OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Mile High Dreams: Colorado Rockies Expansion Saga

Fantasy Skipper · 07-31-2025, 01:36 PM

A Pitcher-Heavy Draft Class
With the inaugural amateur draft now complete, the baseball world is turning its eye to Denver's first attempt at building a foundation. The media has been quick to weigh in on the Rockies' inaugural draft class, which saw the team select a total of 42 players to help fill out its minor league rosters.

Beyond the top pick of Scott Rolen, the Rockies' strategy became clearer: they were going heavy on pitching. In a move that surprised some traditionalists, the team selected 15 pitchers in the draft including three of their first four picks. This reflects the franchise's recognition of the unique challenges of developing pitchers to handle Denver's high altitude.
--Round 2, SP Jeff Suppan: A right handed pitcher with a projectable frame and a developing curve ball.
--Round 3, SP Bryan Wolff: A hard-throwing righty with a fastball that sits in the low 90s, and the potential to develop into a front-line starter.
--Round 4, CL Willis Roberts: Another projectable high school arm, Roberts is a right-hander with a solid fastball and a promising slider.
--Round 6 1B Todd Dunwoody: A powerful left-handed hitting first baseman with a lot of raw talent, considered a potential sleeper pick.
--Round 8, C Bobby Estalella: A high-energy catcher with a strong arm and an aggressive approach at the plate.
--Round 10, RF Derrick Gibson: A left-handed hitting outfielder with a great glove and surprising spead.
--Round 12, LF Brooks Kieschnick: A versatile two-way player from the University of Texas, his athleticism made him a valuable pick in the middle rounds.

The Rockies also added two other pitchers in their top ten picks, selecting Silvio Censale and Kris Foster, further solidifying their focus on young arms.

Media Review: Reactions from Around the League
Marvin "The Maestro" Maxwell, National Sports Columnist
"Caleb Thorne's first act as General Manager was a calculated risk. While the Rolen Pick has a high ceiling, it's the pitching selection in the rounds that follow that truly reveal his blueprint. He's not shying away from the 'altitude' question; he's confronting it head-on by stockpiling young arms with big fastballs. The consensus around the league is that this class, while light on immediate impact, is a masterclass in forward-thinking, long-term roster construction. Thorne is building for a decade from now, not just for the first season."

Isabelle "Izzy" Garcia, The Denver Post

"The Colorado Rockies have officially started to build their future, and the initial returns are about what one would expect. They weren't going to fill their opening day roster with the amateur draft, in fact most of the players drafted won't see the big leagues for years to come, if ever. Scott Rolen is incredibly young but has tremendous upside. The draft class as a whole, with its emphasis on young pitchers and athletic position players, suggest a commitment to a deep farm system."

"Mile High Mike" O'Connell, Denver Sports Radio

"Pitchers, pitcher, and more pitchers. Look I get it. The air is thin, the balls fly, whatever. But you can't win without hitting. This kid Thorne is a smart guy, I'll give him that, but let's hope a few of these arms actually pan out. It's a long road from high school to the show, and most of these guys will never make it. We're gonna need some bats to put butts in the seats, and I hope Thorne's got that covered in the expansion draft. The jury's out on this one, folks, but they're making a big bet on the long game."

07-31-2025, 01:36 PM	#20
Fantasy Skipper Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2025 Posts: 111	Thorne Completes Rockies First Amateur Draft A Pitcher-Heavy Draft Class With the inaugural amateur draft now complete, the baseball world is turning its eye to Denver's first attempt at building a foundation. The media has been quick to weigh in on the Rockies' inaugural draft class, which saw the team select a total of 42 players to help fill out its minor league rosters. Beyond the top pick of Scott Rolen, the Rockies' strategy became clearer: they were going heavy on pitching. In a move that surprised some traditionalists, the team selected 15 pitchers in the draft including three of their first four picks. This reflects the franchise's recognition of the unique challenges of developing pitchers to handle Denver's high altitude. --Round 2, SP Jeff Suppan: A right handed pitcher with a projectable frame and a developing curve ball. --Round 3, SP Bryan Wolff: A hard-throwing righty with a fastball that sits in the low 90s, and the potential to develop into a front-line starter. --Round 4, CL Willis Roberts: Another projectable high school arm, Roberts is a right-hander with a solid fastball and a promising slider. --Round 6 1B Todd Dunwoody: A powerful left-handed hitting first baseman with a lot of raw talent, considered a potential sleeper pick. --Round 8, C Bobby Estalella: A high-energy catcher with a strong arm and an aggressive approach at the plate. --Round 10, RF Derrick Gibson: A left-handed hitting outfielder with a great glove and surprising spead. --Round 12, LF Brooks Kieschnick: A versatile two-way player from the University of Texas, his athleticism made him a valuable pick in the middle rounds. The Rockies also added two other pitchers in their top ten picks, selecting Silvio Censale and Kris Foster, further solidifying their focus on young arms. Media Review: Reactions from Around the League Marvin "The Maestro" Maxwell, National Sports Columnist "Caleb Thorne's first act as General Manager was a calculated risk. While the Rolen Pick has a high ceiling, it's the pitching selection in the rounds that follow that truly reveal his blueprint. He's not shying away from the 'altitude' question; he's confronting it head-on by stockpiling young arms with big fastballs. The consensus around the league is that this class, while light on immediate impact, is a masterclass in forward-thinking, long-term roster construction. Thorne is building for a decade from now, not just for the first season." Isabelle "Izzy" Garcia, The Denver Post "The Colorado Rockies have officially started to build their future, and the initial returns are about what one would expect. They weren't going to fill their opening day roster with the amateur draft, in fact most of the players drafted won't see the big leagues for years to come, if ever. Scott Rolen is incredibly young but has tremendous upside. The draft class as a whole, with its emphasis on young pitchers and athletic position players, suggest a commitment to a deep farm system." "Mile High Mike" O'Connell, Denver Sports Radio "Pitchers, pitcher, and more pitchers. Look I get it. The air is thin, the balls fly, whatever. But you can't win without hitting. This kid Thorne is a smart guy, I'll give him that, but let's hope a few of these arms actually pan out. It's a long road from high school to the show, and most of these guys will never make it. We're gonna need some bats to put butts in the seats, and I hope Thorne's got that covered in the expansion draft. The jury's out on this one, folks, but they're making a big bet on the long game."