10 Rockies Prospects to Keep an Eye On Beyond the Top 30 in 2026
At the start of this year, Baseball America unveiled its ranking of the Top 30 Prospects within the Rockies organization for 2026. But wait—there's more to explore! Today, we’re delving deeper into the Rockies’ system to shine a light on players who narrowly missed this prestigious list, yet possess significant potential for standout seasons or promising futures in Major League Baseball.
Here’s a closer look at ten players worth noting in the Rockies' pipeline beyond the top tier. If you're interested in an extensive roster of players who just fell short of making their teams’ top lists, you can explore that here: (https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-prospects-who-just-missed-top-30s-in-every-organization-for-2026/).
TJ Rumfield (https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/8964-t-j-rumfield/) - 1B
Rumfield is a fresh face in the Rockies' lineup, having been traded from the Yankees in exchange for Angel Chivilli. Known for his balanced hitting skills, he consistently makes contact and elevates the ball. However, to elevate his game to the next level, he must enhance his power numbers, as his increased chase rates and a spike in strikeouts during the 2025 season have raised some concerns. He is reliable defensively, though his arm strength is only average and his speed is below what is typically considered optimal for a first baseman.Sandy Ozuna (https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/1328165-sandy-ozuna/) - RHP
Ozuna is an exciting prospect standing at 6-foot-3, showcasing a well-developed right-handed pitching profile. With a smooth delivery that repeats well and effective deception, he fires a fastball that clocks in between 93 and 96 mph, occasionally reaching 97 mph. His command is above average, and he possesses a gyro slider that tends to miss bats effectively. Although his changeup still requires refinement, scouts who observed him during a healthy 2025 season are optimistic about his high upside and ability to develop further.Luichi Casilla (http://www.baseballamerica.com/players/21006-luichi-casilla/) - LHP
In his twelve appearances, Casilla recorded an impressive strikeout rate of 32.9% but faced challenges with his control, culminating in a walk rate of 16.2%. Unfortunately, an arm injury sustained during instructional league play led to Tommy John surgery in March 2025, prematurely ending his season. With a fast arm and a higher arm slot, Casilla employs a fastball, slider, and changeup in his arsenal. Currently, his fastball ranges from 94 to 95 mph, occasionally hitting 99 mph with a pronounced cut. His slider, which has a slurvy motion in the low 80s, and an upper-80s cut-split changeup are also notable, although his overall command remains a work in progress.Konner Eaton (https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/1499919-konner-eaton/) - LHP
Eaton delivered encouraging results in his debut professional season after being drafted by the Rockies in the sixth round out of George Mason in 2024. He spent most of the year in High-A before making a brief appearance in Double-A towards the end of the 2025 season. He boasts a versatile three-pitch mix, highlighted by a four-seam fastball averaging 93-94 mph, along with a slider and a changeup.Gregory Sanchez (https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/1347862-gregory-sanchez/) - RHP
At just 19 years old, Sanchez stands tall at 6-foot-4 and made an impressive entrance into professional baseball, averaging 94-96 mph with his fastball during his debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2024. However, shoulder issues limited his innings to just 3.1 in 2025, prompting the Rockies to handle him with care. This year, he is expected to participate in the Arizona Complex League, where he aims to demonstrate his powerful slider and evolving changeup.Ben Shields (https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/803999-ben-shields/) - LHP
Shields joined the Rockies alongside Roc Riggio in a trade with the Yankees for Jake Bird. After missing the initial two months of the 2024 season due to a hip injury, he made a notable return with a solid 2.33 ERA over 19.1 innings after transitioning to Double-A Hartford.Kelvin Hidalgo (https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/321511-kelvin-hidalgo/) - SS
Entering the 2025 season as one of the Rockies' Top 30 prospects, Hidalgo’s stock took a hit following a challenging season in Low-A Fresno, where he struggled significantly with contact, resulting in 125 strikeouts in his first full year. Nevertheless, he is an athletic player who still has the potential to reach his projected upside if he can make the necessary adjustments.Antoine Jean (https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/16871-antoine-jean/) - LHP
Jean was one of the older prospects in the 2025 draft class mainly due to undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. After being drafted, he pitched in bridge and instructional leagues, showcasing a deceptive over-the-top delivery that helps disguise his 93 mph four-seam fastball, setting up for an upper-70s 12-6 curveball with similar arm action. He is projected to transition into a relief role.Sebastian Blanco (http://www.baseballamerica.com/players/1564241-sebastian-blanco/) - INF
Blanco shone brightly in the Dominican Summer League, earning recognition by representing Colorado in the league’s All-Star Game. At just 18, he is a dynamic athlete with keen defensive awareness and a strong ability to make contact in the strike zone. Though average in speed, the organization hopes he can enhance his running abilities while competing in the Arizona Complex League this season.Kevin Martinez (https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/1564273-kevin-martinez/) - RHP
Martinez's fastball typically sits in the high 80s, yet he impressively maintained a strike rate of 71.70% while allowing only seven walks compared to 40 strikeouts—a statistic that is quite rare for pitchers in the Dominican Summer League. He features two secondary pitches, a changeup and a slider, both of which generate swings and misses. While he may repeat the DSL this season, there is a possibility that he could make his U.S. debut later this year.
