The Colorado Rockies have been busy shuffling their first base options, making some intriguing moves in late January. They brought in Edouard Julien from the Twins and T.J.
Rumfield from the Yankees, adding depth to a position that struggled last season. Despite these additions, Rockies' president of baseball operations, Paul DePodesta, hinted that more changes could be on the horizon.
Last season, Colorado's first basemen ranked 29th in OPS, with Michael Toglia leading the way at a .592 mark over 329 plate appearances. A former first-round pick, Toglia started as the everyday first baseman but struggled with a nearly 40% strikeout rate, leading to a demotion to Triple-A by May.
Warming Bernabel showed promise with a hot start, racking up 14 hits and three home runs in his first seven games. Unfortunately, his performance cooled off, and he ended the year with a 78 wRC+, eventually being removed from the roster in December.
The Rockies experimented with several players at first base, including Kyle Farmer, Orlando Arcia, Keston Hiura, and Blaine Crim. Of these, Crim remains on the roster and could play a significant role this season.
Troy Johnston
Johnston, a waiver claim from the Marlins, is a strong contender for the first base spot. He made a solid MLB debut with a 109 wRC+ in 121 plate appearances last season. Despite being older than most of his competition at each level, Johnston boasts an impressive minor league record, hitting .307/.399/.549 in 2023 across Double-A and Triple-A, with 23 home runs and 48 steals in the past two years.
Blaine Crim
Crim, 28, is expected to complement Johnston as a right-handed option. After a brief stint with the Rangers, he found some success with the Rockies, hitting five home runs in 15 games, albeit with a high 36.1% strikeout rate. Like Johnston, Crim has solid minor league numbers, hitting .284 with 18 home runs over 83 Triple-A games last year.
T.J. Rumfield
Rumfield, acquired in a trade with the Yankees, could also be in the mix. He posted a .285/.378/.447 slash line at Triple-A in 2025 and has consistently delivered a 116 wRC+ or better at that level. With 252 Triple-A games under his belt, Rumfield is in MLB camp as a non-roster invitee and could challenge for a spot with a strong spring performance.
Charlie Condon
The Rockies' third overall pick in the 2024 draft, Condon, is a name to watch for the future. At 22, he excelled at Double-A with a 132 wRC+, though he may need some time in Triple-A before making the jump. Last season, he posted an .820 OPS across three minor league levels, but his power potential is still developing, with 14 home runs in 433 plate appearances.
DePodesta hasn't ruled out further additions, and several veteran right-handed bats like Wilmer Flores, Rhys Hoskins, and Donovan Solano are still available at reasonable prices. While Justin Turner might not be interested in part-time work on a rebuilding team, the Rockies have options to bolster their lineup. Keep an eye on Colorado as they continue to refine their roster and aim for improvement at first base.