The Colorado Rockies have been in a rut since 2018, with no one else to blame but themselves. But they are also a team that often can’t catch a break. Since 2018, the Rockies have had 13 first-round draft picks. Of those 13, two were in the top five and six were in the top ten.
Premium prospects that were set up to help Colorado get back to winning baseball. But unfortunately, as this rebuild has continued, the Rockies have dealt with repeated injuries to their top prospects. The latest comes in the form of top prospect, Ethan Holliday, 19, suffering a stress fracture in his left foot that will require surgery and cause him to miss the rest of the season.
Devastating News for Ethan Holliday and the Rockies
When Holliday was drafted fourth overall in 2025, it was one of the most memorable Rockies’ selections of all-time. Amid the Rockies’ worst season in franchise history, the drafting of the son of Rockies legend Matt Holliday in the top five was a nice distraction. Holliday, who was regarded as the best player available by several outlets ahead of the 2025 draft, showed that high-end potential with Low-A Fresno this season.
In just 33 games with the Grizzlies, he’d collected nine home runs and 32 RBI. MLB Pipeline projected Holliday as a potential 30-home run hitter when he reaches the Majors. So it was exciting to see Holliday start to thrive on offense in May. He had recorded at least one hit in 12 of the Grizzlies’ 15 games in May. Including a scorching stretch from May 14 to May 20, in which he had eight hits, three home runs, and eight RBI in 25 at-bats.
Holliday on repeat!
Ethan Holliday ropes his second homer of the game to add more cushion to the lead.#ItHappensHere pic.twitter.com/tEroEBf7u6
— Fresno Grizzlies (@FresnoGrizzlies) May 17, 2026
Holliday’s nine home runs put him in a three-way tie for third in the California League. Additionally, he is seventh with a .557 SLG and eighth with a .952 OPS. Holliday didn’t take long to start rolling as a top prospect in the Rockies’ system. But unfortunately, we will not see him again until 2027. Holliday, MLB Pipeline’s 17th overall prospect, is still only 19 and has a long career ahead of him. But this feeling is becoming far too familiar for the Rockies.
Holliday Joins Discouraging Rockies Trend
The Rockies more than any other franchise need as many favors as they can get. But the brutal injury luck with their top prospects has unfortunately continued for another season. Last year it was star outfielder Charlie Condon, who was drafted third overall in 2024 out of the University of Georgia.
Condon luckily did not deal with an injury as serious as Holliday’s. But he still dealt with a bone spur on his right ring finger in 25 games with High-A Spokane in 2024. Then in March 2025, Condon suffered a broken wrist that caused him to miss several weeks. Fortunately, Condon returned on May 5 and put together a solid season with High-A Spokane and Double-A Hartford.
This season, he had a great Cactus League and has played 46 games with Triple-A Albuquerque. Hitting .250 with six home runs, 21 RBI and an .806 OPS. He is currently on a 10-game hitting streak with two homers, four RBI, and six doubles. Hopefully, Condon can stay healthy and Rockies fans can see him raking at Coors sooner than later.
Charlie Condon extends the hit streak to 10 with a RBI double off the wall!
B5: Isotopes 12, Chihuahuas 7 pic.twitter.com/JxfY0830uo
— Albuquerque Isotopes (@ABQTopes) May 30, 2026
So things are looking up for the Rockies’ number two prospect in Condon. As for a trio of recent top ten picks by the Rockies, they have faced their fair share of adversity during their minor league careers.
Gabriel Hughes
Gabriel Hughes, 24, was drafted 10th overall in the 2022 draft out of the University of Gonzaga. After just 14 games in 2023 between High-A Spokane and Double-A Hartford, Hughes underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Since then, Hughes has stayed healthy, putting together a very solid 2025 with Double-A Hartford and Triple-A Albuquerque.
Hughes started out building on his momentum from last season with two solid starts for Albuquerque. Going at least five innings in each with a combined three earned runs allowed and a whopping 14 Ks to just three BBs. But over his next three starts, he failed to get out of the fourth inning, allowing a combined 17 earned runs. Although he still maintained an excellent K:BB ratio with 10 Ks to just two BBs. After another start in which he allowed four earned runs in five innings, he was placed on the IL on April 30 with an injury to a muscle on his left side.
Hughes is currently on a rehab assignment with High-A Spokane. He was sharp in a start on May 29, pitching three shutout innings with four Ks and two BBs against Tri-City. He will look to build on that performance when he returns to Albuquerque.
Zac Veen and Benny Montgomery
Zac Veen and Benny Montgomery were both highly touted outfielders drafted eighth and ninth overall in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Veen reached Double-A Hartford at just 20 years old and was on track to potentially make his MLB debut in 2023. But after just 46 games in 2023 at Double-A, Veen underwent surgery to repair a left wrist tendon and missed the remainder of the season. The wrist had reportedly been an issue for Veen since 2022 and caused significant issues for Veen offensively.
Veen would go on to play in just 65 games in 2024 between four different levels. This time, due to a bizarre injury in which Veen went to hit his helmet in frustration following an out and also hit the concrete roof of the dugout in the process. This sent him right back to the IL with a right thumb injury. One of three IL stints Veen would have during 2024 due to various injuries. Early in 2025, the long-awaited MLB debut for Veen finally came. But he struggled mightily in just 12 games and was immediately sent down.
It was later reported in a story by Harding on MLB.com that Veen went back home to Florida following a 2025 season in which he struggled both on and off the field. While in Florida, he participated in an 11-week program for people who want to better themselves that led to Veen being fully sober and at 245 lbs ahead of Spring Training in 2026. Up from just 202 lbs during the 2025 season.
Veen had a strong performance in Cactus League action, but it was not enough to crack a crowded Rockies’ outfield. But he is putting together another strong season with Triple-A Albuquerque as he awaits his next opportunity in the Majors. Hitting .295/.419/.446 with an .865 OPS, five homers, and 32 RBI in 203 plate appearances.
Benny Montgomery
At just 19-years-old, Montgomery was limited to just 62 games in 2022 due in large part to a quad injury. He bounced back from that with a solid 2023 season at High-A Spokane. But played in only 11 games in 2024 before suffering a left shoulder injury in May that required surgery. That many injuries can take a toll, and Montgomery had a down 2025 season with Hartford in just 86 games. Hitting just over the Mendoza line with a paltry .537 OPS and just four home runs and 36 RBI in 319 at-bats.
One of the top attributes for Montgomery coming out of high school was his speed. As his ceiling was seen as a five-tool outfielder. He showcased that speed when he recorded 10 steals in just 19 games with the Salt River Rafters during the Arizona Fall League in 2023. Since then, he has recorded just 12 steals in 147 games. He currently has zero steals in 31 games with Double-A Hartford this season.
Montgomery is no longer among the Rockies’ top 30 prospects. Currentlyn 23 years old, at Double-A Hartford, things have obviously not gone according to plan. But hopefully Montgomery can finally put together a healthy, productive season and attempt to revive his career.
Part of the Game
Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game. The Rockies are far from the only team to have unfortunate injuries happen to their top prospects. But prospect development and drafting are more pronounced when the Big League club is struggling. The Rockies have to take advantage of their premium draft slots during this extended rebuild. The Holliday injury was an ugly reminder of injuries getting in the way.
The Rockies have a plethora of reasons for their poor play over the last seven years. If these injuries hadn’t happened, the Rockies would likely still be in a similar situation. But an injury break here and there going forward would definitely not be opposed in Colorado. Hopefully, healthier days are ahead for Colorado’s first rounders.
Main Photo Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
