Welcome to the 2026 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we take a look back at every player to log playing time for the Rockies in 2026. The purpose of this list is to provide a snapshot of the player in context. The “Ranking” is an organizing principle that’s drawn from Baseball Reference’s WAR (rWAR). It’s not something the staff debated. We’ll begin with the player with the lowest rWAR and end up with the player with the highest.

No. 40, Tanner Gordon (-0.2 rWAR)

Tanner Gordon appeared in 24 games for the Colorado Rockies in 2026, making 12 starts and finishing with a 1-6 record, 6.68 ERA, and 1.66 WHIP across 103.2 innings. His season was worth -0.2 rWAR.

For the second consecutive season, Gordon struggled to find consistent success at the major-league level. In fact, his 2026 numbers looked remarkably similar to those from 2025.

Despite the similar results, Gordon did make some adjustments.

Gordon reduced his four-seam usage from 52.8% to 43.1%, incorporated his curveball more frequently, and added 2.6 mph to his slider. His chase rate climbed from 27.1% to 31.3%, while his whiff rate improved from 18.0% to 21.7%. His expected ERA also dropped from 5.88 to 5.16.

Those numbers moved in the right direction, but the improvements weren’t enough to substantially change Gordon’s overall effectiveness. Gordon continued to struggle with strikeouts, hard contact, and keeping the ball on the ground. Despite the adjustments, his actual ERA increased.

One thing that hadn’t changed was Gordon’s ability to avoid walks. Unfortunately, getting the baseball into the strike zone and keeping hitters from doing damage against it proved to be two very different things.

A season of changing roles

Gordon opened the season in long relief.

His April 15 debut against Houston was encouraging: four scoreless innings, two hits, one walk, and four strikeouts.

Five days later, against the Dodgers, Gordon surrendered six earned runs over four innings, including three home runs. He also committed a fielding error, threw a wild pitch, and walked three hitters in a 12-3 loss.

On May 19 against Texas, Gordon replaced starter Sammy Peralta with two outs and the bases loaded in the first inning. With help from Willi Castro’s defense, he escaped the jam without allowing another run.

That reprieve didn’t last long. Texas scored three runs against Gordon in the second inning, all with two outs, as Brandon Nimmo, Ezequiel Duran, and Jake Burger delivered RBI singles. Nimmo added a two-run homer in the fourth, and Gordon eventually worked 6.1 innings, allowing seven earned runs on 12 hits while walking just one batter.

Six days later, Gordon joined the rotation, making his first start of the year against the Dodgers. He allowed just one run over five innings, although it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing.

The Dodgers put their leadoff hitter aboard in four of Gordon’s five innings. In the third, he allowed the first three hitters to reach, including an RBI double by Kiké Hernández and a walk to Shohei Ohtani.

With runners at first and second, nobody out, and Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman coming to the plate, Gordon was in serious trouble.

Instead, he retired Betts on a flyout and induced an inning-ending double play from Freeman.

Gordon escaped another jam in the fourth and retired the final five hitters he faced. The Rockies eventually lost 5-3, but Gordon had given them a chance to win.

He remained in the rotation until a right hip impingement interrupted his season in early June. Gordon returned June 30 and continued starting through July 10.

His July 5 outing against San Francisco was particularly ugly. Gordon allowed four home runs and five earned runs in five innings despite striking out seven hitters. Rafael Devers accounted for two of those home runs, both against Gordon’s four-seamer, including a 463-foot blast.

Five days later, Gordon faced the Giants again, this time in San Francisco. Devers homered off him for the third time in less than a week, but Gordon escaped with just one run allowed over five innings despite surrendering eight hits.

Gordon then returned to long relief, providing 5.2 innings of one-run baseball against Cincinnati on July 19. After a rougher appearance against Tampa Bay on August 3, he tossed four scoreless innings against San Francisco on August 15.

The Rockies returned him to the rotation on August 21, but his first outing back wasn’t encouraging. Cleveland collected nine hits and five earned runs over 5.1 innings, with Gordon issuing two walks.

Five days later, Gordon delivered his best start of the season against Washington. Dylan Crews tripled with two outs in the first, but Gordon retired Daylen Lile to strand him. Andrés Chaparro led off the second with a solo homer, and the Nationals threatened again in the fourth.

With runners at second and third and two outs, Gordon got Harry Ford to ground out, escaping without another run.

He settled in from there, retiring 10 of his final 12 hitters and completing seven innings with six hits, one earned run, five strikeouts, and no walks.

Gordon followed that performance with another strong outing, holding Baltimore to one run over five innings on August 31.

