Charlie Condon spent 2026 making a very strong case that his wait for Colorado is almost over.
The Rockies had a straightforward decision in spring training. TJ Rumfield had the edge at first base because he already had nearly two years of Triple-A experience, while Condon still needed that level of seasoning. Colorado went with Rumfield from the start, and that choice opened the door for Condon to spend the full year in Albuquerque and pick up more work in the outfield.
That extra versatility matters now. Condon had some outfield experience coming into the season, and what was once more of a developmental side note turned into a real part of his path. He logged 460 innings in right field in 2026, and that looks like the spot he’ll be asked to handle when he finally reaches the majors.
His bat, though, was the real story.
The 23-year-old appeared in 130 games at Triple-A, the most he’s played in any minor league season at any level, and he backed it up with his best production yet against tougher pitching. The power showed up all year, but one game in early September stood out above everything else: Condon hit two grand slams in the same game.
Rumfield isn’t moving off first base, and that’s why Condon’s big-league path is trending elsewhere. When the call comes, it won’t be at first, but Colorado seems set to find room for him in the outfield alongside Mickey Moniak and Jake McCarthy.
With the Rockies’ pitching staff still far from where it needs to be, run production matters. Condon looks ready to help with that, and based on what he did in 2026, a 2027 debut feels inevitable.
In Other News...
Zac Veen Just Made The Rockies Ask A Much Bigger Question
Zac Veens season has quickly gone from promising to impossible to ignore. The Rockies top prospect earned Colorado Rockies Minor League Player of the Year honors from Baseball America after tearing through Triple-A Albuquerque, where his bat showed the kind of impact that has long made him one of the organizations most watched young players. When he got back to the majors in August, he made an immediate statement by homering in his first game back, a reminder of why the upside has always been so intriguing.
What makes the conversation bigger now is that Veens major league line has still been uneven, even with the flashes. He is hitting .226 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in 62 at-bats this season, which leaves the Rockies with a familiar offseason question: how much weight should they put on the production they saw in Denver and Albuquerque versus the total body of work he has put together so far? His next step feels less about proving he can hit in bursts and more about whether the organization is ready to keep giving him the runway to turn those bursts into something lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Rockies Fans Keep Getting The Same Brutal Answer About This Franchise
For Rockies fans, the frustration has become less about one bad season and more about how long the same issues keep resurfacing. Colorado has now endured four straight 100-loss seasons, a stretch not seen since the 1960s Mets, and the broader pattern is just as discouraging. Pitching has remained a persistent weakness, with the club ranking last in ERA for multiple seasons, while the farm system has taken steps forward in recent prospect rankings but still has not produced the kind of depth that changes the conversation.
The result is a franchise stuck in a loop of hoping for signs of progress and then watching the same shortcomings drag it back down. Since its last postseason appearance in 2018, Colorado has not been able to build enough stability on the mound or enough impact talent throughout the system to make a real leap. Until those pieces start coming together, the answer fans keep hearing is the one they probably dread most: there is still a long way to go. [Read more 🡒]
Rockies Suddenly Have A Real Say In The NL Playoff Race
The Phillies took another step in the wild card race with a win over the Brewers, helped by Zack Wheelers 5.2 innings of work and 10 strikeouts, and by a bullpen that mostly held up even with a run allowed by Jhoan Duran. With the standings tightening late in the season, Philadelphia now sits in a position where every result around the league starts to matter just as much as what it does on the field.
A victory in their next game would clinch a playoff berth for the Phillies if the Rockies can also get past the Diamondbacks, which gives Colorado a temporary place in the NL picture that few would have expected. Philadelphias magic number is down to two, and suddenly a team that has spent much of the year outside the spotlight could help shape when one of the leagues contenders locks up a postseason spot. [Read more 🡒]