With the Rockies’ season set to begin March 30 at Petco Park against the NL West rival Padres, here is The Post’s projection for Colorado’s opening-day 26-man roster, from the no-brainers to the bubble picks.
Infielders
1B C.J. Cron: Coming off his first career All-Star Game appearance, Cron is looking to provide power for the lineup once again after slugging 57 total homers the past two years. He’ll be a longball threat and the everyday first baseman. Cron slashed just .208/.270/.360 with nine home runs in his final 66 games last season, in part because of a sore left wrist.
2B Ryan McMahon: After Brendan Rodgers was lost early in spring training to left shoulder surgery, McMahon took over at second, where he looks to have a redemptive season in the field and at the plate. He needs to hit for better average and power in 2023 while cutting down on the errors.
1B/3B Elehuris Montero: Montero showed flashes in 53 games last year, batting .233 with six homers and 60 Ks. He continued to hone his game in the Dominican Winter League, and now a bigger role at third base awaits. The key is whether Montero can be consistent defensively.
SS Ezequiel Tovar: The highly anticipated shortstop of the future has arrived, and the job is all his. After getting a taste of the big leagues in nine games last year, now is the time for the talented rookie to start living up to sky-high expectations.
2B/SS Alan Trejo: The 2016 16th-round draft pick used solid glovework and a high average to ascend the minor league ladder, and has been a reserve infielder the past couple seasons for the Rockies — a role he’ll fill again this year.
1B/3B Mike Moustakas: Colorado signed the veteran March 5, and Moustakas could very well end up as Colorado’s everyday third baseman if Montero doesn’t perform. In 12 seasons, Moustakas is a three-time all-star who’s hit 20 homers or more six times.
Utility
Harold Castro: Colorado took a flier on Castro on a minor-league deal with an invite to big-league camp, and Castro impressed. The infielder/outfielder hit .271 in 120 games for the Tigers in 2022 and will fill multiple needs on the Rockies’ bench.
Outfielders
RF Kris Bryant: The move to right field is designed to help Bryant better navigate Coors Field’s expansive outfield. After an injury-plagued debut season in Colorado in which he played just 42 games, the Rockies need a healthy, productive year — and home runs from No. 23.
CF Yonathan Daza: With Randall Grichuk still recovering from bilateral sports hernia surgery, Daza will be the Rockies’ starting center fielder to start the season. He’s coming off a strong ’22 (.301 average, .349 on-base percentage).
LF Jurickson Profar: Colorado signed the veteran to a one-year deal Tuesday, and the switch-hitter will be Colorado’s starting left fielder. He slashed .243/.331/.391 with 15 homers and 58 RBIs for San Diego in 2022.
RF/DH Charlie Blackmon: In the final year of his contract, and 13th season as a Rockie, Blackmon’s legs get a reprieve as he moves to the designated hitter role. If the Rockies get a .275 average and 20 homers out of him in ’23, that’d be a win.
Catchers
Elias Díaz: The Venezuelan will be Colorado’s starting catcher for a third straight season. He adds occasional power to the lineup (18 homers in ’21, nine in ’22), but still has much to prove behind the plate. He regressed defensively last year, and his 11 errors were the most among MLB catchers.
Brian Serven: After debuting last May, Serven hit .203 with six homers in 62 games with a WAR of 0.0. His spring training hitting wasn’t that impressive, but he’s the most experienced out of all the backup candidates.
Starting rotation
LHP Kyle Freeland: The Rockies will look to the southpaw to anchor the rotation. If Freeland’s performance over two outings at the World Baseball Classic is any indication, the Thomas Jefferson grad is up to the task. Freeland was much better in the second half of 2022, as he allowed three or fewer runs in 10 of 13 starts following the All-Star break.
RHP Germán Márquez: After earning his first All-Star bid in 2021 with an impressive first half, “Easy Cheese” hasn’t been the same since. Colorado needs a bounce-back year from him after a 4.95 ERA in 31 starts last year.
RHP José Ureña: The veteran pitched his way into the rotation in 2022 after starting the season in the Brewers’ bullpen, then re-signed with the club this offseason. The hope is he can pitch better in LoDo this year than last (6.30 ERA in eight starts at Coors Field).
LHP Austin Gomber: A centerpiece of the Nolan Arenado trade, Gomber sputtered in 2021 and then derailed last year, when he was demoted to the bullpen. The club needs him to rise to his projections now more than ever.
RHP Ryan Feltner: After a rough debut in 2021, Feltner had a 5.83 ERA in 20 games (19 starts) last year. Colorado hopes he can prop up the back of the rotation despite a 10.40 ERA in four Cactus League starts. Feltner’s poor spring shows how shallow the Rockies’ starting pitching depth is. He could be a placeholder until Antonio Senzatela returns from a torn ACL.
Bullpen
RHP Daniel Bard: The projected closer, Bard bounced back from a rough 2021 (5.21 ERA in 67 games) by turning in a nails performance in ’22 (1.79 ERA in 57 games, 34 saves). The Rockies need him to replicate that.
RHP Pierce Johnson: Signed to a one-year deal in free agency in December, the Faith Christian product (4.05 ERA in 140 career games) is expected to take on high-leverage innings as one of the set-up men for Bard.
RHP Dinelson Lamet: The Rockies claimed Lamet late last season and he had a 4.05 ERA in 19 games. The former Padre, who was converted from starter to reliever in San Diego in 2021, will be a set-up man to Bard.
LHP Brent Suter: Colorado claimed Suter off waivers from Milwaukee in November and signed him to a one-year deal. Another set-up piece, Suter had a 3.78 ERA in 54 games last year and 3.51 ERA over his seven-year career.
RHP Justin Lawrence: After bouncing between Triple-A and the bigs while posting a 5.70 ERA in 38 games last year, the hard-throwing, side-winding righty will get a shot to stick with the big club this year.
LHP Brad Hand: Another spring addition, Colorado signed the veteran to a one-year deal, taking Lucas Gilbreath’s roster spot after he was lost for the year to Tommy John surgery. Hand has a 3.62 ERA over 12 seasons.
LHP Ty Blach: The Regis Jesuit product posted a 5.89 ERA in 22 games last year, and Colorado needs him to be better as one of the few southpaws out of the ‘pen. He has a 5.10 ERA across five big-league seasons.
RHP Gavin Hollowell: After debuting as a September call-up last year with an unsightly 7.71 ERA in seven games, the Rockies are expecting growth out of Hollowell after his rapid rise up the minor-league chain.
2023 Lineup Projection
Catcher — Elias Diaz
First Base — C.J. Cron
Second Base — Ryan McMahon
Third Base — Elehuris Montero
Shortstop — Ezequiel Tovar
Left Field — Jurickson Profar
Center Field — Yonathon Daza
Right Field — Kris Bryant
Designated Hitter — Charlie Blackmon
No. 1 Starter — Kyle Freeland
No. 2 Starter — German Marquez
No. 3 Starter — José Ureña
No. 4 Starter — Austin Gomber
No. 5 Starter — Ryan Feltner
Closer — Daniel Bard
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