Rockies lose 6-5 to Astros on July 2, tying a record for worst home start. Despite Jordan Beck's 5 hits, the future arrives with Yanquiel Fernandez's call-up.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a day of stark contrasts for the Colorado Rockies. On the field, another gut-wrenching loss, a 6-5 heartbreaker to the Astros that etched this team into the record books for all the wrong reasons. Off the field, however, a flurry of roster moves signaled a long-awaited youth movement, with top prospect Yanquiel Fernandez arriving in Denver and the organization's two best 2024 draft picks earning promotions. While the present is painful, the future suddenly feels a little closer.
The loss ties the Rockies with the 2003 Tigers for the worst home start (8-33) through 41 games in the modern era.
The game itself felt like a microcosm of the season. A brief moment of hope, with Hunter Goodman launching a solo shot in the first, was quickly erased. Rookie starter Chase Dollander had his shortest and most difficult outing as a pro, surrendering six runs in just 2 2/3 innings. The big blow was a back-breaking grand slam by Victor Caratini in the third that put the Astros up 6-1. Despite a furious late-inning rally, capped by Goodman's second homer of the day and a historic five-hit performance from Jordan Beck, the Rockies fell just short. Now sitting at a league-worst 19-66, they've lost nine of their last eleven games.
The biggest news of the day came before the game even started. The Rockies officially recalled top 100 prospect Yanquiel Fernandez from Triple-A Albuquerque. The 22-year-old outfielder earned the call-up by slashing .284/.347/.502 with 13 homers for the Isotopes. Known for his immense raw power, Fernandez represents a significant piece of the team's future, and his impending MLB debut is now the most anticipated event on the calendar. To make room, veteran catcher Austin Nola was also selected from Triple-A, with Braxton Fulford being optioned.
The youth movement wasn't confined to Denver. The organization announced that 2024 first-round pick Charlie Condon and second-round pick Jared Thomas are being promoted from High-A Spokane to Double-A Hartford. Condon, the club's No. 1 prospect, and Thomas, the No. 10, have dominated in their first full professional seasons, showing an advanced approach at the plate. Their rapid ascent through the system is a massive dose of optimism. Further down the ladder, fellow prospect Robert Calaz continued his own power display, smashing two home runs in a minor league game.
While the team's overall numbers are abysmal—their 79 OPS+ is the worst in baseball—a few individuals are finding success. Hunter Goodman's two-homer day was a continuation of a torrid June where he hit .342 with a .734 slugging percentage. He was joined by Mickey Moniak (.300 AVG, .760 SLG) and Tyler Freeman (.373 AVG, .478 OBP) as the lone bright spots in a struggling lineup. These performances offer a flicker of hope, but they're overshadowed by a pitching staff and an offense that continue to rank at the bottom of nearly every statistical category.
The 2025 season is a tough pill to swallow, with records falling for all the wrong reasons. But Wednesday felt like a potential turning point. While the loss stung, the arrival of Yanquiel Fernandez and the aggressive promotions in the farm system are the stories that truly matter. For the first time in a long time, there's tangible, high-level talent moving towards 20th and Blake. The future is still a ways off, but for a beleaguered fanbase, seeing the plan in motion is the only win that counts right now.
