Rockies Relying on Draftees

Since 2000, the Colorado Rockies have produced only two draftees who have reached at least 10 WAR over their careers. The Rockies have succeeded despite their poor performances in the draft due to a combination of shrewd acquisitions (Carlos Gonzalez and Jorge de la Rosa), and great scouting in Latin America (Ubaldo Jimenez and Jhoulys Chacin).The importance of the Rockies’ ability (or inability) to excel in the draft will be put to the test this season, however, as their success will depend heavily on their home-grown talent. As Paul Swydan mentioned in his Team Preview article, the Rockies will need strong seasons from Dexter Fowler, Chris Iannetta, Seth Smith and Ian Stewart in order to make another run at Rocktober. Based on the Rockies’ recent history in the draft, counting on their home-grown talent is a risky proposition.

By putting so much faith in their home-grown prospects, the Rockies are hoping to reverse a trend of awful drafting over the past 10 seasons. Since 2000, their track record in the draft can be considered spotty at best. What’s worse is that the Rockies have missed on a lot of their first round picks over that period.

          Colorado Rockies' 1st Round Draft Picks
        Year              Player              WAR
        2000          Matt Harrington          0
        2001            Jayson Nix            0.5
        2002           Jeff Francis          13.8
        2003            Ian Stewart           4.1
        2004           Chris Nelson          -0.3
        2005          Troy Tulowitzki        17.8
        2005*            Chaz Roe              0
        2006           Greg Reynolds         -0.5
              *Indicates Supplemental Pick

While Jeff Francis was a solid contributor to the team, Troy Tulowitzki is the only star the Rockies have produced since 2000. None of the other players listed have experienced success at the major league level with the exception of Stewart, whom the Rockies will rely on heavily this season.

When the Rockies have been able to graduate a player from the minors, the results have been average at best. Sure, the Rockies received value from Clint Barmes, Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe, but all of those players came with flaws. That trend will be tested this season as the Rockies will attempt to discover whether Stewart, Smith, Fowler and Iannetta can handle full-time roles. This new group of Rockies enter the season with the same flaws as the former Rockies, and more playing time could prove disastrous if they can’t adjust on the fly. In the past, players like Seth Smith and Ian Stewart could step in if Hawpe or Barmes were ineffective. The Rockies no longer have that quality depth, however, so they really need the new batch of home-grown talent to rise to the occasion.

While it’s entirely possible that each of those four players exceed expectations in full-time roles, it’s more than likely one or two of them falter (or simply fail to adjust). Smith and Stewart will need to prove they can hit lefties before they find themselves platooned once again, while Fowler needs to flash the tools that once made him a top prospect. Iannetta has succeeded at the major league level before, and a visit from the luck fairy would go a long way in completing his comeback. If they can overcome those obstacles, the Rockies will be in great shape this season.

Unfortunately for the Rockies, recent history is not on their side. It’s more than likely this new batch of prospects will follow in the footsteps of the old batch of prospects. They may establish themselves as useful players, but far from ideal options. Without the depth of those former Rockie teams, there will be no safety net this season if any of their home-grown talents falter. In a suddenly crowded NL West, that risk could cost the Rockies a shot at another Rocktober.





Chris is a blogger for CBSSports.com. He has also contributed to Sports on Earth, the 2013 Hard Ball Times Baseball Annual, ESPN, FanGraphs and RotoGraphs. He tries to be funny on twitter @Chris_Cwik.

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Tim
13 years ago

I think this article proves how dreary the Rockies’ postseason chances are. They are currently relying completely on their draftees and sabermetrically strong but standardly weak rotation to make them succeed in the best hitters’ park in baseball. I think it’s about impossible to predict that these guys will finish higher than third in the NL west.

David Wishinsky
13 years ago
Reply to  Tim

How does this show Colorado’s chances to be dreary? They specifically highlight that they’ve succeeded in trades and the international market which is what the team will heavily rely on this year. Also all the guys mentioned as Rockies draftees are still quite young, so past (first round) failures don’t really speak much about their abilities. Colorado can easily finish first in the West, it’ll be a tight division.

biondino
13 years ago

“Sabermetrically strong but standardly weak” doesn’t actually mean anything, does it? If you think it doesn, now’s the time to resurrect the half of your argument that wasn’t proved wrong in the previous reply.

Tim
13 years ago

Look at the players they’re rolling out there this year bro! Besides Tulo and CarGo, they don’t have a single reliable hitter in their entire lineup. They have zero chance in 2011, yet this team seems to be perpetually overrated by the baseball community because of a few stud players.

David Wishinsky
13 years ago

Their lineup isn’t anymore or less reliable than the others in the NL West. Let’s be realistic, the Giants are expecting a lot out of whom exactly? Sandoval (unreliable)? Huff (unreliable)? Posey (one year of work)?

The Dodgers? They’re all about unreliable.

The Padres? Their lineup has been full of holes for years.

The Diamondbacks? The only thing they do reliably is strike out.

I am not saying the Rockies are a fantastic organization – by no means are they. But can they compete in the NL West? Absolutely. Perhaps that speaks more to the weakness of the division than the strength of Colorado but show me a team in that division that is far and away better. The Giants pitching is better, no doubt, but the Rockies pitching is serviceable to compete.

fredsbank
13 years ago

not a single reliable hitter other than tulo and cargo, yeah this might be true, but at least the rockies have those 2; in the rest of the division, the best hitter is a second-year catcher in a pitcher’s park, so you’re not really making as good of a point as you think you are.

you sound like a giants guy, tim, and dont forget that it took career years from several players to get them to where they were last year.

GiantHusker
13 years ago
Reply to  Tim

Considering the Rockies opposition in the West, it’s about impossible to predict that these guys will finish lower than third. Second seems likely, and first is possible. And I am a Giants fan.

fredsbank
13 years ago
Reply to  Tim

hey tim, what’s your last name?