He finished August with a 3.82 ERA and 1.17 WHIP across 30.2 innings, walking just three batters. It was his most productive month, although his struggles against Tampa Bay and Cleveland showed that the improvement wasn’t entirely consistent.

September was a different story. Gordon allowed 26 earned runs on 40 hits in just 15.0 innings, producing a 15.60 ERA and 3.20 WHIP. His final two starts were particularly brutal, beginning with seven earned runs on 10 hits over three innings against San Diego on September 17.

A week later, Arizona opened the game with seven consecutive baserunners, scoring six runs before Gordon recorded an out. Gabriel Moreno launched a three-run homer, Geraldo Perdomo tripled, and Nolan Arenado capped the barrage with a two-run shot.

Arizona added two runs in the second and two more charged to Gordon in the fourth. He finished with 10 earned runs on 12 hits and four walks in just 3.1 innings.

After allowing two earned runs over 12 innings in his final two August starts, Gordon surrendered 17 in 6.1 innings to close the season.

Command is more than avoiding walks

Gordon was exceptionally good at one thing in 2026: avoiding walks. His 5.1% walk rate ranked in the 96th percentile among MLB pitchers.

When the walks did come, however, so did the damage.

He issued multiple walks in just five of his 24 appearances. Every one of those outings resulted in at least five earned runs, and together they accounted for 33 of his 77 earned runs, nearly 43% of his season total.

Limiting walks didn’t guarantee a good outing. Gordon was knocked around several times while issuing one or fewer free passes, including May 19 against Texas.

Of course, command involves more than avoiding walks. Getting the baseball into the strike zone is one thing. Consistently locating pitches where hitters have difficulty doing damage is another.

Gordon’s results illustrate that distinction. His 18.0% strikeout rate ranked in the 18th percentile, while his 21.7% whiff rate placed him in the 22nd. His 43.1% hard-hit rate ranked in the 14th percentile, and his 11.0% barrel rate fell in the fourth.

Opponents hit .368 and slugged .637 against his four-seamer, which accounted for 10 of the 21 home runs he allowed. His Baseball Savant zone chart shows where hitters were particularly productive.

Opponents produced a .600 wOBA against pitches in the middle-middle portion of the strike zone and .546 against those in the upper-middle portion.

Gordon’s September 24 start against Arizona showed just how quickly poor fastball location could become a problem.

Facing Arenado in the first inning, Gordon opened with a 90.2 mph four-seamer that missed above the strike zone.

His second four-seamer missed even higher, putting Gordon behind 2-0 without challenging Arenado in the strike zone.

Now behind in the count, Gordon threw a third consecutive four-seamer, this one at 93.7 mph in the upper half of the zone. Arenado turned on it for a 419-foot, two-run home run.

Compare that sequence with Gordon’s August 26 start against Washington, when he faced Jacob Young in the third inning. Once again, Gordon threw three consecutive four-seam fastballs. This time, however, he consistently located them down and toward the edges of the strike zone.

His first fastball, at 90.9 mph, caught the lower portion of the zone for strike one.

The second was even lower, a 91.0 mph four-seamer featuring 19.2 inches of induced vertical break that put Gordon ahead 0-2.

Gordon finished with a 93.4 mph four-seamer toward the outer edge. Initially called a ball, the pitch became strike three after catcher Hunter Goodman successfully challenged the ruling.

All three fastballs against Young featured greater induced vertical break and horizontal movement than Gordon’s season averages. But the most noticeable difference between the two sequences was location.

Against Arenado, Gordon missed the zone with his first two fastballs, fell behind, and watched his third leave the ballpark. Against Young, he established the strike zone immediately, stayed around its edges, and recorded a three-pitch strikeout without the batter taking a swing.

These are just two plate appearances, but they highlight a larger issue that followed Gordon throughout the season.

Gordon could throw strikes. Too often, he threw strikes hitters could punish.

A better fit in the bullpen?

Gordon’s results varied considerably depending on his role.

He was more effective in relief, although his 5.21 ERA was hardly outstanding.

Gordon also wasn’t working as a conventional one-inning reliever. He averaged roughly four innings per relief appearance, and his average start wasn’t much longer.

The relief appearances came under different circumstances, often with Colorado already trailing, so the split doesn’t establish that he would succeed in a permanent bullpen role. It does, however, suggest that bulk relief may be a more practical role than a regular rotation assignment.

His performance also differed dramatically by ballpark.

Gordon posted a 9.25 ERA at Coors Field, allowing 17 home runs in 59.1 innings. On the road, his ERA fell to 3.25, with four home runs allowed in 44.1 innings.

