The Rockies optioned Veen to Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday.
With Brenton Doyle back from the bereavement list, the Rockies have elected to send down Veen, who went just 4-for-34 with a 37.8 percent strikeout rate in 12 games. Veen should get another opportunity with the big club later this season, but he'll head back to Albuquerque for now.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Sitting against left-hander
Rotowire
Veen is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's game in Kansas City.
It's left-hander Kris Bubic on the bump for the Royals, so the lefty-hitting Veen will begin the contest on the bench. The rookie outfielder has now started two of four games versus lefties and eight of nine contests against righties since being called up. Jordan Beck, Mickey Moniak and Sean Bouchard will be in the outfield for the Rockies to begin Tuesday's series opener.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Belts first home run
Rotowire
Veen went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a stolen base during Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader against Washington.
Veen's solo shot in the third inning was his first career big-league home run, and he added his first career steal after being hit by a pitch in the fifth. However, he followed up the big performance by going 0-for-4 with three punchouts in the second game of the doubleheader. The rookie outfielder has struggled in his first taste of MLB action, slashing .118/.189/.235 through 11 games.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Idle versus southpaw
Rotowire
Veen is not in Colorado's starting lineup against Washington on Saturday.
With southpaw MacKenzie Gore taking the mound for the Nationals on Saturday, Veen will start the contest in the dugout while Jordan Beck, Mickey Moniak and Sean Bouchard man the outfield. Veen has gone 3-for-28 with two walks, one RBI and 11 strikeouts this season.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Taking seat Wednesday
Rotowire
Veen is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers.
Veen started all eight games since being called up for his MLB debut April 8 versus the Brewers, and he'll receive a day off after going 3-for-28 with 11 strikeouts in his first 30 big-league plate appearances. The 23-year-old will likely have a decent leash as one of the Rockies' top prospects, but he may need to settle in a bit in the near future to avoid a return trip to the minors. Sean Bouchard is starting in left field and batting eighth in the series finale against Los Angeles.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Tallies first RBI
Rotowire
Veen went 1-for-5 with a double and an RBI on Thursday against the Brewers.
Veen has started three straight games in right field, and he bumped up to the second spot in the order Thursday. He tallied his first career RBI in the eighth inning when he ripped a double off the right-field wall. It's a small sample, but Veen has two hits across his first 12 at-bats, though positively, he's struck out only twice.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Collects first big-league hit
Rotowire
Veen went 1-for-4 on Tuesday against the Brewers.
Veen made his big-league debut while hitting seventh and playing right field. He fouled out and struck out in his first two at-bats, but he reached base on a bunt single in the seventh frame. Veen will likely have a volatile profile due to an inconsistent ability to make contact, but his power-speed skills should play well in fantasy leagues.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Set to join big club
Rotowire
The Rockies are expected to promote Veen from Triple-A Albuquerque ahead of Tuesday's game against the Brewers, Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.
Veen will receive his first MLB call-up after batting .387 with one home run, eight RBI, seven runs scored and one stolen base over 32 plate appearances through his first eight games at Triple-A this season. One of the organization's top prospects, the 23-year-old is capable of playing all three outfield spots, though he'll likely see most of his action in left or right field initially while two-time Gold Glove Award winner Brenton Doyle is locked in as the club's everyday center fielder. With the Rockies set to demote Jordan Beck to Triple-A in a corresponding move, Veen should push Nick Martini or Mickey Moniak for a regular role at one of the corner spots.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Making case to start in majors
Rotowire
Veen is making a case for a starting role in Colorado's outfield to begin the regular season, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.
Saunders didn't report anything concrete, so Veen's status to begin the season is far from certain. However, he has maintained a 1.038 OPS across 41 at-bats this spring and has two home runs paired with six stolen bases. Those numbers are tempered by a 25.5 percent strikeout rate, but Veen's fantasy potential would be substantial should he crack the roster.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Flashing fantasy appeal in spring
Rotowire
Veen went 2-for-2 with a three-run home run in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Reds.
Per Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post, the homer went 441 feet. Veen is now hitting .290 across 31 at-bats this spring, with a pair of home runs and four stolen bases. While Jordan Beck is the frontrunner to start in right field, manager Bud Black has said he wants to see production while determining roles to begin the season, and Veen has made a strong impression.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Flashes power Saturday
Rotowire
Veen went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's Cactus League win over the Diamondbacks.
