Colorado Manager Bud Black Returns With Faith In His Young Talent Base

No promises of course. But as Colorado manager Bud Black returns for his ninth season with the Rockies, he does do with a sense of optimism that reflects not only a belief in the franchise’s young talent but also in the recent industry trend of quick turnarounds.

Black, the winningest manager in franchise history, referenced the rise of Detroit and Kansas City this season when he signed a one-year contract extension for 2025. Baltimore and 2023 World Series champion Texas also made recent pushes.

“Kansas City? Detroit? Anything is possible,” Black told MLB.com this week. “I’m optimistic.”

Black, 537-637, is the only manager to shepherd the Rockies into consecutive playoff appearances when he did that in 2017-18, a run that ended a stretch of six straight losing seasons.

He will work to end a similar current stretch that includes the worst three-season run in franchise history. The Rockies were 61-101 in 2024 after a franchise worst 59-103 in 2023.

“We were still a little bit under construction (in 2024), obviously,” Black told the MLB Network. “We have some work to do this winter, for sure, as far as our roster and getting together with some players to make sure they are headed in the right direction through the winter.”

Black record’s has been skewed by the recent downturn that can be attributed to a lack of health and management’s desire to cut payroll.

A lot has happened since 2017-18, starting with the sell-offs of Gold Glove infielders DJ LeMahieu, Trevor Story and Nolan Arenado. Arenado was traded to St. Louis in 2021 with $199 million remaining on his eight-year, $260 million contract. The Rockies agree to pay $51 million dollars as past of the deal, and their return includes only one current major leaguer, left-hander Austin Gomber. LeMahieu and Story left via free agency with the Rockies opted not to invest.

Before the 2022 season, co-owner Dick Monfort surprised the industry by agreeing to a seven-year, $182 million contract with Kris Bryant that include a full no-trade clause, but and injuries have torpedoed that move. Bryant has played only 159 games in three years, with 17 homers and an 89 OPS+.

Bryant insists he is not done. He visited noted back specialist Dr. James Watkins during the season and was told he had virtually no disc between the L4 and L5 vertebrae, according to the Denver Post. He is on a rigid core strengthening program that the Rockies have said they will monitor in the offseason.

“It’s frustrating,” Bryant said midway through the season. “I don’t want to say I’m old, but I guess I’m getting older in baseball terms. (The back) is something I have to find a way to manage the best I can. There is no reversing course. Father Time. Hopefully I can keep piling good days on top of good days and then play good baseball.”

The Rockies’ struggles coincided with the Bryant signing, and while his expected production hasn’t not been replaced, recent injuries to starting pitchers German Marquez, Antonio Senzatela and Kyle Freeland also were debilitating, leaving the Rockies scrambling for arms at already pitcher-unfriendly Coors Field.

Marquez and Senzatela returned from Tommy John surgeries late in 2024, and Freeland had a 3.96 ERA in 17 starts when he returned from a strained elbow in late June. All are being counted on in 2025.

Regardless of Bryant’s status, the Rockies believe they have position players to build around — shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, center fielder Brenton Doyle and first baseman Michael Toglia along and veteran infielders Ryan McMahon and Brendan Rodgers.

Tovar, who signed a seven-year, $63.5 million contract last spring had 26 homers, 45 doubles, 78 RBIs and a .763 OPS. He joined Corey Seager, Alex Rodriguez, Cal Ripken Jr. and Negro League star Willie Wells as the only players to hit at least 26 homers in their age-22 season. Tovar also is the seventh player with 175 hits in their age-22 season, a list that also includes Rodriguez, Ripken as well as Albert Pujols, Rafael Devers, Jack Clark and Hal Trotsky.

Doyle, a top candidate for his second consecutive Gold Glove, joined Dante Bichette, Ellis Burks and Larry Walker as the fourth player in franchise history with 20 homers and 30 stolen bases. He had 23 homer and 30 steals, both career highs.

Toglia had 25 homers and a .767 OPS in his first season as a regular, thriving in Bryant’s absence, and his ratio of homers per at-bat (1:15.9) would have ranked between Jose Ramirez and Jordan Alvarez. He was 54 plate appearances short of qualifying.

“I think he has figured out that major league pitching is difference than minor league pitching,” Black said after Toglia returned from the minors June 6. “You have to be ready from pitch one, and you have to be ready to hit a major league fastball. His fastball success has been established here since he has come back.”

General manager Bill Schmidt also has a positive outlook.

“Our talent base is getting better,” Bill Schmidt told MLB.com after announcing Black’s new deal. “Our depth is getting better. I’m not going to say we’re going from this year to win 95 next year, but we’re going to be a better club (in 2025).”