After going 43-119 last season, most people would reasonably assume that the Rockies would go after players this offseason.
But, I recently saw this post from Dugout Report that the Rockies and the Red Sox are the only two teams that have yet to make an MLB-level free agent signing.
So, it seems like the Rockies are taking a different approach by first rebuilding their front office and coaching staff.
The news from the past month and a half seems to be focused pretty heavily on front office staff, and this past week is no different.
So, let’s jump into what the Rockies have been up to this past week.
Jeff Pickler Hired As Rockies Bench Coach
Last season, Clint Hurdle was hired as the Rockies’ Interim Bench Coach. He also had the role of hitting coach.
On Wednesday, the Rockies announced they hired Jeff Pickler as the new Bench Coach.
Prior to joining the Rockies, Jeff Pickler was the Game Planning and Outfield Coach for the Cincinnati Reds from 2019 to 2024.
Jeff Pickler was also a career minor league player. He was a second baseman from 1998 to 2005, logging over 900 games played.
Warren Schaeffer has said he’s excited to bring Jeff Pickler on as the Bench Coach.
And I don’t know if Jeff Pickler already had a nickname, but Warren Schaffer has already called him “Pick”.
At first, “Bench Coach” sounds like it’s a guy who monitors players who sit on the bench.
But in reality, bench coaches are like the second-in-command. They assist managers in decision-making and will step into the manager role when the team’s regular manager gets ejected from the game.
As for Clint Hurdle, I’ve seen reports that he is expected to rejoin the Rockies, but his role is yet to be determined.
Ian Levin Hired as Rockies’ Assistant General Manager
It seems like the Rockies are going after the New York Mets’ front office staff.
Earlier this month, we learned the Rockies hired Tommy Tanous as the Assistant General Manager. Tommy Tanous was in the front office of the New York Mets for 15 years.
This past week, the Rockies hired one more Assistant General Manager – Ian Levin.
Ian Levin spent 20 years with the New York Mets.
Most recently, Ian Levin was the Assistant General Manager of the Mets from 2021 to 2024.
Although he did take a year off from the MLB.
Last year, he started up a company called OneOne Sports, which looks like it’s some type of data-based system for helping college athletes.
But, Ian Levin is back and will hopefully help the Rockies with player development and scouting!
Brett Pill Hired as Rockies’ New Hitting Coach
During this past week, the Rockies hired Brett Pill as their new hitting coach.
Brett Pill has spent the previous six seasons in the front office with the Dodgers.
He was the Dodgers’ Minor League Hitting Coach from 2020-2022 and their Minor League Hitting Coordinator from 2023-2025.
While he doesn’t have experience coaching at the MLB-level, he does have six years of experience coaching minor league hitters with the team that won three World Series in six years.
Hopefully, his experience will be a boost to the Rockies’ offense next season!
And just for fun, here’s a link to a video of Brett Pill hitting a home run during a Spring Training game in 2017 with the Detroit Tigers.
He retired as a player about three weeks after this home run.
Prospect Spotlight: Zac Veen (Rockies #11 Prospect)
Each week in the off-season, we’ll cover a top prospect from the Rockies, so you’ll know who to watch as they make their way to the big leagues.
Current Team: Albuquerque Isotopes (AAA Team)
Drafted: 2020
Age: 24
Position: Outfield
Bats: Left-handed
Throws: Right-handed
Estimated MLB Debut: made his debut in 2025
If you’ve been following the Rockies, you might already recognize Zac Veen.
Zac Veen made his MLB debut at the beginning of last season. He played in 12 games and went 4-34 with 1 home run and 1 stolen base.
Unfortunately, his time in the MLB was short-lived and he was optioned back to the Rockies’ AAA team, the Albuquerque Isotopes.
In his last season with the Albuquerque Isotopes, he hit .289 with 11 home runs, 59 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases in 90 games.
Which is a pretty decent season.
Zac Veen was also struggling with a wrist injury in 2023, but he’s been playing pretty consistently since he returned from that injury. So hopefully, that wrist injury is behind him.
And who knows what will happen between now and the beginning of the season, but Zac Veen is currently listed on the Rockies’ 40-man roster. So there’s a chance we could see him as a backup outfielder towards the beginning of next season.
Also, does anyone else remember when Zac Veen hit a home run in Spring Training and almost hit the pitcher with his bat flip?
That wraps up this week’s newsletter. Hope everyone has a great week!
-Steve
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