Veen's stock has fallen in recent years, in large part due to injuries. He reminded everyone of his ability in the spring opener with a long, loud homer that was estimated at 433 feet, per Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com. It still doesn't seem like he's a realistic candidate for the Opening Day roster given that he has just 21 games' worth of experience at the Triple-A level, but the speedy outfielder is now on the Rockies' 40-man roster and figures to debut in the majors at some point in 2025, health permitting.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Activated, promoted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Veen (thumb) was activated from the minor-league injured list and promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday, MLB.com reports.
Veen has had another injury-plagued season, as he's managed only 178 total plate appearances. Nevertheless, the Rockies promoted him to the highest level of the minors, setting him up for a potential big-league debut in the first few months of the 2025 campaign. While on the field with Double-A Hartford, Veen has hit .268 with five home runs and 10 stolen bases across 36 games.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Return slowed
Rotowire
Veen (back) has had his recovery slowed by an injury to his left hand and thumb, MLB.com reports.
Veen was expected to return to game action earlier this week while recovering from a back issue. However, the new injuries have limited him to working out at the team's facility and have left him without a clear timeline to return.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Out with lower-back strain
Rotowire
Veen is on the 7-day injured list at Double-A Hartford with a lower-back strain, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Veen hasn't played since May 18. He is currently at the Rockies' spring training complex in Arizona and is doing some, but not all, baseball activities. It's not clear when the 22-year-old might return. Veen was performing well at Hartford before getting hurt, slashing .326/.418/.568 with five homers and nine steals over 28 games. He also missed a large chunk of the 2023 season at Hartford with a hand injury.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Could play winter ball
Rotowire
Rockies director of player development Chris Forbes said in an interview on MLB Network Radio on Thursday that Veen (hand) could play winter ball this offseason, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Veen was limited to just 202 plate appearances this season with Double-A Hartford before undergoing surgery last month to repair tearing and fraying to a ligament in his left hand. It sounds like he should be fully recovered by the fall and getting in some at-bats in winter ball would allow him to make up for lost time. The Rockies don't have to add Veen to their 40-man roster until after the 2024 season to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Shifts to 60-day IL
Rotowire
Double-A Hartford transferred Veen (hand) from its 7-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Saturday.
Veen's move to the 60-day IL was merely a formality after he underwent season-ending surgery in June to repair tearing and fraying to a ligament in his left hand. Before being shut down for the campaign, the 21-year-old outfielder had gotten off to a slow start at Hartford, slashing .209/.303/.308 with 11 extra-base hits and 22 stolen bases in 201 plate appearances. He'll look to return to full health for spring training and will presumably open the 2023 season back in Hartford.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Back in action at Double-A
Rotowire
Veen (wrist) has gone 5-for-12 with a triple, three doubles, seven RBI, three runs and a stolen base in three games since Double-A Hartford reinstated him from its 7-day injured list Thursday.
Veen was shelved April 28 due to left wrist inflammation, but he hasn't shown any sign of diminished power as a result of the injury since he was activated Thursday. The 21-year-old outfielder remains one of the more exciting prospects in the Colorado farm system and is slashing .210/.310/.371 with six extra-base hits and seven stolen bases through his first 71 plate appearances on the season with Hartford.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Placed on minor-league IL
Rotowire
Veen was placed on the injured list Tuesday at Double-A Hartford with left wrist inflammation, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports.
It's not believed to be a serious issue, but the Rockies will give their top prospect a breather to allow the inflammation to dissipate. He's off to a rough start this season at the Double-A level, slashing just .160/.276/.260 with one home run through 58 plate appearances. Granted, the 21-year-old outfielder has stolen six bases in six attempts.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Reassigned to minors camp
Rotowire
Veen was reassigned Tuesday to the minor-league side of Rockies camp.
Veen drew a lot of playing time in the Cactus League this spring and posted some encouraging numbers -- including eight stolen bases in nine attempts -- but the 21-year-old outfielder was never really in the running for an Opening Day roster spot. Colorado selected him as the No. 9 overall pick in 2020 and he finished the 2022 season with a .496 OPS in 34 games at Double-A Hartford.
... See More... See Less
Rockies' Zac Veen: Debut in 2023 possible
Rotowire
Veen could make his big-league debut in the second half of the 2023 season, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.
Veen closed the 2022 season in Double-A Hartford, and he's likely to start the 2023 campaign at the same level. However, he has drawn positive reviews from the organization after putting on muscle during the offseason and showing an improved swing in the Arizona Fall League. Though a small sample, Veen did struggle upon his promotion to Hartford, as he posted only a .177/.262/.234 slash line across 141 plate appearances.
