The Rockies recently added outfielder Drew Avans on a minor league deal, as Matt Eddy of Baseball America pointed out. Avans played a handful of games for the Athletics last season. He was most recently in the Brewers’ system. Avans elected minor league free agency in early November.
Avans made his MLB debut in May following a lengthy minor league career. He came on as a defensive replacement and singled in his only at-bat. Avans made seven appearances with the Athletics, recording a pair of hits in 15 at-bats. He was designated for assignment in early June and picked up by the Brewers. Avans played one game for the team, going 0-for-2 with a sacrifice fly. He was designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A shortly after.
The Dodgers took Avans in the 33rd round in 2018. He’d spent his entire career with the organization prior to 2025. Avans moved up the system fairly quickly, reaching Double-A by 2019. He posted a 114 wRC+ with 24 steals across three levels that season. Avans was bumped up to Triple-A in 2021, where his results plateaued. He continued to steal bases at a solid clip, including 40 swipes in 2022, but delivered roughly league-average numbers at the plate. Avans elected minor league free agency after the 2024 season and latched on with the Athletics.
Avans slashed a strong .328/.414/.444 across 48 games with Triple-A Las Vegas to open this past season. More notably, he reduced his strikeout rate to 14%. Avans had multiple Triple-A seasons with a strikeout rate above 25% while in LA’s system. The solid stretch with Las Vegas earned Avans a look with the Athletics, though he only lasted on the big-league roster for a little over a week. His strikeout rate went back up to 24.3% in 52 games at Triple-A Nashville. Avans did manage 40 steals between Las Vegas and Nashville, so there’s a chance his speed could help him become a factor in Colorado.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Hanisch, Imagn Images
Never heard of him, wish him the best.
I know it is just a minor league signing and it shouldn’t bother me, but the outfield depth is the only thing the Rockies DON’T need to work on. They have 8 outfielders on the 40 man roster to cover the entire big league AND AAA depth chart. There is no need to firther clog things unless you are planning to (hopefully) trade from that outfield depth.
Sterlin Thompson is viewed more as a utility player that has played everywhere except SS, C, and CF in his minor league career. His playing time opportunities at the major league level will be at 1B.
Zac Veen has nearly a 44% whiff rate and is dangerously balancing on the bust title.
Tyler Freeman will be in contention for the 2B job as he’s one of the worst defensive players in baseball.
Theres a 100% chance that not all 8 on the 40 man make it through spring training still on the 40 man. If I had to guess (Just based off the short Paul DePodesta era) massive whiff rates won’t last a whole hell of a long time.
My guess is you have Beck, Doyle, Moniak starting most games with Troy Johnston as the 4th OF and Freeman as the 5th OF/super utility. In Albuquerque you have Thompson, Veen, Yanquiel. Plus you have Carrigg, Montgomery, and Thomas at AA that are probably ready to move up to AAA. It’s still a glut.
Thompson is an excellent outfielder and has almost never played 1B. He ain’t moving there. Condon’s their 1B of the future anyway.
They’re going to trade Doyle. Looking at market inefficiencies is what DePodesta does, and there’s a big CF shortage in the majors right now. And if they do, they really don’t have another CF. They need the depth.
I hope you are wrong, but I fear you are not. Doyle is the perfect CF for Coors. It took nearly 30 years to find someone that could cover that much real estate.
I wouldn’t mind a Jordan Beck trade though. I just don’t see him ever moving the needle. And I hope for a Veen trade while he still has some prospect luster.
I bet they do trade one of the outfielders and something else for an arm probably a starter.
Avens to Betsy !!