Even away from Colorado, however, opponents hit .302 against him.

Final thoughts

Gordon enters his age-29 season in 2027 with three years of major-league experience and many of the same limitations that have defined his career.

His ability to limit walks and cover multiple innings provides some utility, but his results have remained largely unchanged despite adjustments to his repertoire. His performance in relief was better than as a starter, although neither role produced particularly encouraging results.

At No. 40 in our rankings, Gordon sits on the fringes of two areas the Rockies desperately need to improve: their starting rotation and bullpen.

How many innings Gordon pitches in 2027, and in which role, might ultimately say as much about Colorado’s progress in addressing those weaknesses as it does about Gordon himself.

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With the start of another week, it’s time for an update on the Cubs’ Boys of Autumn playing in the Arizona Fall League.

If you haven’t been following along or if you just need a refresher on what is going on in Arizona, check out the introduction and the recap of the first full week.

The Mesa Solar Sox, the Cubs affiliate in the AFL along with the A’s, Blue Jays, Angels and Red Sox, had an abbreviated week with only four games. Monday’s home game was rained out and made up on Wednesday, but Tuesday’s game at Surprise was postponed because of a power failure. I’m not sure if that game will be made up. In any case, the Solar Sox didn’t take the field until Wednesday.

The Solar Sox went 2-2 over the week, putting their overall record at 4-6. Here’s how they did in those four games. The home team is listed second.

Wednesday, October 14: Salt River Rafters 3, SOLAR SOX 7

Thursday, October 15: SOLAR SOX 14, Rafters 9 in ten innings.

Friday, October 16: SOLAR SOX 5, Surprise Saguaros 12

Saturday, October 17: Rafters 5, SOLAR SOX 0

Here’s how the eight Cubs prospects on the Solar Sox did.

Infielder Juan Cabada: The second-youngest player in the AFL this year played two games this past week. He was the third baseman for Mesa on Thursday and the second baseman on Friday.

Cabada went 2 for 6 on Thursday with an RBI single in the first inning and an RBI single in Mesa’s five-run top of the tenth. In Friday’s loss, Cabada went 0 for 3 with a walk.

For the season, Cabada has played seven games and is hitting .167/.286/.167 with one stolen base. He has scored twice and has driven in three.

Outfielder Harrison Feinberg: Feinberg only played in Thursday’s extra-inning win over Salt River. He was the left fielder in that game and went 2 for 4 wth a walk.

In four games for the Solar Sox, Feinberg is hitting .385/.529/.385 with two steals. He has scored twice and has one run batted in.

Outfielder Kade Snell: There were some high hopes for Snell coming into the AFL and this past week, he played like the sleeper prospect he is. Snell played left field on Wednesday and went 2 for 3 with a walk. On Thursday Snell played right field and he was 1 for 3 with three walks and a stolen base. After an off-day on Friday, Snell returned to DH on Saturday and was 1 for 3 as the Solar Sox were shut out. That’s 4 for 9 with four walks and a steal on the week.

For the AFL campaign, Snell is hitting .286/.459/.321 wth two steals over eight games. He has four runs batted in and has scored six times.

Right-hander Jhon Cabral: Cabral pitched the ninth inning on Wednesday in a non-save situation. He walked the first batter he faced, but then retired the next three in order. Cabral struck out one.

Over 2.1 innings and three appearances, Cabral has yet to allow a run or a hit in the AFL. He has walked three while striking out two.

Right-hander Anhuar Garcia: Garcia has had a rough AFL campaign because he’s had trouble throwing strikes. That continued this week after he threw 1.2 innings of relief on Friday. Garcia allowed three runs on one it and four walks. He also balked twice. In his defense only one of the three runs was earned. Garcia struck out two.

In three appearances, Garcia has an ERA of 6.75 over 6.2 innings. However, he’s allowed five unearned runs on top of the five he’s given up that were earned. Garcia has walked eight and has struck out four.

Right-hander Yohendris Gonzalez: Gonzalez did not pitch this past week. He has a 40.50 ERA after allowing six runs over just 1.1 innings in two appearances so far.

Right-hander Dominick Reid: With the shortened week and Reid having pitched on Saturday the previous week, Reid did not get a start this week. Reid is still 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA over two starts.

Right-hander Luis Rujano: Rujano threw 1.1 innings in Saturday’s shutout loss. He allowed one run on one hit, but the run was unearned. Rujano walked two and struck out one.

