Darryl Scott will not return as the Rockies’ pitching coach in 2026, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. Scott briefly played in Colorado’s minor league system in 1995 and 2000 and later rejoined the organization as a minor league coach in 2009. He has worked for the Rockies in various capacities ever since, including as a pitching coach for four of the team’s minor league affiliates.
Ahead of the 2020 season, the Rockies promoted Scott, then their minor league pitching coordinator, to the major league coaching staff. He took over the role of bullpen coach from Darren Holmes, which he would hold for two seasons. In October 2021, he was promoted to pitching coach, replacing Steve Foster.
In four seasons under Scott, Rockies pitchers rank third-last in the majors in adjusted ERA (ERA-), trailing only the Athletics and Nationals. Even accounting for park factors, their ERA has been more than 10% higher than league average in each of the past four years. They’ve ranked 30th out of 30 teams in strikeout rate every year of Scott’s tenure as pitching coach, and they haven’t limited walks or hard contact to compensate for all those batters they’ve failed to strike out.
Scott can’t take the blame for all, or even most, of his team’s pitching struggles. It’s not as if the now-ousted GM Bill Schmidt ever gave him a ton of talent to work with. Not to mention, coaching in the high altitude of Coors Field is an enviable task for even the most ambitious of pitching gurus. Still, it’s not a good look for Scott that Colorado’s pitching only seemed to get worse in every season under his supervision. Several of the team’s pitchers have regressed in recent years, and few have lived up to their full potential.
So, the Rockies will add “pitching coach” to their list of offseason needs, although hiring a new front office leader and deciding whether interim manager Warren Schaeffer will stick around next season are significantly higher up on the task list. To that point, Scott might not even be the only coach the Rockies have to replace this winter. If their new executive wants a new manager, their new manager could very well decide to overhaul the coaching staff and hire a group of his own.
He’s probably the happiest man alive! LOL
Now do the ownership.
Pitching coach in the most hitter friendly park in the game is a thankless job
Only advice they can give – good luck, kid.
This had to happen. As hard as it is to pitch at Coors Field, they’ve become worse over the last few years. Ask Jorge De La Rosa if he wants the job. He did okay at Coors Field
Dick Monfort will hire himself as new pitching coach.
They had a pitching coach? Next thing you’re gonna tell us is they had a hitting coach too…
“You’re ERA is under five here at Coors? You’re now our ace for the rotation!”
Your attempt at humor is underscored by the facts of your statement.
I was looking at data that suggested the Slider was the pitch that’s movement was least effected pitching in Denver.
They have to analyze what pitchers are likely to succeed at the high altitude and acquire them. Sounds like two very difficult tasks.
They would first need to create an analytics department.
Yeah, that’s the problem. As every other team has leaned on analytics to find weaknesses in their opponents, the Rockies have been left behind. Maybe a FO overhaul will change their priorities. Not hopeful.
That’s a hard job to keep! I mean who wants to be the pitching coach in COL?
I meannnnn, I’ll do it for the paycheck… and I would try my best.
That’s true lol and if you can keep the team ERA under 5 you are a success
Breaking news! Rockies need help. Everywhere.
Hire me and I’ll get the Rockies staff all looking like the reincarnation of Cy-Young.
So, like dug up 158 year old corpses?