The Colorado Rockies debuted their top pitching prospect on Sunday, and now they are ready to introduce a top hitting prospect.
The Rockies brought up 23-year-old outfielder Zac Veen and are expected to play him on Tuesday to start a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers in Denver. Kyle Freeland (0-1, 2.13 ERA) will take the mound for Colorado against fellow right-hander Freddy Peralta (0-1, 2.08).
Veen is the latest call-up in Colorado’s youth movement. Right-hander Chase Dollander, the ninth overall pick in the 2023 draft, made his major league debut Sunday, getting the victory with five solid innings against the Athletics.
Veen was one of the last players optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque out of spring training but is hitting .387 with one homer, four doubles, a triple, eight RBIs and one stolen base in eight games there. He was 5-for-5 on Saturday night with a homer, two doubles and four RBIs.
Veen was a first-round pick (No. 9 overall) in 2020 but injuries derailed his climb to the majors. He had just 92 plate appearances in Triple-A last season, and it was one reason he started this season with the Isotopes.
“Zac realizes that (there’s) probably a little more time needed in the minors before he potentially gets an opportunity,” Rockies manager Bud Black said at the end of spring training. “There are still some things he needs to focus on.”
Colorado optioned outfielder Jordan Beck to Triple-A on Monday.
The Rockies stopped a six-game slide Sunday and will try to win two straight for the first time this season. Freeland will try for his third straight quality start of 2025 and continue his success against the Brewers. He is 5-2 with a 2.06 ERA in eight career starts against them.
Milwaukee was also busy on its off day, trading outfield prospect Yophery Rodriguez, a 2025 Competitive A round draft pick (No. 33) and a player to be named or cash considerations to the Boston Red Sox for righty Quinn Priester. The Brewers’ rotation has been decimated by injuries, with Nestor Cortes (left elbow flexor strain) joining six other starters on the injured list on Sunday.
Peralta has pitched well in his first two outings, allowing just two runs in five innings at the New York Yankees on March 27 and tossing eight innings of one-run ball against Kansas City on Wednesday night.
Against the Royals, he retired the final 19 batters he faced and gave up just two hits.
Peralta has faced Colorado seven times (six starts) and is 3-2 with a 3.74 ERA. Three of his appearances against the Rockies have been in Denver, where he is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA.
He may not need to be that sharp in hitter-friendly Coors Field, especially if Sal Frelick continues to swing a hot bat. Frelick went 8-for-15 in a four-game series win against Cincinnati over the weekend.
“I feel good up there, obviously, but (it’s) a long season,” Frelick said. “I think just consistency is the name of the game. Wake up tomorrow, and I’m 0-for-0. So I’m just going to show up to the park every day with the same approach and try to stay consistent.”
–Field Level Media
