Cooper Hearne | February 27, 2026

Buckle up, Rockies fans, Spring Training is underway! Anticipation is building for the coming season, and it is time to continue our list of breakout prospect picks for 2026. In the first edition of this series, we picked players in the lowest levels of the minors who we thought were ready to make a name for themselves this year.

In the second installment, we make our predictions for players that will firmly establish their bright trajectory in the organization. These are players who were taken highly in last year’s draft and have fanfare behind them, but are now striving to find their footing in the minor leagues and cement their status as top prospects. 

Ready to Establish Their Bright Trajectory

OF Max Belyeu 

Kicking off this tier is Max Beyleu, an exciting outfield prospect out of the University of Texas. Beyleu was college teammates with fellow Rockies minor-leaguer Jared Thomas. Beyleu actually had a higher OPS than Thomas in their last year together (1.090 to 1.069) despite being a grade younger. After taking Thomas in the 2nd round in 2024, the Rockies replicated that blueprint by taking Beyleu in the 2nd round in 2025. A notable fan of the pick was former Rockies’ GM and current MLB commentator Dan O’Dowd, who called Beyleu “A stud athlete with power to all parts of the ballpark… and a rocket arm.”

Beyleu debuted with High-A Spokane after being drafted and was able to get 80 at-bats of experience under his belt in 21 games. While he struggled to hit for consistent contact (.150 AVG) he may have gotten a bit unlucky with a mere .182 BABIP. Encouragingly, he was able to display some of his power upside with 4 home runs in his brief stint.

After seeing Thomas’ success last year, the Rockies clearly think they have found something in the University of Texas outfielder pipeline. Beyleu will be looking to follow in the footsteps of his former Longhorns teammate this year and establish his bright trajectory in the Rockies system. 

RHP Riley Kelly

Our next breakout prediction is Riley Kelly, the Rockies 4^th round draft pick out of UC Irvine. The club is hoping that their recent success in 4th round picks continues, after taking SP Ryan Feltner, OF Brenton Doyle, and C Hunter Goodman in that round in recent years. While Kelly struggled with injuries during his first two years in college, and his stats weren’t dominant in his final year (3.78 ERA, 1.470 WHIP, and 2.19 K/BB), the right-handed pitcher is a physical specimen with upside. Measuring 6-foot-5 and 240lbs, and having played quarterback in high school, Kelly has raw physical tools that project well going forward.

His fastball currently sits in the low-to-mid 90’s, and he has a devastating 12-6 curveball that can put away hitters. We expect that pitch to be lethal in the low minors, and hopefully he can lean on that offering as he continues to round out the rest of his arsenal. If he can add a couple of ticks to his fastball velocity and develop a complimentary 3rd pitch, Kelly will be a force to be reckoned with.

Kelly didn’t debut after being drafted last year, so we will get our first look at him in the Rockies organization in 2026. While some patience and development may be needed, we are picking him to go a long way toward establishing his bright trajectory this year. 

3B Ethan Hedges

A rare two-way player out of college, Hedges was a 3rd round selection in the 2025 draft after playing third base and pitching at USC. Hedges produced an electric final season with the Trojans, hitting for a 1.018 OPS with 14 HR and 10 SB, in addition to making 15 appearances on the mound and posting a 2.40 ERA, 1.113 WHIP, and recording 9 saves.

After being drafted as a third baseman, Hedges experienced the struggles that often come with the transition to pro ball. Jumping right in with High-A Spokane, he only managed to slash .195/.303/.234 in 89 AB. However, getting his feet wet last year should help him prepare for his first full season in the organization.

While he will likely play third base almost exclusively this year, it’s worth noting that in addition to pitching, Hedges also had college experience at first base and in the outfield, and his versatile skillset could be an asset as he moves through the Rockies’ system. That being said, being able to narrow his focus this year should help him simplify things, hone his skillset, and establish his promising trajectory in 2026. 

SS Ethan Holliday

Last, but certainly not least, we have Ethan Holliday, the son of Rockies legend Matt Holliday, and the crown jewel of the Rockies 2025 draft. Essentially everyone connected to the Rockies hoped that the stars would align, and that Holliday would be available to take with the #4 pick. Fortunately, the baseball gods indeed smiled upon the Rockies, and they were able to select Ethan to continue the Holliday family legacy in Colorado.

Ethan was long considered a top prospect in his draft class as a 6-foot-4, 210lb. shortstop with athleticism and a powerful left-handed swing. Holliday posted a phenomenal senior season in high school in 2025, compiling an incredible .611 AVG with 19 HR, 64 RBI, and an OPS of 2.038, en route to being named the Gatorade Oklahoma Baseball Player of the Year.

After being drafted, Holliday made the quick jump to pro ball with Low-A Fresno, where in 18 games he had mixed results. He struggled at times to make contact (39% k-rate), but managed to slug his way to a respectable .737 OPS, and logged his first 2 professional home runs to go with 4 doubles.

While Holliday is still somewhat of a raw physical prospect, and there are a lot of expectations on his shoulders now, it gives us comfort knowing that Matt will be in his corner to provide guidance through the inevitable ups and downs. We are confident that with his professional upbringing, and family support, Holliday is primed for success going forward.

Like all Rockies fans, we can’t wait to see what Holliday does in his first full year in the organization. While it’s not exactly a hot take, we are excitedly predicting a breakout season that will firmly establish his trajectory to the majors. 

Previous Edition: Who’s Ready to Make A Name

Next Edition: Breakout Picks to Knock on the Door

Written by Cooper Hearne.