Rockies focused on 'impact' players in Draft

DENVER -- This year’s MLB Draft is a more flamboyant exercise than ever, with the timing allowing any and every top prospect to be present for MLB Network’s telecast -- not to mention the whole thing taking place in Denver during All-Star festivities.

Understandably, Rockies interim general manager Bill Schmidt does not do flamboyant exercises.

• Complete Draft coverage

Day 1 of the 2021 Draft will take place live from Denver’s Bellco Theatre on Sunday. It will feature the first 36 picks and will air on MLB Network and ESPN at 5 p.m. MT. Day 2, which will span rounds 2-10, begins at 11 a.m. MT on Monday. The Draft will conclude with rounds 11-20 on Tuesday, starting at 10 a.m. MT. MLB.com will simulcast MLB Network’s broadcast and provide live coverage on all three days.

To view when teams pick, the Top 200 Prospects list, mock drafts from analysts Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo, scouting video and more, visit MLB.com/Draft. Follow @MLBDraft and @MLBDraftTracker on Twitter to see what Draft hopefuls, clubs and experts are saying and to get each pick as it’s made.

Rockies scouts are holed up at the team’s training facility in Scottsdale, Ariz., as usual. And Schmidt, promoted to his current post in early May after former GM Jeff Bridich resigned, is running the proceeding as he has since 2000. Schmidt, whose club picks eighth overall in Sunday’s first round (pick slotted at $5,176,900, with Colorado possessing a bonus pool of $10,543,900), also is sticking with tried and true philosophies -- even with the Draft at 20 rounds, halved from 40 in 2019.

“We’re always focused on players we think will have some impact, and when they get here, have some chance for some longevity,” Schmidt said. “I’m not sure we have ever run away from those type of guys. If it’s a high school kid, you’re talking about whether he’s ready to handle everything that’s going to be thrown at him, not only physically, but mentally. Is he mature enough to deal with the things he’s going to have to deal with?

“Every year, when our turn comes around, we’re going to try to take the kid that fits us best. If it’s a pitcher, so be it. If it’s a position player, whatever is thrown our way, we’ll be prepared to move on it.”

And Schmidt will dispute anyone who tells him what he's done doesn’t work.

When the Rockies have made the postseason, they have been a testament to drafting and developing since few teams populate every level of its roster with its own players. The snapshot, however, is evaluated differently with the Rockies currently in fourth place in the National League West and with a large number of games featuring homegrown players.

There are depth gaps, and the problematic lack of power suggests that recent Drafts have not produced star hitters. Shortstop Trevor Story (2011) and current Rangers outfielder David Dahl ('12) were the last All-Stars drafted by Colorado. The evaluation has also been hurt because three pitchers -- Riley Pint (fourth overall, '16), Robert Tyler (38th, '16) and Mike Nikorak (27th, '15) -- have retired for injuries and performance reasons.

On the plus side, the Draft was the foundation of a strong starting rotation, and there are a number of younger players being given a chance to either develop into stars -- infielder Brendan Rodgers (No. 3 overall, 2015), is receiving his first chance this year -- or be complementary pieces should the Rockies land bigger pieces in trades or free agency.

Schmidt, who sees himself as candidate for the GM job when the Rockies officially fill it, has a chance to improve the team's quality and depth with the right moves at the July 30 Trade Deadline.

Schmidt also describes a farm system he believes is underrated, mainly because of the lack of Minor League ball in 2020. The season began with just one MLB Pipeline Top 100-rated Rockies player (outfielder Zac Veen -- No. 9 overall, '20). But Sunday’s Futures Game will include players who weren't nationally regarded before the season in shortstop Ryan Vilade (Triple-A Albuquerque), catcher Willie MacIver (Double-A Hartford) and first baseman Michael Toglia (High-A Spokane).

“The path to the big leagues, not always just a direct line,” Schmidt said. “When you see what we’ve done recently, let some things play out. If you refer to some of the pitching, we've had some pitchers we took that got hurt. You can never foresee that, but that happens.

“We feel like we have good young players at the A-ball level, that hopefully the fans in Denver are going to see here in the near future.”

So who will the Rockies take eighth overall? As is the case with all Drafts, teams don’t tip their hand and surprises happen. Few predicted Veen would have been available at No. 9 last year. Recent MLB Pipeline mock drafts predicted high school players -- shortstop Brady House of Winder-Barrow High School in Winder, Ga., and outfielder Benny Montgomery of Red Land High School in Lewisberry, Pa.