is hard to find, and Goodman would fit the profile of a rare deadline prize if he ever became available. Colorado still has every reason to value him as part of its future, though, and if the Rockies keep him off the market, other clubs in need behind the plate would have to pivot to alternatives such as Tyler Stephenson. [Read more 🡒]
Why Rockies Fans May Be Stuck With Michael Lorenzen
The Rockies search for stability on the mound has pushed them into a familiar corner, leaning on veteran arms while the organization waits for younger pitchers to catch up. Michael Lorenzen has been part of that stopgap plan, taking the ball regularly and giving Colorado innings at a time when the system does not have many MLB-ready alternatives. In a rebuild that is being shaped from the top down by new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta, that kind of placeholder value matters even when the results are uneven.
Lorenzens performance has not exactly made the case for a longer-term fit, and his contract only adds to the sense that this is more necessity than ideal. Still, the Rockies are not in a position to turn away from usable innings, especially with the club focused on long-term improvement rather than a quick fix. For now, the veteran keeps getting the ball every five days, and the bigger question is whether Colorado can eventually build enough pitching depth to make that arrangement temporary. [Read more 🡒]