​On Sunday in Philadelphia, as the 2026 MLB Draft neared its end, the Colorado Rockies made their priorities clear: build a pitching-heavy pipeline for the future. The fifth and sixth rounds brought Tyler Putnam and Garrett Lambert to Denver, underscoring the franchise’s intent to lock down pitching depth in the early portion of the draft.
From rounds seven through 15, Colorado continued to focus on pitching, selecting pitchers in six straight rounds before shifting to a pair of outfielders and a first baseman. The pitching corps chosen in this stretch includes Jack Scott from Central Missouri, Hudson Barrett from Oklahoma State, Tanner Sagouspe of TCU, Mikiah Negrete from Cal State Fullerton, Gavin Swartz of Normal Community High School in Illinois, and Garrett Brewer from Auburn. Barrett’s profile on MLB.com highlighted his power and deception: a fastball that sits in the 90-96 mph range with a changeup in the 82-85 mph band, and a delivery that generates substantial extension. In 45 innings last season, Barrett posted a 2.58 ERA with opponents hitting only .194, along with a 64 strikeouts to 15 walks ratio. It’s worth noting that he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024 at UC Santa Barbara and has missed time recently due to elbow tightness this spring.
The outfield targets followed in the draft sequence: Julian Collazo from Christian Military Academy High School in Puerto Rico and Lorenzo Carrier from the University of Pittsburgh, capped off by first baseman Ryan Niedzwiedz from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. MLB.com’s rundown on Carrier paints an enticing picture: he could become an attractive fifth-year senior signing, possessing genuine raw power that powered him to 20 homers and First-Team All-ACC honors in 2026. While Carrier brings the power, there is some swing-and-miss in his profile, though he did show improvement by lowering his strikeout rate this season. His arm strength and defensive projection in right field add further value to his profile as a potential everyday defender in the corner outfield.
Carrier’s development isn’t the only element of interest in the Rockies’ draft narrative. The organization still has five rounds remaining in the 2026 draft, leaving additional opportunities to add arms or other positional prospects who might contribute down the line. As this draft unfolds, Colorado’s emphasis on pitching remains a consistent theme, suggesting the club is prioritizing a deep, controllable group of arms to support a potentially retooled pitching staff in the near future.
Among the broader context of this class, it’s also worth noting the Rockies’ connection to Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the first round of the draft by Colorado. Bell, who is unsigned, originally went 66th overall to the Rays as a supplemental second-round pick out of an Illinois high school in the 2024 draft. He chose to attend Kentucky, where he quickly established himself as the Wildcats’ standout player as a freshman and earned a spot on the United States collegiate national team—the program’s first national team member since Zack Thompson in 2018. MLB.com’s projection described Bell as one of the top sophomore-eligible prospects for 2026, on track to become Kentucky’s first first-round selection since Thompson in 2019, despite tearing the labrum in his non-throwing shoulder during his first game this spring. Bell is a switch-hitter who can contribute from both sides of the plate, possessing the bat speed and raw power to reach 20 homers per season once he masters lifting balls more consistently.
In interviews and coverage, Bell has communicated a readiness to engage with the Rockies’ players, coaches, and analytics teams to refine his approach and maximize his ceiling. The combination of a determined hitter with elite power potential and a defensive profile capable of playing multiple positions could position Bell as a cornerstone for Colorado’s lineup as he continues to develop. For now, the focus remains on the immediate task of stocking the organization with promising pitching talent in the later rounds of the draft, while keeping a careful eye on high-upside position players who could compliment a long-term, well-rounded roster.
As the draft progresses, Rockies scouts and front office will weigh the continued value of development-ready arms against the potential of hitters who can translate college success into big-league performance. The current emphasis signals a deliberate strategy: cultivate a robust pipeline of young pitchers who can anchor the future rotation and bullpen, while also identifying a few impactful position players who could rise alongside the next wave of arms to contend in the coming years. With five rounds left, Colorado’s draft board will likely continue to prioritize players who can grow within the organization’s development system, offering both immediate depth and long-term upside.