Aaron McBride | @radioofam | February 9, 2024
The Rockies made it official during the Winter Meetings that KB will be the starting first baseman. One of the biggest question marks going into Spring Training is who will play the role of “backup for Kris Bryant at first“. Another layer to that fight is that whoever wins that job, could become the starting right fielder. The Rockies are full of optimistic questions that should hopefully be answered in the next month or so during Spring Training.
3rd base is locked up for the next 4 years after McMahon signed a contract extension in 2022. The corners at the MLB seem to be locked in for this season and maybe beyond, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t talent to in the Minors. A few guys are knocking on the MLB Coffee Shop door while others have the talent to make some noise in 2024. Let’s take a look at those dudes.
The MLB Experience Talent
Hunter Goodman came up late August and powered his way to four doubles, three triples, and a homer at the MLB level after demolishing the AA and AAA circuits with 34 homers and 111 RBI. The bat is ahead of the glove as Your Mom’s Favorite Player is still learning new defensive positions. Last year was the first time he played either corner outfield spot or first base since his high school days. Remember he was drafted as a catcher and could potentially fill in as backup catcher in late inning situations but do not expect him to see 40-50 games behind the plate.
Michael Toglia and Elehuris Montero are in backup purgatory as they seem to fight every day for playing time and a chance to prove themselves. The leash is nowhere near the length for guys like Tovar, Doyle and Jones.
| 2023 Numbers | AAA OPS | AAA K% | MLB OPS | MLB K% |
| Michael Toglia | .842 | 22.3% | .507 | 32.9% |
| Elehuris Montero | 1.129 | 17.2% | .716 | 36.2% |
I’d argue that a lot of that is due to Buddy and the Rockies Front Office playing yo-yo with each player. Montero was optioned 5 times last season, leaving him with 0 options this year. Toglia was sent up and down 3 times and leaves him with 2 options. He is currently slated to start 2024 in AAA. Toglia does have the ability to play Gold Glove defense at first and is more than adequate roaming in right. If he comes into Spring Training the way he finished Winter League, there is a solid chance he makes the 26-man out of camp and leaves the Rockies to make a big decision on what to do with Montero.
The Minor League Talent
If we didn’t start this with Grant Lavigne there is something terribly wrong with us. The Friend of the Pod made it safely through the MLB Rule 5 draft, which is a double edge sword. Rated as one of the Top 10 1B in all of MiLB before the 2023 season began, Grant’s 2023 campaign didn’t blow any doors down. His feel for the strike zone is top in the organization leading all Rockies minor league players with more than 350 PA in BB% at 14.4% but the power that has been expected has yet to show up. Looking for him to breakout in 2024 with Pacheco and the PCL in Albuquerque.
Aaron Schunk received a non-roster invite to Spring Training and he should be next in line if anything were to happen to Ryan McMahon. After an unforgettable season in 2021 in High A Spokane, Schunk has had solid back-to-back campaigns that has placed him back into the Rockies Top 30 prospects (#28). He tried his best Khris Davis impression and hit 14 HR and 77 RBI in each of the last two seasons, but saw a nice uptick in OPS .743 to .811. Schunk’s glove has improved and has a cannon of an arm from the hot corner. He’s waiting to get in the MLB Coffee Shop and should be first in line.
Warming Bernabel was added to the 40-man roster before the 2023 season after an incredible 2022 campaign across Fresno and Spokane. The bat is farther along than the glove but an injury plagued season stopped Warming from taking that big step forward in 2023. In 83 games in Hartford, Bernabel posted a .608 SLG. 2024 is a big year for Warming.
Sterlin Thompson still doesn’t have a defensive home. 14 games at 2B, 70 at 3B, 13 as a DH, 9 in LF and 16 in RF. This is a double edged sword – he hasn’t excelled enough defensively at a position to say this is it, but he also hasn’t been terrible at the position to be taken away from it. With that said, the numbers and experts are predicting a future at 3B for Sterlin. His bat is already MLB ready and a keen eye for the zone, 10% BB rate. There is sneaky pop in his bag, 14 homers last season but he will be a doubles machine when he gets to Coors. Looking forward to Sterlin’s 2024 campaign to answer some questions!
Skyler Messinger is a dawg. The 19th round pick out of Texas wanted everyone to know he should have been picked sooner. In his debut professional season, Messinger maned the hot corner in hot Fresno and demolished competition. 106 games, 19 doubles, 18 homers, with a 12.4% walk rate. It is safe to predict that he will repeat the offensive numbers in Spokane. He will be a fun name to watch work through the system.
Zach Kokoska was going head to head with Yanquiel and Beck in a three way Spokane Indian only season long home run derby before he hit the shelf with an injury. Before the season ending injury, Koko whopped 21 doubles, 18 homers, and drove in 53 with a beautiful slash line .303/.399/.562. Everywhere Koko has played, all he has done is hit, 1.013 career college OPS. The 10th round pick played 1B for the first time last year after one professional season and exclusively playing OF at Kansas State. He held his own and was picking it with the best of them. Kokoska has all the makings in being a steal for the Rockies if he continues this trajectory.
Kyle Karros was one of a few who got professional playing time in his draft season. The 2023 5th round pick out of UCLA held his own in the California league for 96 at bats. He has all the makings in pushing quickly through the system, as fast as a 6’5 220 pound guy can move anyways. Look for Karros to turn some heads in Spokane this year.
Final Thoughts
The corners are big and hot and full of talent. The MLB talent is a problem and one of those guys needs to take 1B and runaway with it. Until then, there is not an easy path to the bigs for the others.
Pod segment covering the Corner IF Prospects.
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