For the season, Rujano has pitched four innings in three relief appearances. He has an ERA of 2.25 with four walks and four strikeouts.

Be honest with me.

If I told you on September 1, of this year that the Blueshirts secret weapon would be a lad named Eeli Tolvanen, it says here that you wouldn't even know how to pronounce his first name.

In case you're interested it's pronounced "Elee" and, furthermore all the good citizens of Vihi, Finland happen to know it by heart, so there! 

Plus, you're gonna know a helluva lot more in the months to come about "Trolleycar Tolvanen.

BECAUSE The Maven is here to tell you that this non-finicky Finn already is and will continue to be a producive Ranger.

Before You, I and Manny Malhotra realize it, Energizer Eeli will be sooooooooo good that even I will be able to correctly spell his first name on the third try; give or take one,

Write it down and paste it on your fridge and see me on this during the Rangers first playoff round.

As for now and Anaheim tonight, if Tolvanen The Terrific gets one measly assist it will be a milestone 100th career helper. 

Mark my words, the Rangers "Secret Weapon" will – by the Thanksgiving Day Parade – be a secret no more. And. by Christmas, all will be in high glee over "El-ee."

There is just something different about those no doubters, when a slugger digs into the box and really gets a hold of a pitch unleashing that wooden thunderclap like the legend of Thor. Watching the ball arch towards the sky and then seeing gravity finally win the fight and bring it back down to earth still sends a childlike joy through my bones.

Despite only getting 327 at-bats from biggest sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees still had their fair share of no doubters in 2026. Before we dive into the top ten home runs, I want to clarify this list ranks each long ball by distance. 

There is one honorable mention I want to give out before we get started. On April 21st, Stanton launched a 368-foot home run with a 41-degree launch angle. This moonshot in Boston was the Yankees’ highest-arching home run of the season. It did not go far, but it was a fun one to watch as it had hang time like Vince Carter!

10. Ben Rice: 431 feet (August 8th vs. Atlanta)

I hope you are not hungry, because this top ten list contains as much Rice as your favorite takeout place’s menu! There is your dinner plan, as Rice keeps serving us even after the season ends. This early-August blast came off the bat at just over 105 miles per hour (mph) and had the highest launch angle of the top ten at 35 degrees.

9. Ben Rice: 433 feet (June 19th vs. Cincinnati)

The team leader in home runs stakes his second claim on the list quickly, also claiming the nine-hole. This bullet traveled 109.1 mph off Benny’s barrel and had a 26-degree launch angle. The three-run job was one of those long home runs that reminds you center field at Yankee Stadium is no joke.

8. Ben Rice: 438 feet (August 16th @ Toronto)

Starting the list off with a turkey, Rice keeps cooking. Unlike his first two appearances, this one came in Toronto. Number 33 on the season for Rice came off Braydon Fisher in the top of the 10th inning, making it the latest inning long ball on the list. What would prove to be the game-winner jumped off the bat at 108.5 mph and launched at a 27-degree angle.

7. Spencer Jones: 443 feet (June 9th @ Cleveland)

The rookie’s first home run in the show was an absolute missile. Jones jumped all over this pitch from Slade Cecconi and produced the second-highest exit velocity on the list at 112.2 mph, with the lowest launch angle of the top ten at just 25 degrees. Do not blink, or you will miss this straight-line shot that got out of play in a hurry.

6. Ben Rice: 444 feet (September 4th @ San Diego)

Despite a lower exit velocity of 108.6 mph, the one-degree difference in launch angle, at 26 degrees, was enough for this Rice home run to travel one foot farther than the previous entry. This ball ran away from the camera operator as it decided it would rather check out the San Diego Zoo than stick around for peanuts and Cracker Jacks.

5. Giancarlo Stanton: 446 feet (April 16th vs. LA Angels)

Big G gets more than just his honorable mention with this home run that landed 446 feet from home plate in the Bronx, earning him a spot in our top five. Stanton muscled this ball at 111.1 mph off the bat and into the air at a 27-degree angle. This was a frustrating season for Stanton, and at this stage of his career, there might not be many more of these moments left for us to enjoy.

4. Ben Rice: 447 feet (August 19th @ Baltimore)

Making his fifth and final appearance is Rice with this home run down at Camden Yards. This one got a few extra shakes of Old Bay seasoning as it traveled at 110.2 mph and lollipopped toward the harbor at a 33-degree angle. All hail the Yankees’ home run king of 2026!

