Rockies officially close the book on 2022 third-round pick

A year ago this month, the Rockies called up Carson Palmquist, giving him the first chance to see if he could be part of the long-term answer to the problems that have bedeviled their pitching at the major-league level.

But now, the book is closed on the 2022 third-round pick. Four days after designating him for assignment, the Rockies shipped him to the Washington Nationals in exchange for cash considerations.

Palmquist had an 8.91 ERA, a 2.039 WHIP and a 7.80 FIP over nine appearances — including seven starts — with the Rockies last year. Only once — on May 26 of last year at Chicago — did he make it through five innings of a start. He also gave up 10 home runs in 34 1/3 innings of work, a 2.62 HR/9 rate.

But it was his start to this season in AAA Albuquerque that doomed him and nudged him out of the Rockies’ plans. In 12 appearances — including five starts — he had an ERA of 7.20 and a WHIP of 2.160, the latter of which was slightly worse than his MLB figure in 2026. In 47 AAA appearances over the last three seasons, he has a 5.41 ERA and a 1.616 WHIP.

Heading into the season, Palmquist was the Rockies’ No. 17 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.

The Pacific Coast League doesn’t do pitchers any favors, but with other pitchers — including the recently promoted Keegan Thompson — faring better, the Rockies chose to pull the plug.

ROCKIES CONTINUE OVERHAULING THEIR SYSTEM

Palmquist isn’t the only player who got a look last year to move on in recent days. Infielder Blaine Crim, who had a September explosion last year after his Gallup, was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers, his old team, over the weekend.

The Rockies had designated Crim for assignment last Wednesday in order to make room for Thompson on the 40-man roster.

Crim was the Rockies’ everyday first baseman for the final two-and-a-half weeks of the 2025 season, thanks in part to an unexpected surge of high-leverage power in his first two games in Colorado’s lineup last year. In his Rockies debut, he hit a 3-run homer to power Colorado past San Diego; one day later, he brought in two runs with a double to center field. Crim ended up posting a .241/.295/.556 line over 61 plate appearances last September.

But he missed nearly all of spring training due to a strained oblique muscle, and with other options — particularly TJ Rumfield — emerging at first base, the train left the station without him. He had a .265/.339/.449 line at AAA Albuquerque before the Rockies DFAd him.

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