Rockies Journal: Kris Bryant’s fragile future, team MVP and other 2025 predictions

My bold, way-too-specific predictions for the Rockies’ 2025 season:

• Kris Bryant will be more productive than last season, hitting .250 with 12 homers. Because of his chronic back condition, he’ll play fewer than 100 games, and the Rockies will face a big decision about the rest of his contract. He’s owed $108 million over the next four seasons.

• Colorado’s best starter will be right-hander Ryan Feltner. He’ll post a sub-4.00 ERA and win more games than he loses. That, after going 4-10 with a 4.49 ERA last season. But remember, Feltner posted a 2.98 ERA over his last 15 starts.

• Right-hander Chase Dollander, the No. 1 prospect, will be in the starting rotation by the end of May, if not sooner. He’ll struggle some and take his lumps at Coors Field but will show fans what all of the hype is about.

• One of the Rockies’ current starters will be moved to the bullpen. I’m thinking it will be lefty Austin Gomber.

• Manager Bud Black will mix and match his bullpen early in the season, but hard-throwing Seth Halvorsen will eventually emerge as an effective closer.

• The 2024 bullpen had a 5.38 ERA and blew 28 saves. The ‘pen will be better this season, with a sub-5.00 ERA and fewer ninth-inning nightmares.

•  First baseman Michael Toglia will hit 30 or more home runs to lead the team, but strikeouts will still be a big problem.

• K’s will continue to be an issue for the team as a whole, preventing the offense from making significant strides.

• The Rockies will have two All-Stars at Atlanta’s Truist Park on July 15: Brenton Doyle and Ezequiel Tovar.

• Doyle will sign a contract extension to avoid arbitration. Perhaps this spring. He loves playing in Colorado.

• Outfielder Jordan Beck will begin the season at Triple-A but join the big-league club by the end of April. He will break out the way Nolan Jones did in 2023.

• Jones will be better this season than last, but he’ll become Colorado’s fourth outfielder.

• Outfielders Zac Veen and Sean Bouchard will spend time with the big-league club and Triple-A Albuquerque.

• The Rockies will do what they rarely do by making a significant trade at the deadline. That trade will include veteran right-hander German Marquez, who’s in the final year of his contract.

• Hunter Goodman will suffer growing pains behind the plate, but he’ll mash at the plate. By the second half of the season, he’ll supplant veteran Jacob Stallings as the No. 1 catcher.

• The Rockies’ road woes will continue. Make their record 28-53.