The league-operated Colorado Rockies are back on the clock, and after selecting Mike Lowell at Pick #7, they’ve got a chance to continue something they haven’t really had in a while:
A coherent long-term plan.
That’s admittedly a low bar, but we’re working with what we’ve got.
With no permanent owner yet in place, the Rockies continue to lean into the safest philosophy available: accumulate talent, don’t overcomplicate things, and leave the difficult decisions for whoever eventually inherits the franchise.
After grabbing Lowell earlier, Colorado once again turns to the offensive side of the ball.
The selection: Carlos Guillen.
And before anyone starts yelling about positional value, let’s address the obvious immediately.
Carlos Guillen is not a shortstop.
Well, technically he’s a shortstop.
In the same way that I am technically capable of running a marathon.
The designation exists, but we’re all better off not testing it too thoroughly.
The defensive profile simply doesn’t support a long-term future there. The glove is much more naturally suited for second base, where his skill set becomes significantly more valuable and far less terrifying.
Fortunately for Colorado, that’s perfectly fine.
In fact, it might be ideal.
Suddenly, the framework of a very interesting young infield starts coming into focus.
Todd Helton at first.
Carlos Guillen at second.
Mike Lowell at third.
Find a legitimate shortstop somewhere along the way and you’ve got the foundation of an infield that could remain intact for years.
For a franchise searching for stability, that’s a pretty attractive outcome.
Offensively, Guillen brings exactly the type of profile organizations quietly love.
No, he isn’t going to lead the league in home runs.
No, he probably isn’t winning MVP awards.
But he’s a professional hitter.
The contact ability projects extremely well. The gap power is arguably the most appealing part of the package, giving him the potential to pile up doubles while consistently putting pressure on opposing defenses. There’s enough home run power to keep pitchers honest, but his game is built around quality at-bats rather than tape-measure shots.
On a championship-caliber roster, Guillen probably settles into the sixth spot in the lineup.
And that’s not an insult.
Every great team needs players like this.
The stars get the headlines. Players like Guillen help you win 95 games.
More importantly, this selection continues a clear organizational theme.
Lowell and Guillen may not be the flashiest names from this draft class, but they represent something incredibly valuable for an ownerless franchise:
Building blocks.
Young.
Controllable.
Talented.
Flexible.
The next ownership group will eventually have to figure out the pitching, the outfield, and a dozen other roster questions.
But when they arrive, they’ll be inheriting a much healthier infield situation than they expected.
That’s a good start.
PICK #14
Colorado Rockies select INF Carlos Guillen