Cameron Maclennan | May 6, 2025
It wasn’t exactly an April to write home about for the Colorado Rockies. Honestly, it was the exact opposite and should probably be forgotten altogether.
However, a pair of prospect impressed as the minor leagues continues to be a beacon of hope for the franchise . On Friday, RHP Gabriel Hughes and OF Jared Thomas were named the Rockies Organizational Pitcher and Player of the Month for April.
While it’s unfortunate that it seems like Rockies fans are always having to look toward the future, these guys are two to get excited about. We’ll start with the one closer to the big leagues, Gabriel Hughes of the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats.
Hughes was the 10th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft by the Rockies but got off to a bumpy start in his professional career. After putting up a 3.05 ERA in his collegiate career, Hughes posted a disappointing 6.21 ERA between High-A Spokane and Double-A Hartford over 66.2 IP before undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2023.
After recovering, Hughes rehabbed through the 2024 season but made Colorado’s Arizona Fall League roster. In his time there, he threw 17.1 innings with an 8.31 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. Again, the numbers weren’t impressive for Hughes, but the stuff was still there. Given all his struggles starting his pro career, expectations weren’t all that high coming into this year when he was reassigned to Hartford in the spring. That being said, Hughes has changed the narrative pretty quickly.
Hughes is off to a flaming hot start this year. Which is exactly what he and the Rockies organization needed. Through 21.2 innings so far this year, Hughes has a 2.08 ERA with a 0.88 WHIP and .197 BAA. His 0.88 WHIP ranks 6th in the Eastern League and his ERA ranks 8th. In his last 10 innings, he’s allowed just one run and four hits. It finally looks as if it’s all coming together for the Gonzaga product.
Hughes is pleased with his results so far this year but is aware more improvement is needed. “I’m very happy with where my stuff’s at right now, but that’s not to say there’s not always room for growth,” Hughes explained in a video conference with Denver media.
After having a 5.2 BB/9 in his Fall League stint, Hughes has allowed just four walks while piling up 17 strikeouts in those 21.2 innings.
If Hughes can continue this success and the Rockies rotation doesn’t improve throughout this season, it would not surprise me if we see Hughes sooner rather than later.
Hughes has been in the Rockies system for almost three years now and has time to learn from his experience in the minors, Jared Thomas has not. Yet that has not slowed him down in the slightest.
Thomas was selected 42nd overall in the 2024 MLB draft, and the Texas product has wasted no time making his name known within the Rockies organization.
This doesn’t come as a surprise to Thomas. The 21-year-old outfielder raked in his final year at Texas, with a line of .349/.435/.635 with 16 home runs. His early success in pro baseball has only been a continuation of what he did in Burnt Orange. In his brief stint in Low-A Fresno last year, Thomas hit .333 with two home runs over eight games. He has done more of the same after starting the year in High-A Spokane.
Through 26 games, he possesses a slash line of .320/.438(!!)/.948 and leads the Northwest league in both hits (32) and RBI (20). Even while getting on base at an elite rate, Thomas is also tied for 3rd in home runs and total bases with 5 and 51.
Thomas has split time between center and left field so far this year. However, as he continues to get closer to the big leagues, it’s more than likely left field will be his primary position.
The Rockies may have found a gem in Thomas if he can keep this up. If he does, he will find himself moving the minors rather quickly.
While Thomas is enjoying his early success, he knows he needs to keep pushing to continue to get closer to the big leagues.
“I’m trying to enjoy this as much as I can, but I also know in the back of my head, there’s still work that needs to be done,” Thomas said.
In a season of despair thus far for the Rockies, fans are looking for just about any hope they can find. While Thomas may still be a little ways off from putting on the purple, Hughes has an opportunity to force the hand of the front office as the season moves on if continues to be as stellar as he’s been to start 2025.
There is still loads of talent in this organization, keep the hope Rox fans!
Written by Cameron Maclennan.
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