The Colorado Rockies may be staring at another miserable finish, but Brett Sullivan has become one of the reasons the mood around the club isn’t completely swallowed by the standings.
At 54-86, the Rockies are living through a last-place year that could turn into a fourth straight finish in the cellar and a 100-loss season. Still, there’s been enough encouraging movement to give the organization something to point to, with young names like Charlie Condon and Roldy Brito offering hope for what comes next. Around the big-league club, the feel-good stories have kept showing up, too, including the rise of “second-chance” players like Mickey Moniak and Zac Veen in 2026.
Sullivan fits that theme in his own way, only his path has been longer and bumpier than most. The backup catcher has spent his entire adult life chasing a place in the majors, and his journey has included more detours than straight lines. Drafted in the 17th round in 2015 as an infielder, he has gone through climbs, stalls, resets, organizational changes, and fresh opportunities that kept popping back up.
Now 32, Sullivan is finally with the Rockies, though it took 11 years to get there. Even after all that time, he says he never let go of the belief that he would make it and stay.
“I am delusionally confident,” Sullivan stated in a recent conversation with the Denver Post. “I truly never let the idea of quitting enter my head.
I just would not let my mind go that way. Of course, there are bad days.
But that’s when I step back and think about what I actually get to do for a living.”
That mindset has carried over into the clubhouse, where Sullivan has built a reputation as a steady source of humor and energy. Teammates have gravitated toward the way he keeps things light, whether that means cracking them up, loosening the room, or tossing out goofy catchphrases and rituals after good moments on the field.
For a young team that has had to absorb plenty of losses, that kind of presence matters. Sullivan has given the Rockies more than a backup catching role. He has given them a veteran voice, some everyday levity, and a reminder that even in a season like this, there’s still room for good vibrations.
Hunter Goodman has supplied the power behind the plate, while Sullivan has helped spell the All-Star and kept the positivity rolling in the dugout. In a year with little to celebrate, that has made him exactly the sort of teammate every clubhouse needs.
In Other News...
Rockies Take A Chance On A Lefty Arm With One Big Catch
The Rockies added another left-handed arm to the organization this week, claiming Hayden Harris off waivers from the Braves after Atlanta designated him for assignment earlier in the week. Harris is headed to Triple-A Albuquerque, and Colorado did not need to make a corresponding move because it already had an open spot on the 40-man roster.
Harris brings only a small sample of major league experience to the mix, having appeared in three games for Atlanta last season before spending this year in the minors. For Colorado, it is a low-risk look at a lefty with some big-league time behind him, while the next question is whether he can do enough in Albuquerque to put himself back into the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Bring Rockies A New Rotation Problem This Series
The Cardinals are set to get a key arm back for their upcoming series against the Rockies, with Andre Pallante expected to return to pitching after spending time on the Injured List with right elbow inflammation. It comes at a time when St. Louis has been sorting through its starting options, and the series gives Colorado a fresh look at a rotation that has already been reshaped by injuries and shifting roles.
Hunter Dobbins is out after undergoing elbow surgery and will miss the rest of the 2026 season and part of 2027, a reminder of how quickly pitching plans can change. For the Rockies, the bigger concern is less about who is unavailable and more about how the Cardinals line up the rest of their starters in this matchup, especially with recent work from pitchers like Liberatore and Leahy helping define the shape of the rotation heading into the series. [Read more 🡒]
Rockies Put Ezequiel Tovar Decision Under A Brighter Spotlight
The Rockies have an everyday-looking lineup tweak on their hands as they try to keep a little momentum rolling after an extra-inning win over the Orioles. Cole Carrigg is set to start at shortstop and hit fifth against the Cardinals, a notable assignment for a player who has been getting a longer look while Colorado searches for steadier production in the middle of the order and across the infield.
Ezequiel Tovars offensive struggles have made the decision harder to ignore, with his .209/.256/.333 line leaving the club to weigh present performance against what it expected from him going into the year. His absence against another right-handed starter adds another layer to the discussion around how the Rockies want to handle shortstop moving forward, especially with a series in St. Louis still offering a chance to build on the buzz from that last win. [Read more 🡒]