Eli Whitney | March 6, 2026
Image Credit: Rockies Photography

​After a rookie season in 2025 that delivered both electric highs and frustrating lows – highlighted by a 6.61 ERA over 31.1 innings in relief, with four saves but challenges from command issues and a midseason forearm injury – Zach Agnos enters his second big-league spring determined to build on the promise rather than chase reinvention.

​The 25-year-old right-hander, a 10th-round pick in 2022 out of East Carolina (where he converted from infield to the mound), isn’t aiming for perfection this March in Scottsdale. He’s chasing consistency.

​“Not overcomplicating things,” Agnos said. “The arm’s been feeling great.”

​The simplicity begins well before he toes the rubber. Rigorous arm care, mobility drills, and strength training – the often-overlooked daily grind – now form the bedrock of his preparation. He gives significant credit to the Rockies’ training staff, strength coaches, and pitching coaches for making his mechanics repeatable and durable.

​“When your arm doesn’t feel 100 percent, that’s usually when the command goes,” he explained. “So it’s about hammering the routine every day.”

Flooding the Zone

​Through his first three spring innings, the early returns are impressive: no runs allowed, five strikeouts, and zero walks.

That dominance extended to Wednesday’s high-profile World Baseball Classic exhibition against Team USA at Salt River Fields, where Agnos entered in relief and delivered a clean, scoreless inning against some of baseball’s biggest stars. He struck out Bryce Harper, induced a groundout from Aaron Judge, and got Kyle Schwarber to ground out—retiring the side in order with aggressive zone attacks, sharp breaking stuff, and zero walks. The sequence perfectly embodied his shifted mindset, making elite hitters uncomfortable without getting too fine.

​Last year, he occasionally nibbled too much, trying to paint the black and missing just enough to invite trouble. This spring, the philosophy has flipped.

​“It’s just flooding the zone and being relentless in the zone,” Agnos said. “Making it uncomfortable for hitters.”

​That aggressive, trust-your-stuff mentality – pounding the strike zone early and often – has already shown up in sharper command and more uncomfortable at-bats for opposing hitters.

TJStats graphic below showing Zach Agnos’ Spring data.

The Sweeper Evolution

​A major driver of that confidence is his sweeper, now a more prominent weapon. While the pitch was part of his arsenal before, he’s ramped up its usage significantly this offseason, turning it into a wipeout offering.

​Early spring results speak volumes: a perfect 100% whiff rate on swings, with hitters chasing aggressively. The refinement began with input from pitching coach Alon Leichman (who spotted its potential early) and carried over to hands-on work with his brother Jake, a former Yankees minor leaguer.

​“I give Jake a lot of credit,” Agnos said. “When I talk grips, I like talking to my brother. He’s pretty knowledgeable.”

​Tweaking the grip for an improved shape, then pairing it with a sinker that creates deceptive tunnel effects, has elevated the sweeper even further.

​“It’s been a fun pitch to throw this year.”

​TJStats graphic below showing Zach Agnos’ Spring pitch mix.

Trusting the Brain Trust

​Agnos also points to the Rockies’ pitching leadership, including Dan Meyer, pitching director Matt Daniels, and coaches Alon Leichman and Gabe Ribas, for fostering clear, honest development.

​He recalls his first play-plan meeting of the offseason: not everything was easy to hear, but the transparency was invaluable.

​“They’ve been very clear about what they want you to do,” Agnos said. “I really appreciate their transparency.”

​That direct communication, even when candid, has built trust and accelerated his growth.

Staying Even-Keeled

​If 2025 taught him one enduring lesson, it’s maintaining emotional equilibrium amid the highs (strong early performance and late-inning potential) and lows (inconsistency and injury setbacks)

​“I experienced probably the highest highs and lowest lows,” Agnos reflected. “It taught me you can’t get too high and you can’t get too low.”

​A great outing doesn’t crown him elite: a tough one doesn’t define him as finished. The focus is steadiness – showing up prepared and process-oriented every day.

​Success this spring isn’t measured in ERA or headlines for Agnos.

​It’s measured in execution.

​“Every pitch in the zone. A ton of strikes. Making it uncomfortable for hitters,” he said. “If I get tagged for a couple runs but I’m filling it up, I can lay my head down knowing I got beat – not that I walked guys and they scored.”

​For Agnos, Year Two boils down to conviction: relentless in the zone, committed to the routine, emotionally balanced.

​With the Rockies’ bullpen needing reliable arms, the results should follow naturally if he stays true to that foundation.

Written by Eli Whitney.