This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Sometimes a homegrown team such as the Rockies can see its work come together in a neat snapshot. Club-developed players entirely composed the most-frequently used lineup for the 2009 season, while all 2017 and ‘18 postseason starting rotation members had never thrown a Major League pitch for another club.

The current Major League snapshot is just as homegrown, without the success. Seven or more positions were developed by the Rockies, with All-Star third baseman Ryan McMahon, shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (a key international signee) and center fielder Brenton Doyle performing like keepers, and second baseman Brendan Rodgers identifying as either a keeper or someone attractive to others in a trade.

But building a team this way takes the ability to endure times like these.

Colorado’s building program took a hit last year when pitching prospects Gabriel Hughes (first round, 2022), Jackson Cox (second round, ‘22), Jordy Vargas (international signing) and McCade Brown (third round, ‘21) all underwent Tommy John surgeries -- as did Major Leaguers Germán Márquez and Antonio Senzatela, who were part of that ‘17-18 group.

But Rockies vice president/assistant general manager of scouting Marc Gustafson believes it’s possible a new, golden snapshot is developing. Last year’s injured pitchers will become healthy before season’s end, so Márquez and Senzatela will rejoin lefty and former top pick Kyle Freeland. The trio helped lead the 2017-18 rotations.

Younger pitchers who underwent surgeries in 2023 should return for instructional ball. Last year’s top two pitching picks, Chase Dollander (No. 1 prospect) and Sean Sullivan (No. 13 prospect), are having strong seasons at High-A Spokane and 2022 fourth-rounder Carson Palmquist (No. 14 prospect) is turning in a standout performance at Double-A Hartford.

It all makes success easier to imagine.

“Those [injuries] are tough, and you hate to go through that,” Gustafson said. “But when you take a step back, slow the game down a little and really analyze it, with the guys we have and adding, there are good things happening.”

So how will the Rockies add to what they have? This year’s Draft begins with Colorado picking not only third overall, but 38th (Competitive Balance Round A), 42nd (second round) and 77th (third round).

According to MLB.com experts Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Kenny Van Doren, the top position players are Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana (No. 1 Draft prospect), Georgia third baseman/outfielder Charlie Condon (No. 2), Florida first baseman/lefty pitcher Jac Caglianone (No. 3) and West Virginia middle infielder JJ Wetherholt (No. 4). The Rockies have also put work in on Wake Forest first baseman Nick Kurtz (No. 7).

But when asked if he thought the top position players were clearly better than the pitchers, Gustafson offered that the Rockies are doing due diligence on Arkansas lefty Hagen Smith (No. 5) and Wake Forest righty Chase Burns (No. 6), and are looking at seven to nine players for their third overall pick.

From a philosophy standpoint, the Rockies like that all of the top position players have athletic ability to play multiple positions. The current roster shows why: McMahon had to play first base and second base until the club traded third baseman Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals, while Michael Toglia (first round, 2019) and Goodman had to be flexible positionally to get on the field.

Of the position players high on Colorado’s list, only Kurtz profiles at one position, but at 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, his physical makeup is intriguing.

So who are the Rockies taking at No. 3?

This is where it gets interesting. The July 4 MLB.com mock Draft from Mayo had the Rockies taking Caglianone at No. 3, but Friday’s updated mock from Jim Callis had Colorado going for pitching and taking Burns, the hard thrower from Wake Forest.

But volatility at the top of the Draft is a reason the Rockies have done due diligence on Bazzana, who has uncommon power for a second baseman.

The 2024 MLB Draft is this Sunday through Tuesday during All-Star Week in Arlington, Texas. It will feature 20 rounds across the three days, with the first two rounds airing on MLB Network, ESPN and MLB.com at 5 p.m. MT on Sunday.