Blake Street Banter Team | @BlakeStBanter | July 26, 2024

The post-draft Colorado Rockies prospect rankings are here. There’s a strong argument the Rockies do not have a singular weak spot when looking at the farm. The Rockies have some power arms, finesse arms, power-oriented position players, pure athletes, you name it.

While names closer to the big leagues like Dollander, Amador, Veen, etc. get most of the hype, there are also plenty of younger prospects set to impact the Rockies club years from now when many top prospects have already arrived.

These rising stars, like Kelvin Hidalgo with his promising power, represent the second wave of prospects to impact the Rockies in the later 2020s. This is the first of three posts in our post-draft Prospect Rankings–highlighting the honorable mentions outside the top 30–with some consolidation of younger players here.

Curious who we had pre-season? Look no further:
Honorable Mentions | 31 – 40 | 21 – 30 | 11 – 20 | 10-1

40 – Kelvin Hidalgo, SS, 19

One of several recent international success stories for the Rockies, Hidalgo flashed huge pop–especially for a middle infielder–last year in the DSL when he hit 12 home runs in just 45 games. A full-time shortstop with quality speed and athleticism, Hidalgo could be the full package if he rediscovers that power stroke.

39 – Warming Bernabel, 3B, 22

When Bernabel emerged stateside, he was immediately praised for his offensive skills. Hitting at least .300 in each the ACL, Single-A, and High-A. However, when he was moved up to Double-A, his free-swinging tendencies got the better of him. He was making weaker contact more often and it led to significant on-base reduction. Bernabel still does have some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the organization and has time to polish the rest of his game.

38 – LeBarron Johnson Jr., RHP, 22

The second pitcher selected by Colorado in the 2024 draft, Johnson embodies power. He’s up to 98 with a groundball-oriented fastball and throws a promising slider and changeup that were unhittable in the Big 12 this year. The command comes and goes but Johnson could be an MLB starter with more refinement.

37 – Jake Madden, RHP, 22

Jake Madden was brought to Colorado in the Cron/Grichuk trade last July. The 6 foot-6 righty has big stuff–a 60-grade fastball and changeup with a 55-grade slider. However, Madden’s command is below average. He started all 20 games he appeared in 2023, but has yet to start this season. The Rockies could be grooming a big relief arm that could move through the system quickly.

36 – Jace Kaminska, RHP, 22

Kaminska has command of a five pitch mix that has been dominated by his mid-90s four-seam fastball. He pairs his fastball with a solid curveball, which he has been tweaking to get more depth this season. Like other Rockies pitchers, he uses the slider/cutter to bridge the gap between the fastball and curveball and a has a changeup to switch speeds. All in all, Kaminska in a strike thrower with a deep arsenal that is only getting more refined. With this skill set, he projects as a safe back-end of the rotation pitcher.

35 – Cade Denton, RHP, 22

Denton was utterly dominant in his last two seasons with Oral Roberts, tossing a 0.41 and 1.83 ERA respectively. The Rockies selected him in the 6th round last year and gave him an over-slot deal to sign. Denton surprisingly started the year at rookie ball this season but was quickly promoted to Fresno where he has tossed a 3.63 ERA in 17.1 innings. The righty has two plus pitches in his fastball and slider, the former of which reaches 99 mph. Developing a viable third pitch will be key to Denton’s success. 

34 – Seth Halvorsen, RHP, 24

It isn’t easy to get excited about a relief-only prospect, but Seth Halvorsen is fun. He’s a three-pitch mix reliever, a type of player the Rockies have coveted. Halvorsen is a power pitcher through and through. His fastball sits at 97-99 and is the pitch he relies on most to get crucial outs. He pairs the fastball with a mid-80s changeup that tunnels with his fastball. There’s also a slurvy-breaking ball here.  When all his pitches are on, Halvorsen is unstoppable. He is currently in Hartford, still working out the kinks, sporting a 4.83 ERA. The future of the Rockies’ bullpen will be heavily dependent on Halvorsen’s development, mainly his consistency in locating his arsenal.

33 – Jackson Cox, RHP, 20

A 2022 2nd Rounder out of a Washington high school, Cox is another Rockies pitcher praised for his ability to spin the baseball. His curveball has elite spin, around 3000 RPM, leading to hammer qualities and it’s set up by a fastball that sits around 93-94. There’s some room to grow and with his arm talent, the Rockies are hoping Cox eventually sits 95-97 with his fastball. Cox won’t pitch much, if at all, until 2025 due to Tommy John Surgery last July. With Cox, the Rockies have all the material to mold him into a solid pitcher.

32 – Yeiker Reyes, OF, 18

Reyes is one of the several exciting young positional prospects in the ACL this season. After hitting .304 with 27 stole bags in the DSL last year, he is currently hitting .268 with 23 stolen bases this year. A former infielder, the 18-year-old Reyes is a great defender in centerfield and should stick there long-term. The big question here is how much power Reyes can get. He’s projectable with plenty of bat speed but will need to start hitting homers to elevate his stock. 

31 – Isaiah Coupet, LHP, 21

The spin maestro himself, Coupet has the nastiest breaking stuff in the system. Coupet averages around 3,000 rpms on two distinct breakers that miss a ton of bats and induce weak contact aplenty. The Ohio State product is limited by his 89-91 mph fastball that lacks any standout traits. The breaking balls will get Coupet big league looks eventually, though it may be in a relief role.

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