On July 1, 2025, the Colorado Rockies face a historically bad season. But hope rises as top prospects Charlie Condon & Jared Thomas earn key promotions.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
On the same day the Colorado Rockies officially entered July on a pace to challenge the worst record in modern baseball history, the organization offered its first tangible glimmer of hope. Top prospects Charlie Condon and Jared Thomas earned promotions to Double-A Hartford, creating a stark contrast between the bleak present at 20th and Blake and a potentially brighter future.
As July begins, the Rockies are on pace to challenge the worst record in MLB history, sitting at 19-65.
The best news out of the Rockies organization in months came from the farm system. The club announced that No. 1 prospect Charlie Condon and No. 10 prospect Jared Thomas are being promoted from High-A Spokane to Double-A Hartford. Both players, drafted in 2024, have torn through their first full professional season. Condon, the first-round pick, has showcased the elite power and advanced hitting approach that made him a top collegiate player, while Thomas has been a dynamic force. Their rapid ascent is a crucial sign that the club's rebuilding efforts might finally have some high-impact talent on the way, a welcome development for a weary fanbase.
Back in the majors, the picture is grim. With a 19-65 record, the Rockies are not just bad; they are historically bad. The team's pitching staff has been a primary culprit, ranking between 25th and 29th in most major statistical categories. This isn't just about the Coors Field effect; poor pitching, combined with an inconsistent offense and shaky defense, has created a perfect storm of futility. As the team stares down a potential 120-loss season, the organizational struggles are under a national microscope.
Tonight's matchup against the Houston Astros perfectly encapsulates the team's season. The Rockies, 2-8 in their last 10 games, will send struggling rookie Chase Dollander (2-8, 6.06 ERA) to the mound against the AL West-leading Astros (50-34). Houston counters with Colton Gordon (3-1, 3.98 ERA) in a game that looks like a mismatch on paper. For Dollander and the rest of the young roster, these games are less about winning and more about finding any small signs of individual progress against elite competition.
Tonight's game against the powerhouse Astros feels like a formality in a season defined by losses. The real story for Rockies fans is no longer happening at Coors Field, but in places like Hartford. Watching the development of Condon and Thomas is the new main event. While 2025 is a year to forget, the pieces for a better tomorrow are finally starting to move up the ladder. For now, that's the hope to cling to.
