The Colorado Rockies have been blessed with a wealth of infield talent over the past 15 years. Names like Troy Tulowitzki, Nolan Arenado, DJ LeMahieu, Brendan Rodgers, and Ezequiel Tovar have graced the diamond, collectively snagging 15 Gold Glove awards. Arenado alone claimed eight of those, setting a high bar for defensive excellence.
Enter Kyle Karros, a player who Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer believes could join this illustrious list. Schaeffer is confident in Karros' potential, saying, "He’s got the potential to be a Gold Glove defender in the big leagues for a long time."
Despite a limited rookie season, Karros showed promise with a Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) of 3 and Outs Above Average (OAA) of 4. Standing at 6-foot-5, he has the physical tools to handle third base, making challenging plays look routine, much like his predecessor Ryan McMahon.
While Karros' defensive prowess is evident, his bat is what initially turned heads. He hit .301 across stints in Hartford and Albuquerque, earning a call-up to the majors after McMahon was traded to the Yankees. His performance in the minors earned him Colorado's 2025 Minor League Player of the Year honors.
However, Karros faced challenges at the plate in the majors, finishing with a .226/.308/.277 slash line and just one home run in 43 games. His struggles were particularly pronounced against secondary pitches, hitting .163 with a 46.5% whiff rate on breaking balls.
His strikeout rate was a concern at 26.3%, and his barrel rate was a mere 1.0%. Yet, there were bright spots, such as a 9.6% walk rate, which was above the league average.
To secure his place in the Rockies' lineup, Karros knows he must improve offensively. However, his defensive skills are undeniable, having committed just two errors over 104 chances, resulting in a .981 fielding percentage. It's this defensive reliability that fuels Schaeffer's belief in Karros' potential to become a multiple-time Gold Glove winner.