After a successful first three rounds of the 2025 MLB Draft, which included selecting Ethan Holliday fourth overall, the Colorado Rockies went right back to work on Monday with the remainder of the draft. The Rockies leaned into more pitchers, particularly college relievers, on Day 2 while selecting position players with strong bat-to-ball skills.

Here is a recap of the Day 2 picks:

Round 4 (107th overall): Riley Kelly – RHP, UC Irvine

Converted from QBs to ace starter with a fastball up to 96 mph and a well-graded curve. Seen as a high-upside collegiate pitcher, His fastball sits low-to-mid 90s, but he can reach 96 and his curveball produces elite analytics.

Round 5 (138th overall): Cam Nelson – OF, Wake Forest

Nelson batted .318 with a .480 on-base percentage in 2025 and has shown on-base skills in wood-bat leagues.  Athletic ability is a plus as he played baseball and ran track in high school, resulting in excellent speed.

Round 6 (167th overall): Matt Klein – C, Louisville

Left-handed bat with strong wood-bat summer numbers (.375 in Cape Cod) and improved offensive feel. He has a sweet swing for a lefty-hitting catcher and an all-fields mentality, but the defensive work likely still needs improvement.

Round 7 (197th overall): Antoine Jean – LHP, Houston

Tommy John graduate with four pitches, mid-90s spin, and swing-and-miss ability. Worked in multiple rolls with Houston, aided by his ability to throw strikes with all of his pitches.

Round 8 (227th overall): Tanner Thach – 1B, UNC Wilmington

The great-nephew of Catfish Hunter, Thach brings plenty of thump with his bat. He set a school record with 54 home runs over three seasons with UNC Wilmington.

Round 9 (257th overall): Zach Rogacki – C/OF, Binghamton
Versatile senior with a .361/.437/.600 slash, including 17 doubles, four triples, eight home runs, and 43 RBI. He is capable of catching or playing all three outfield positions, but the Rockies view him as a catcher above all.

Round 10 (287th overall): Austin Newton – RHP, South Florida
Primarily a bullpen arm, Newton developed into a strike-throwing machine with 22 strikeouts against six walks in 22 2/3 innings in 2025. Playing in the MLB Draft League, he went 1-0 with a 0.56 ERA, 10 strikeouts and two walks in 16 innings.

Round 11 (317th overall): Zach Harris – RHP, Georgia 

Harris finished the season as the closer for the University of Georgia, tallying 31 strikeouts against nine walks in 27 2/3 innings.

Round 12 (347th overall): Brady Parker – LHP, Houston-Victoria 

Over three collegiate seasons, Parker struck out 252 in 225 2/3 innings.

Round 13 (377th overall): Izeah Muniz – RHP, Mt. San Antonio College 

Muniz bounced back in junior college this season, after struggling at Cal State Fullerton. This year, he went 13-1 with a 1.92 ERA and 126 strikeouts against 35 walks in 108 innings.

Round 14 (407th overall): Luke Broderick – RHP, Nebraska 

In 2025 at Nebraska, he made 27 appearances and earned 13 saves — tied for the third-most in a season in program history.

Round 15 (437th overall): Dylan Crooks – RHP, Oklahoma 

In 2025, he struck out 33 against 10 walks and earned 16 saves in 26 appearances.
Round 16 (467th overall): Seth Clausen – RHP, Minnesota 

Clausen appeared in 77 games over four seasons with the Golden Gophers. As a senior this year, Clausen struck out 46 in 32 2/3 innings.

Round 17 (497th overall): Derrick Smith – RHP, NC State

A reliever with Team USA experience, taken despite injury concerns. His breakout came in 2024, when he had 41 strikeouts against 11 walks, and a .191 batting average against in 29 2/3 relief innings.

Round 18 (527th overall): Tyrelle Chadwick – RHP, Illinois State

He was a workhorse for Illinois State with 77 1/3 innings and a complete game in 14 appearances, including 12 starts and a 4.31 ERA.

Round 19 (557th overall): Easton Marks – RHP, Florida International

Marks struck out 72 in 67 innings for FIU in 2025.

Round 20 (587th overall): Ethan Cole – LHP, Augustana University

In 2025, he started nine of his 13 appearances and posted a 3.68 ERA in 63 2/3 innings, with 66 strikeouts against 22 walks.

Grade: B

The Rockies went all in on selecting college arms that could move quickly to help the big league club. An emphasis on players with strike-throwing capabilities is something of note for a club with the worst strikeout and walk rates in baseball. It will be interesting to see if any of the arms are transitioned more to starting or if the Rockies simply felt the need to stockpile relievers quickly. The hitters also are a stark contrast to their old approach of selecting players with excellent power profiles. The variety of position players points to the team’s realization that they needed more diversity in the offensive profiles, particularly when it comes to making contact. Overall, a solid second day with plenty of players that could turn into surprise steals down the road.