Eli Whitney | March 2, 2026
The path to Rockies camp has been anything but linear for 32-year-old catcher Brett Sullivan. Ten years of minor league baseball with just 43 games of major league action sprinkled in between.
Sullivan, who made his big league debut with the Padres in 2023 at the age of 29, is a picture of resilience and a love for the game. Now he enters his first camp with Colorado looking for another opportunity to prove he belongs — and so far, he is doing just that.
The box score will show Sullivan’s hits and ability to get on base. But ask around the Rockies clubhouse and they will tell you that his impact starts well before the first pitch.
Sullivan has quietly emerged as one of the more valuable presences in big league camp. Through the first few weeks of Spring Training, he has done everything asked of him- and he is embracing his time with a new group in Colorado.
“The vibes are at an all-time high,” Sullivan said. “The boys are buzzing in the locker room, and I think we’re taking it out on the field.”
More than a Bat
Sullivan’s performance at the plate has made him difficult to ignore. Through Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sullivan is hitting .500 with a .600 on-base percentage.
His two-strike approach and ability to put together professional at-bats has drawn particular notice. Sullivan, however, downplays the idea of a specialized approach with two strikes.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a two-strike approach,” he said. “I’m just up there just trying to get my swing off, I’m looking over the plate. I’m really just trying to get my A-swing off every pitch. They’re coming at you with stuff nowadays that’s so freaking good that you don’t want to wait around too long.”
The results speak for themselves. A lead-off home run off of the Guardians’ ace Gavin Williams. A 10-pitch at bat that ended in a double. A slash the other way after falling behind. Sullivan has delivered consistent, professional at-bats all throughout spring.
The Catchers Craft
Manager Warren Schaeffer offered perhaps the most telling praise earlier this week- and it had nothing to do with offense.
“The biggest thing you didn’t mention is his relationship with the pitchers and his ability to get more out of them,” Schaeffer said. “He’s vocal back there. He knows what he’s doing.”
Jimmy Herget, who has known Sullivan since their college days, sees that presence firsthand.
“It’s been great,” Herget said. “He obviously (gives) a lot of positive reinforcement. It seems like he’s kind of with you the whole time. Pays attention. Doesn’t really bring his at bats (with him) behind the plate, which is obviously really good, because pitching can be a very polarizing back and forth.”
For Sullivan, that’s the essence of the position.
“It’s something I think every catcher takes pride in,” he said. “As a catcher, you’re there for the pitcher. If there’s anything we can do on our side to help them get through any inning, or just get the best out of them, it’s something all of us take a lot of pride in.”
The arms in camp have only made that job easier.
“Some of these arms we have, they’re special, man,” Sullivan said. “It’s been fun to work with them. We have a great group of pitchers.”
When asked if anyone had stood out, Sullivan didn’t hesitate.
“Probably Chase [Dollander],” he said. “Chase is throwing 100 in his bullpens. He is unbelievable as a young arm. He’s going about it so professionally, and the stuff is there. I’m so excited to watch him this spring take a huge step forward.
Family First
Sullivan’s presence in camp carries personal significance as well. The Sullivan family spends the offseason in Arizona, making this spring training feel different from others.
After a recent game against San Francisco, Sullivan left the ballpark and headed straight to his son’s little league game.
“As a parent, you always have to show up,” he said. “No matter how tired you are after a game, they don’t know that. You just show up and do the best you can for them. Being here in the offseason, being close to Colorado- it’s an amazing fit for our family. We’re really blessed.”
Playing Free
As Spring Training rolls on, Sullivan’s mindset remains simple.
“I think the biggest thing is going out and playing free,” he said. “Coming in here and just saying, ‘Hey, just go out and showcase everything you have in the best way possible for the team.’ If that’s baserunning, if that’s getting the most out of the pitchers, just trying to be present. Honestly just play like you’ve got nothing to lose.”
So far, that mindset has served him well – and the Rockies are taking notice. While Hunter Goodman is sharpied in as the primary backstop, the backup spot is still very much up for grabs. 27-year-old Braxton Fulford has flashed promise — most recently showcasing 91st percentile sprint speed — though he didn’t cement his presence with a .591 OPS and inconsistent defense in a big league stint last season. Fellow veteran journeyman Kyle McCann and his .821 OPS in Spring Training also remains in the fold.
However, Sullivan offers something different: A decade of minor league resilience, a vocal presence pitchers trust, and at-bats that never seem to waste a pitch. In a competition this open, that kind of steadiness might be exactly what wins the job.
Written by Eli Whitney.
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