Blake Street Banter Team | February 19, 2025

Another day, another BSB Tools Week drop. With new stolen base rules in pro baseball, steals are becoming a bigger focus for teams with 50 steals now a much more attainable figure. With all the premium athletes in the Rockies system, do they have a threat to pull off the 50 bags? Could it be 2020 first-rounder Zac Veen, the disruptive Braiden Ward, or possibly someone else?

BSB Tools Week links:

Top 5 Command Pitchers
Top 10 Secondary Pitches
Top 5 Fastballs
Top 5 Catching Tools
Top 5 Fielders

Honorable Mentions

The trio of shortstops — Adael Amador, Dyan Jorge, and Braylen Wimmer — reached 30 stolen bases in 2024. In the DSL/ACL, several young guns stole over 20 bases in less than 60 games: Roldy Brito, Jeremy Ciriaco, Wilder Dalis, Eriel Dihigo, and Yeiker Reyes. Players with straight-up great speed include Ashly Andujar, Julio Carreras, and Benny Montgomery.

#5 – OF Caleb Hobson

Chris Forbes declared that Hobson may have Braiden Ward beat when it comes to flat-out speed. He has 4.0 speed or better down the line and uses it to his advantage. His defensive range is extended thanks to his speed and he’s a premier threat on the bases. Hobson stole 36 bags his final year of college and carried that into 2024. He grabbed 46 bags and scored 79 runs in his first professional season in Fresno.

If you love traditional lead-off type guys, Caleb Hobson may be your new favorite player to watch.

#4 – OF Zac Veen

Out of all Veen’s intriguing tools, his speed is the most polished. With 134 steals at a 81% success rate across 4 minor league seasons, Veen makes an impactful presence on the base paths. Not only does he steal bases, but also routinely turns singles into doubles, capitalizes on fielding errors, and is a constant displeasure for opposing teams. 

While speed on the base paths is important, his availability on defense improves off of Veen’s speed alone. Playing in Coors Field requires covering a lot of space, and with his speed it comes easy. It will be sooner than later before we see Zac Veen starting alongside fellow speedster (and superb baseball player), Brenton Doyle. 

#3 – SS/OF Cole Carrigg

Carrigg is a do-it-all athlete who steals the show in this series. It is his speed though that is perhaps his best tool. Carrigg likely could have played a skill position on the football field with his quality acceleration and premium top speed and that allows Carrigg to play both center field and shortstop. After stealing 53 bags in 2024, Carrigg established himself as one of the top speed threats in the Rockies organization and he looks like a sure bet to make an impact on the basepaths at Coors Field by 2026. Keep an eye on Carrigg to steal another 50 bags in 2025.

#2 – INF/OF Greg Jones

A first-round pick by the Rays in 2019, the utilityman Jones has always been known for being a toolsy player with his carrying tool being his speed. In 5 seasons in the minors, Jones has an impressive 160 career steals with a whopping 46 coming this year in just 89 games. The North Carolina native is one of the best speedsters across pro ball period. After making his big league debut in 2024, Jones could be in line to steal a lot of bags at Coors in years to come.

#1 – OF Braiden Ward

The grizzled minor league vet loves to cause chaos offensively. There is never an easy out when Braiden is up and there isn’t a bag he doesn’t want to steal. Not only does Ward have elite pure speed but his instincts and aggressiveness make him an absolute weapon on the bases. Ward knows he’s not the strongest player so he takes pride in being a menace on the basepaths. Remember when he stole home? 

Ward has 154 stolen bases across 4 minor league seasons. He’s had 50 or more stolen bases in two of those seasons. His main goal is to get the ball in play and make the defense make a play. He makes teams gameplan for his speed.

Banter Session with Braiden Ward

Steals and Coors Field should go together than peanut butter and jelly; stretch a walk or single by taking a bag and wait for the inevitable base hit to bring in a run. With these speed threats set to impact the big leagues soon, the Rockies will have no shortage of run scoring opportunities.