And so the Colorado Rockies 2026 season begins

Finally, today we will have Rockies baseball.

Renee Dechert

27 Mar 2026 — 4 min read

Willi Castro

No one knows what the 2026 season will bring to the Colorado Rockies, who are coming off an historically bad 2025. (43-119, anyone?) But before things get started at loanDepot park later today, it’s worth taking a moment to consider what they have done because it’s a lot, and I feel like that gets lost.

Hired Paul DePodesta as the president of baseball operations.
Hired Josh Byrnes as the general manager.
Hired Warren Schaeffer as the permanent manager.
Made any number of front office hires.
Hired and expanded the coaching staff.
Signed three free-agent pitchers.
Signed free agents to improve depth.
Made trades (such as Brennan Bernadino, Jake McCarthy, and T.J. Rumfield).
DFA’d players no longer seen as useful to the organization (such as Michael Toglia and Yanquiel Fernández).
Began working to re-establish trust with fans.
Began improving communication without and outside the organization.

None of this is, I realize, sexy work. They didn’t sign Kyle Tucker or Edwin Díaz; no player received a substantial extension like Pete Crow-Armstrong or Roman Anthony; they didn’t get a new uniform or bring back the black vests; and there’s still the question of Kris Bryant’s contract.

They did, however, well and truly begin rebuilding.

If you’re a serious Colorado Rockies fan, you know that last year was awful by any measure. It was terrible for players; it was terrible for anyone working at Coors Field; it was terrible for fans. That Dick Monfort finally handed over the reins to his son Walker and gave him the autonomy to make changes is notable.

I say all of this because I want to provide a reminder that this is a very different team than the one we saw in 2025. Sure, much of the work has happened under the hood, and we won’t know the results for a while. But these are not the same old “lol Rockies.”

The early season power rankings are coming out with the Rockies generally ranked 30th, and I don’t question that at all. They were a bad team last year, and they are not going to miraculously become contenders this season.

However, I do take issue with writers who disregard how much has changed. I read a writer last week who commented that Paul DePodesta has largely disappeared. That’s simply untrue. He’s been available to media and present to comment on every trade or signing the Rockies have made. He’s appeared on broadcasts. He’s done interviews. DePodesta understands that for serious fans, he’s the default face of the franchise until things take a turn.

That same writer only expects to Rockies to improve by three wins this season. I am not a gambling person, but I will absolutely take that bet.

And I respectfully disagree with various social media commenters who pity Rockies fans for having to endure what’s coming.

i think everyone who seriously commits to watching the rockies for 162 games this season should somehow, by fate or magic, be gifted seven million dollars
— lauren (@lauren.rotatingsandwiches.com) 2026-03-27T03:11:17.511Z

I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty excited to see what’s on tap for 2026.

What kind of roster moves will DePodesta make? (We don’t know yet, but I expect this to be a roster in constant flux with significant moves at the trade deadline.)
Will the pitching improve with pitching coach Alon Leichman making pitch “suggestions” from the dugout? Will their current theory of pitching be effective? (Seriously, if you haven’t read his article, I recommend it.)
Will the Rockies stop chasing and start getting more hits?
How will the new players fit in, and is T.J. Rumfield going to be the dude he was in spring training?
Can Chase Dollander figure things out?
Which players will we see promoted this season?
Will Byrne’s theory of versatility take root with the Rockies?
What will the Rockies do in the MLB Draft?
Is the Rockies farm system untalented or undeveloped?

Look, I don’t need anyone’s sympathy. I did 2025. I spent a year in the basement. I don’t know that the 2026 Rockies will be good (though I think they’ll be better), but I know they’re going to be interesting.

And after watching bad boring baseball, I will happily trade for bad interesting baseball.

Finally, the Rockies have a real front office, one that’s trying to catch up and play wining baseball, and they’ve worked hard to get fan buy-in.

Now we see what happens.

Earlier this week, I published my annual SWOT analysis at Purple Row, and I included in it my 63-99 record. (ZiPS says 60-102, which would be a terrific season.) This is going to be an improved team because it has better (if not excellent) players. Replacing Michael Toglia alone gives the Rockies an advantage. That’s how bad they were.

For me, I like watching Colorado Rockies baseball because I’m invested in it, and I’m glad it’s back. At the end of the day, baseball is a kind of storytelling. I am very eager to see what kind of stories the Rockies well be telling in 2026.

Here’s to a good season, everyone.

Play ball.

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