2025 was a mixed year for Colorado Rockies No. 11 ranked prospect (according to MLB.com) Zac Veen, with one of the highlights being his highly-anticipated Major League debut on April 8th against the Milwaukee Brewers.
He’s a fan favorite for many reasons, including his fiery competitiveness and the relentless, gritty effort he brings every time he plays.
Taken 9th overall in the 2020 Draft, Veen has drawn plenty of excitement as a prospect who brings both bat speed and baserunning instincts to the table.
Veen spent most of the season in Triple-A Albuquerque after a rough MLB debut, hitting just .118 (4-for-34) with a 37.8% strikeout rate over 37 plate appearances.
Health concerns have continued to plague him early in his career, most recently a wrist injury and a sore ankle that each required stints on the Injured List.
He hasn’t been able to make a real impact at the big league level.
Despite the early struggles at the MLB level, Veen looked like a different hitter with the Isotopes. He slashed .289/.354/.468 at the Triple-A level, racking up 23 doubles, five triples, 11 home runs, and 59 RBI while swiping 15 bases.
He struggled to handle MLB-level fastballs up in the zone with the big club, whiffing on 59% of four-seamers while pitchers attacked him with fastballs 70% of the time.
We recently learned that beyond his injuries, he has also been struggling with substance abuse over the past year or so.
““There were times last year where it was out of hand. Coming home in the offseason, I had to look in the mirror and make some adjustments. And I definitely got closer to God, and it made me want to be the best version of myself in every aspect.””
Thomas Harding, MLB.com
Veen showed up to Spring Training looking like a completely different person. It was the kind of transformation that makes you do a double-take and scan the roster wondering which new guy just walked in.
Veen reportedly closed out the 2025 season weighing 202 pounds, but has since put on approximately 40 pounds, with his current weight now projected around 245 pounds.
What does this mean for the Rockies?
The takeaway here is pretty clear. Veen is serious about elevating his game, and with the talent and tools he already has, the ceiling is sky-high.
He’s already proven he can hit for power, but the added muscle could help him stay healthy and push even more balls over the fence.
His path to making the Opening Day roster won’t be an easy one.
Colorado added former Arizona outfielder Jake McCarthy this offseason, giving the Rockies another speedster to roam the vast outfield at Coors Field.
Colorado could roll out an outfield of Beck, Doyle, and McCarthy from left to right, with Moniak sliding into the designated hitter spot against right-handed pitching.
Free agent pickup and utility man Willi Castro is another option who could log time in the outfield.
Veen faces a crowded path to Colorado’s outfield, with fellow prospects Cole Carrigg and Jared Thomas waiting in the wings as well.
Injuries and trades happen as rosters are never truly set in stone. If Veen comes out swinging this spring, he could put Colorado in a tricky situation when the time comes to set the Opening Day roster.