The Colorado Rockies have the third overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft on July 14. It will be their highest pick since they selected infielder Brendan Rodgers with the No. 3 pick in 2015.
Over the last 10 drafts, the Rockies have had hits and misses with their top selection:
2014: Kyle Freeland, LHP, University of Evansville, No. 8
The Denver native has been a warrior since making his debut in 2017. His 2018 season (17-7, 2.85 ERA, fourth in NL Cy Young voting) is one of the best seasons in franchise history. But since ’18, Freeland’s career has been spotty and checkered with injuries. He signed a five-year, $64.5 million contract in 2022.
2015: Brendan Rodgers, SS, Lake Mary High School (Fla.), No. 3
Rodgers won a Gold Glove at second base in 2022, but injuries have prevented him from being a consistent impact player. In 380 games, he’s hit only 36 homers. Still, he’s having a solid season (.279 average, .712 OPS). Rodgers avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, $3.2 million contract this offseason. He’s eligible for free agency after 2025 and has been the subject of trade rumors.
2016: Riley Pint, RHP, St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Kan.), No. 4
Pint, who came out of high school with a 101 mph fastball, was seen as a can’t-miss prospect, but injuries and wildness have plagued his career. He retired briefly in 2021 but returned in 2022. Pint, 26, now a relief pitcher for Triple-A Albuquerque, made one big-league appearance at the end of 2023. He was called up by the Rockies on Friday.
2017: Ryan Vilade, INF, Stillwater High School (Okla.), No. 48
The Rockies, who lost their first-round pick after signing free-agent Ian Desmond, didn’t pick until the second round. Vilade debuted with the Rockies in 2021 but played in only three games. He returned to the majors this season with Detroit and got his first big-league hit on May 7.
2018: Ryan Rolison, LHP, Ole Miss, No. 22
Chronic shoulder injuries derailed Rolison’s career, and surgery wiped out his 2022 season. He started a comeback in 2023 and has pitched at three levels this season — Arizona Complex League, High-A Spokane and Triple-A Albuquerque — posting a 2.13 ERA over 12 2/3 innings. He turns 27 on July 11 but has yet to make his MLB debut.
2019: Michael Toglia, 1B, UCLA, No. 23
With Kris Bryant injured again, Toglia has emerged as the starting first baseman and has also played well in right. He’s shown power potential, hitting eight home runs this season, but he’s slashed just .190/.240./.440 and his strikeout rate is 36%. The 24-year-old switch-hitter has much to prove.
2020: Zac Veen, OF, Spruce Creek High School (Fla.), No. 9
The Rockies hoped Veen would be in the majors by now, but injuries and poor performance at the Double-A level delayed his progress. Veen sizzled at Double-A Hartford this spring but a lingering back injury stalled him again. He recently began playing again in the Arizona Complex League.
2021: Benny Montgomery, OF, Red Land HS (Lewisberry, Pa.) No. 8
The Rockies liked Montgomery’s athleticism, size and speed, even though his swing needed work. He was progressing nicely, slashing .283/.313/.500 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 11 games at Double-A Hartford, before he suffered a season-ending injury to his left shoulder diving for a ball this spring.
2022: Gabriel Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga University, No. 10
Hughes, a powerful, 6-foot-4, 225-pounder with a hot fastball and good changeup and slider, looked like he was on the fast track to the majors. However, an elbow injury led to Tommy John surgery last July.
2023: Chase Dollander, RHP, Tennessee, No. 9
Dollander did not pitch after last year’s draft, choosing to prepare for 2024. Armed with a near-100 mph fastball and sharp slider, he’s pitched well at High-A Spokane this season, going 3-1 with a 3.05 ERA. He’s walked 3.6 batters per nine innings while striking out 13.4 per nine.
— Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
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