Colorado Rockies Prospects: Purple Row Preseason Poll for 2026.

As the calendar turns to 2026, optimism cautiously returns for the Colorado Rockies after what many consider the lowest point in franchise history during the 2025 season. With a new leadership group in place, attention has shifted toward long-term improvement, making this an ideal moment to evaluate the organization’s farm system. One annual tradition that reflects this forward-looking mindset is the Purple Row Prospects list (PuRPs), a community-driven ranking of the Rockies’ top 30 minor league players. This preseason edition of the PuRPs list incorporates changes that have occurred since the previous vote in August 2025. Several players have lost prospect eligibility due to major league service time or organizational departures, while new names have entered the system through drafts, trades, and signings. Given the constant roster movement inherent in professional baseball, this poll serves as a snapshot of the Rockies’ developmental depth entering the new season. Despite holding favorable draft positions and making deadline trades, Colorado’s farm system continues to be ranked in the lower half of Major League Baseball by national evaluators. Nevertheless, there remains a core group of players with the potential to contribute at the major league level in the coming years. For many fans, the PuRPs poll is a highlight of the offseason because it encourages thoughtful analysis and discussion of the team’s future. Participants in the poll are required to submit a ranked list of at least 30 eligible prospects. Ballots that do not meet this requirement are excluded from the final count. Voters are encouraged to consult statistical databases such as FanGraphs or Baseball Reference when assembling their rankings. If a player appears more than once on a ballot or leaves the organization during the voting period, adjustments are made to ensure each list includes 30 distinct players.

Voting remains open until January 9, after which results will be revealed gradually over several weeks. Eligibility is limited to players who have not exceeded Major League Baseball’s rookie thresholds for innings pitched, at-bats, or active roster time. The final rankings are calculated using a point-based system similar to the Associated Press college football poll, ensuring that higher placements carry greater weight while still reflecting broad community consensus.