3. Spencer Jones: 448 feet (September 20th @ Arizona)

With a build similar to Judge and a left-handed swing, Jones is sure to send a few moonshots each season that will be impressive enough to land him on this list for years to come. This home run claims the title of highest launch angle on the list at 34 degrees. The towering drive traveled at 109.8 mph before falling like a meteor out in the desert.

2. Amed Rosario: 450 feet (July 31st @ Chicago Cubs)

Imposter alert! Surprise, surprise, surprise. Who would have believed it at the start of the season, but at 6-foot-1 and 227 pounds, Rosario hit a home run good enough for second-furthest of the season. Perhaps aided by the Chicago wind, this home run tried its best to make it to the rooftop seats, coming off the bat at 108 mph with a 30-degree launch angle. Another whacky surprise, it was off a lefty!

1. Aaron Judge: 456 feet (April 13th vs. LA Angels)

Almost as surprising as Rosario, Judge finally makes his first appearance on the list, and of course, the best power hitter since the steroid era takes the top spot. Why waste swings, right? This home run by Judge is truly a piece of art. At 116.2 mph, it was the hardest-hit Yankees home run of the season in addition to being the furthest. Its 26-degree launch angle helped it get over the fence quicker than a little leaguer retrieving a home run ball in the sandlot. Please be healthy next season, Captain. We missed you this year.

That concludes the top ten longest Yankees home runs of 2026. Did anyone see any of these in person? What was the biggest surprise in your eyes? I was most surprised that Bellinger didn’t crack the top ten, or even the top 20 longest home runs in 2026!

As the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline came and went, the Tampa Bay Rays finally became full fledged buyers. Erik Neander went out and brought the Rays an excellent catcher in Liam Hicks, a decent option in the bullpen with Tyler Wells, and then a possible top of the rotation arm in Freddy Peralta.

Of course, Peralta had his struggles while with the New York Mets but was just a half season removed from being a Cy Young contender with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Now, with the Rays on the cusp of reaching the World Series, it will be Freddy Peralta taking the mound for Tampa Bay.

A few days ago, this series was all but wrapped up for the Cleveland Guardians as they held a 2-1 advantage with two more games remaining at home. Then the rains came and washed out what would have been game four on Friday. With the schedule pushed back and extra day to recombobulate, the dormant Rays offense awoke while the pitching continued its excellence and all of a sudden, the Rays have a 3-2 advantage as the ALCS returns back to Tropicana Field where the Rays held one of the best home records in all of baseball.

The Guardians will have to try and piece together a pitching strategy as manager Stephen Vogt has heavily relied on his top relievers all series, making them questionable for tonight’s game. It has been announced that Cleveland will be starting former Ray, Shawn Armstrong, once again. Armstrong started Saturday’s game, providing the Guardians with four outs as an opener. This will mark his 4th appearance of the ALCS and thus far he has recorded 4 innings, allowing 0 runs on 2 hits.

After Armstrong, it’s anyone’s guess as to who Vogt will turn to in a must win game.

Vogt does have options with Tanner Bibee being the most likely. The 27-year old right-handed pitcher has yet to pitch in the ALCS and made one appearance during the ALDS against the Chicago White Sox. Bibee had a solid regular season for Cleveland and was a modern day workhorse as he compiled a 4.36 ERA | 4.52 FIP with a 19.0 K% & 7.1 BB% over 188 IP. Other options for Vogt tonight include Joey Cantillo, Matt Festa, and Slade Cecconi.

The rest of Vogt’s staff has seen plenty of action this ALCS, but it has been reported that game three starter Gavin Williams will be the only pitcher not available to pitch in tonight’s game. However, Vogt called upon Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, Erik Sabrowski, and Tim Herrin in yesterday’s game as well as Shawn Armstrong, making them questionable for action tonight.

Tampa Bay meanwhile benefited from an exceptional outing by Drew Rasmussen in which the ace of the staff logged seven innings, yielding just one run, en route to the Rays 3-1 game five victory. Still, Kevin Cash had to call upon Bryan Baker, Cam Booser, and Tyler Wells to finish out the game; Wells threw just five pitches and was well rested prior to the game. Bryan Baker and Cam Booser pitched consecutive games so they may not be available tonight either; Baker also had had a noticeable dip in his velocity. Still, Kevin Cash has plenty of options should he need to use them in Kevin Kelly, Tyler Wells, Cole Sulser, Steven Matz, and Brody Hopkins; Hopkins has yet to appear in an ALCS game, the lone player on the roster who has yet to make an appearance.

It’s game six of the 2026 American League Division Series. The Rays are up three games to two. The series is back at Tropicana Field. BJ Upton is throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. The game begins at 8:00pm.