Eli Whitney | February 26, 2026

Kyle Freeland has seen the Rockies organization from every angle. He has been in Colorado for the playoff runs in the late 2010’s and the 100-loss seasons in the 2020’s. He has watched ideas come and go — and often, go nowhere.

“There have been multiple topics we’ve brought up in years past that we would like to see or do, and they just have never come to fruition,” Freeland said. 

This spring, though, feels different. 

“We’re looking at things in a different light, attacking Coors Field,” he said. “We’ve been stuck in old ways, trying to find the formula, recycle, recycle, recycle. Nothing has been working.”

Confronting the past

For years, the Colorado Rockies sidestepped certain conversations — about the realities of pitching at Coors Field, about pitch mixes, about the hard truths behind recycling the same approaches.

That, Freeland says, has changed.

“We may have shied away from conversations that needed to be had — tough conversations about Coors Field, about pitch mix, about hitting,” said Freeland. “Now we’re running into those hard conversations on purpose. We’re making things tough on ourselves because we know on the other side it’s going to be smoother.”

The catalyst is a revamped coaching staff — four voices instead of one — each bringing perspective from a different organization and diligently ensuring their message is coherent. Alon Leichman (hired from Miami), Gabe Ribas (Detroit), Matt Buschmann (Toronto), and Matt Daniels (Minnesota) now form a pitching brain trust that has energized the clubhouse for the Colorado Rockies.

“It’s been way different this year,” said Chase Dollander. “It’s been a lot of fun. Hearing what they have to say, I think I can relate to those guys just by their mindset about pitching.”

The information buffet

Under the new staff, the philosophy is straightforward: present the information, then let pitchers decide what fits.

“I’d rather have too much information than not enough,” said Dollander. “They’re going to lay it in front of you. Whatever you want to use, you can use. Whatever you don’t, they’re not going to be hurt about it.”

For Dollander — one of the organization’s top young arms — that means taking in as much as possible as he prepares for his second major league season.

The approach extends across camp with the Colorado Rockies. Ryan Feltner arrived with a six-pitch mix and is now experimenting with adding a cutter. Antonio Senzatela unveiled a sweeper in his first spring outing and an overall revamped arsenal. Freeland is testing multiple new grips.

“It’s about tweaking the pitches where they are and trying to get an extra five percent out of each of my pitches,” Feltner said. “If you can make each pitch a little bit better, that adds up to a lot.”

Redefining ‘strength’ 

The coaching staff’s message challenges conventional thinking about what makes a pitcher effective. Rather than leaning on a single dominant offering, they are encouraging diversification.

Alon Leichman frames it through the lens of facing the game’s elite hitters.

“If you have three pitches, it’s pretty easy for Shohei Ohtani,” Leichman said. “If you have more weapons, more pitches, he needs to make more decisions. The more decisions hitters have to make, the tougher it is.”

That philosophy requires rethinking how pitchers attack lineups.

 “If a guy really struggles with changeups, that changeup may becomes your best pitch to him. We’re just trying to redefine what your strength is.”Leichman said. 

The veteran effect 

Michael Lorenzen heard the warnings about pitching in Colorado. He signed anyway. The same goes for José Quintana and Tomoyuki Sugano. Suddenly, a once young staff has veteran anchors willing to embrace the challenge.

Lorenzen views his role as helping younger pitchers navigate what is ahead.

“[As veterans] we’ve been through times where we’re the worst pitcher in baseball, and we’ve come out the other end,” he said. “For us to be here with these young guys who are going to struggle — because you’re pitching in Colorado, you’re going to struggle — how can we assist these guys in grinding through that struggle and coming out the other end?”

That mentorship centers on problem-solving — learning how to use data and video effectively, and understanding the difference between a pitcher who is struggling and a game that simply got away.

The importance of athleticism 

The most visible change at Colorado Rockies camp is not confined to the mound — it shows up during catch play. Pitchers are moving more, throwing from different arm angles, putting themselves in uncomfortable positions.

“Be athletic,” said Freeland. “Don’t be a robot. Don’t be so focused on mechanics and being a pitcher. Be an athlete first.”

The logic is straightforward: freedom creates better movement on the mound and rigidity can reinforce unsuccessful traits.

What’s next?

The Colorado Rockies are entertaining structural changes that once would have been quickly dismissed. Openers? Discussed. Pitch-calling from the dugout? On the table.

“It’s on the table,” said Freeland. “It’s going to be discussed. It may be implemented. It may not. But it’s one of those things we get to start thinking about: Could this possibly help us at Coors Field? Could this help us get wins?”

For a franchise coming off three straight 100-loss seasons, the willingness to ask those questions may be the most meaningful shift of all.

“We’re three seasons in a row losing 100 games,” Freeland said. “Might as well try some new, fresh things.”

Written by Eli Whitney.