One Early-Season Rockies’ Stat That Is a Good Sign for the 2026 Season

Going into the 2026 season, the Colorado Rockies have a different feel to them. New president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta, general manager Josh Byrnes and manager Warren Schaeffer were trying to scrub the organization clean of the last three 100-loss seasons.

There was some roster turnover, but the mixture of younger players and veterans has expectations a little different this season. Through their first two series against the Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays on the road, the Rockies are 2-4, but they are close to being 3-3 or better.

After being swept in Miami, Colorado went to Toronto and took two out of three against the defending American League champs. As the Rockies head home to Coors Field for Friday's home opener against the Philadelphia Phillies, there is one thing that has stuck out this season through six games: the stolen bases.

Rockies Aggressiveness on the Bases Has Been Evident Early in the Season

Colorado Rockies left fielder Jake McCarthy — Jake McCarthy | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Thomas Harding of MLB.com had one takeaway for the Rockies through the first week of the season and his was spot on: the aggressiveness Colorado has had on the bases through six games. They have stolen nine bases to date.

"Most of the games on the season-opening trip were close in the late innings, and the Rockies pushed the stolen base. It was their best chance against the strong pitching of the Marlins when they were swept, and the Blue Jays, when they won two of three. An eighth-inning Jake McCarthy steal set up the tying run Wednesday, and the Rockies beat the Jays in 10 innings, 2-1. Regular leadoff man McCarthy's four steals lead the club, but the other steals have come throughout the order. For a team with a long history of struggling for consistent hitting outside of Denver's offense-heavy atmosphere, it's sound strategy,'' wrote Harding.

Colorado's offense this year, despite playing in Coors Field, will have to get creative at times. There are not going to be many nights when they score 14 runs as they did in the opening game of Toronto on Monday night. After hosting the Phillies for three games, the Rockies will host the Houston Astros for three more. Two teams with good pitching staffs that will test Colorado's lineup and ability to produce runs.

Kyle Karros has a pair of stolen bases from the bottom of Schaeffer's order and as Harding mentioned, the aggressiveness is throughout the lineup. It hasn't translated into too many wins yet, but each game against the Marlins was winnable. Speed kills and if the Rockies can cause havoc on the bases this season, then they could surprise some teams. Just ask the Marlins and Blue Jays.