{"id":109760,"date":"2025-11-21T20:27:34","date_gmt":"2025-11-22T01:27:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=109760"},"modified":"2025-11-21T20:27:53","modified_gmt":"2025-11-22T01:27:53","slug":"rockies-second-base-situation-2025-offseason","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/11\/21\/rockies-second-base-situation-2025-offseason\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rockies’ Second Base Situation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Second base will be a position to watch this spring for the Colorado Rockies. Ryan Ritter<\/a> played primarily at the position after being called up in the middle of last season following a torrid offensive stretch<\/a> with Triple-A Albuquerque. Ritter was serviceable offensively, hitting .241 with one home run and 18 RBI in 187 at-bats. Per Statcast<\/a>, he ranked in the 93rd percentile league-wide in sprint speed, running at 29.2 ft\/s. But most importantly, Ritter helped clog a defensive leak at the keystone that had plagued the Rockies all season.<\/p>\n

Rockies Have a Black Hole at Second Base<\/h2>\n

Per FieldingBible.com<\/a>, second base was tied with center field with -11 defensive runs saved, good for second-worst on the Rockies. Veteran Thairo Estrada<\/a> was supposed to be the full-time starter at second but dealt with injuries and inconsistency all season. After Estrada suffered a right wrist fracture in spring training, 22-year-old Adael Amador<\/a> was forced into early action. It was obvious he was not ready, as he struggled mightily on both sides of the ball.<\/p>\n

Estrada did not make his Rockies’ debut until May 30. That left the position as a major liability for the first couple of months of the season. Estrada brought more consistency to the plate for a Rockies’ offense that sorely needed it. But it was still well below the expectation that Estrada and the Rockies envisioned when they signed him in the offseason. His stellar history at Coors Field did not produce results, finishing with just three home runs in 154 at-bats.<\/p>\n

But most surprising was that the normally surefire and defensively sound Estrada struggled. Per Statcast<\/a>, he finished with -1 OAA, and his 76.9 mph arm strength ranked in the 11th percentile league-wide. Definitely still a step-up from Amador, but well below the standard Estrada had established for himself defensively. He finished with a 0 fielding run value, after finishing with a combined 24 fielding run value<\/a> in 2023-24 with the San Francisco Giants. Now, Estrada’s short Rockies career is likely already over as the Rockies declined the mutual option for 2026 and Estrada elected free agency.<\/p>\n

\"So
Jun 22, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies designated hitter Tyler Freeman (2) reacts after stealing second in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Serious Depth Issue at Second<\/h3>\n

As of now, Ritter would presumably be the on-paper favorite to start at second. He showed promise last season on both sides of the ball and just turned 25 this November. But if Ritter suffers an injury again, the current depth behind him is very shallow. One option this past season was utility player Tyler Freeman<\/a> after he was acquired<\/a> from the Cleveland Guardians in the Nolan Jones<\/a> trade. Freeman was excellent offensively for the Rockies, one of the few players in the lineup who excelled at making contact and avoiding strikeouts. According to Statcast<\/a>, he ranked in the 97th and 94th percentile, respectively, in both whiff rate (12.5%) and K rate (11.9%).<\/p>\n

However, he was also one of the worst players defensively on the Rockies. Between primarily right field and second, Freeman finished with a -10 fielding run value in 110 games. It was a significant drop-off for Freeman. His previous career low was -2 in 2022 with the Guardians. Right field for the Rockies was one of the worst positions defensively in baseball as Freeman and Mickey Moniak<\/a> combined for -21 DRS, per FieldingBible.com<\/a>. But they also were far and away the two most productive players offensively<\/a> for the Rockies outside of Hunter Goodman<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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MICKEY MONIAK!!! pic.twitter.com\/zRgTqEkZkQ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) June 17, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n