Rockies Promote Karros and Schunk

Colorado promotes two infield prospects as injuries reshape the roster and a 2025 contract looms.

Rockies Promote Kyle Karros and Aaron Schunk

Colorado added two infield prospects to the major league roster, promoting Kyle Karros and Aaron Schunk as injuries at short and infield spots create opportunities. Orlando Arcia was placed on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation, Thairo Estrada moved to the 60-day IL, and Angel Chivilli was placed on the restricted list for undisclosed reasons. Karros, 23, is the son of former big leaguer Eric Karros and was Colorado’s fifth-round pick in 2023. He has moved quickly through the minors, carrying a .304/.393/.459 line with 135 wRC+ across 1,010 plate appearances, including a strong .301/.398/.476 stretch this year mostly at Double-A. Baseball America rates him the Rockies’ 14th-best prospect and notes his strong defense at third base and solid contact skills, while suggesting power may be limited.

Schunk, 28, was outrighted off the roster in June and has slashed .230/.254/.311 in 127 big league plate appearances this year. His Triple-A numbers have been better, but still translate only to limited big league value, with 1,065 plate appearances and a .293/.344/.469 line in the minors, which translates to an 87 wRC+ in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. The infield has already taken hits, with Estrada’s 60-day IL ending his season and Arcia joining him on the list, plus Ryan Ritter missing time with a finger laceration. These injuries open room for Karros and Schunk while the Rockies assess a longer-term path around infield pieces like Ezequiel Tovar, Bernabel and Amador. Estrada received a $4 million guarantee for 2025 on the idea of a rebound, a bet that now looks uncertain as his season ends early due to injuries. The Rockies could retain him via arbitration for 2026 but non-tender remains a real possibility as they prioritize youth and future flexibility over short-term fixes.

The move signals a clear shift toward development nestled inside a rebuilding frame. Colorado is betting that Karros and Schunk can grow into meaningful big league contributors, even if their paths start with time on the injured list and in limited roles. Injuries expose both risk and opportunity: a thin infield now becomes a platform for evaluating players who could anchor the next competitive Rockies team. The broader question is whether the club can balance short-term gaps with a patient, long-term plan that relies on homegrown talent rather than high-cost stopsgap options. The decisions around Estrada underscore how fragile that balance can be when a spring training injury snowballs into a lost season and potential contract disputes follow.

In the end, this is less about immediate wins and more about laying a foundation. Karros has the defensive profile and contact discipline that scouts like, while Schunk needs to show he can translate minor league success to the majors. If both players become reliable pieces, Colorado will have bought time for Tovar, Bernabel, and Amador to mature together. The next phase hinges on durability, continued development, and whether the franchise can convert promise into consistent production at the big league level.

Highlights

The next chapter in Colorado’s rebuild starts with these two players and a question about how soon they can contribute.