Zac Veen took a baby step toward the big leagues Tuesday when the Rockies selected the outfielder’s contract and added him to their 40-man roster.
His big step — making his major league debut — could very well come in 2025, but he would have to have a lights-out camp to make the club’s roster out of spring training.
Veen, 22, is ranked as the Rockies’ No. 3 prospect and the 83rd-best prospect overall by MLB Pipeline, but injuries have slowed his development. The ninth overall pick out of Spruce Creek High School (Fla.) in the 2020 draft has slashed .260/.355/.424 with 134 stolen bases through four minor league seasons.
Veen was limited to 46 games in 2023 and 65 games in 2024 because of hand, back and hamstring injuries. He finished the 2024 season at Triple-A Albuquerque, slashing .220/.281/.476 with six homers, two doubles and six stolen bases in 21 games. In 36 games at Double-A Hartford, Veen slashed .268/.359./.457 with five homers, two triples, five doubles and 10 stolen bases.
The addition of Veen means the Rockies have 39 players on their 40-man roster.
Tuesday was the deadline for teams to set their 40-man rosters. Any player eligible for the Rule 5 Draft and not added to his organization’s roster is now eligible to be selected by another organization. The Rule 5 Draft takes place on Dec. 11 at the winter meetings in Dallas.
Players first signed at age 18 or younger must be added to 40-man rosters within five seasons or they become eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 draft. Players signed at 19 years or older have to be protected within four seasons.
Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player in the major league phase of the Rule 5 Draft. If that player doesn’t stay on the 26-man roster for the full season, he must be offered back to his former team for $50,000.
Two of Colorado’s top 30 prospects were left unprotected: third baseman Warming Bernabel (No. 24) and right-hander Yujanyer Herrera (No. 29).
Herrera, 21, who came to the Rockies as part of the Nick Mears trade in 2024, finished with over 100 innings for the first time in his minor league career. Pitching mostly at High-A Spokane, he posted a 3.04 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP.
Bernable, 22, played 120 games at Double-A, slashing .263/.296/.359 with nine homers, one triple, 17 doubles and 12 stolen bases.
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