The Colorado Rockies’ 2025 Season: A Struggle for Stability Amid Historic Lows

Getty Images

The Colorado Rockies are enduring one of the most difficult seasons in franchise history, and possibly one of the worst starts to a season in Major League Baseball’s modern era. With a record of 8-41 through their first 49 games, the team holds the lowest winning percentage in the league and the worst run differential at -157. These figures place them just behind the 2023 Oakland Athletics, who posted a -177 differential through the same number of games The team’s current homestand, which includes a four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies and a weekend set against the New York Yankees, comes in the midst of a brutal schedule. Between May 1 and June 1, the Rockies are facing 29 consecutive games against teams with records of .500 or better. As of May 23, the Rockies have gone just 3-15 during this stretch, having faced strong competition from teams like San Francisco, Detroit, and Texas. Despite the team’s overall struggles, several individual players have shown promise. Rookie outfielder Jordan Beck has been a standout since his recall from Triple-A on April 19. Over 30 games, he has hit .278 with eight home runs and 18 extra-base hits, ranking among the league leaders in triples and slugging percentage. Catcher Hunter Goodman has also been consistent, batting .313 over his last 34 games with five home runs and 26 RBIs. Third baseman Ryan McMahon has bounced back from a franchise-record 0-for-35 slump to slash .302/.421/.571 in May, placing among National League leaders in walks and on-base percentage.

Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar has added another spark since returning from the injured list, collecting 10 hits in five games, including back-to-back home runs. However, these individual performances have done little to counterbalance the team's overall deficiencies. The Rockies have committed a Major League-leading 43 errors and own the league’s lowest fielding percentage at .976. They have also been shut out seven times and remain the only MLB team yet to record a shutout win in 2025. The Rockies have also been plagued by ineffective starts, particularly in the first inning. Since May 10, starters have posted a league-worst 9.18 ERA in the opening frame, with opposing batters hitting .350/.403/.570 during that span. Ironically, the Rockies lead the league in ninth-inning batting average and on-base percentage, having outhit their opponents 48-24 in the final inning since May 12. In response to the team’s continued decline, organizational changes were made earlier this month. On May 11, longtime manager Bud Black and bench coach Mike Redmond were relieved of their duties. In their place, third base coach Warren Schaeffer was promoted to interim manager, and former manager Clint Hurdle returned as interim bench coach.

Schaeffer, at 40, is the youngest manager in franchise history and brings over a decade of coaching experience from the Rockies’ minor league system. The Rockies have also seen a wave of youth movement, with seven players making their MLB debuts in 2025. Notably, 2024 first-round draft pick Charlie Condon made his High-A debut recently, recording a 2-for-4 performance with a double and an RBI. As the Rockies head into a nine-game road trip that includes stops in Chicago, New York, and Miami, the organization must hope that its recent changes and young talent begin to translate into on-field success. For now, the franchise continues to search for stability amid a season marked by historic lows.