Following the Colorado Rockies’ 9-3 win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday, the Colorado Rockies announced they have fired manager Bud Black and bench coach Mike Redmond and named third base coach Warren Schaefer as the new manager. Additionally, Clint Hurdle will be named the interim bench coach.

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— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) May 11, 2025

After a 7-33 start to the season, it felt like it was time for a change for the Rockies. The team has put up historically bad performances, including a brutal 21-0 loss to the Padres on Saturday night and is well on it’s way to a seventh consecutive losing season and third straight 100-loss season.

Black was hired as the manager by former general manager Jeff Bridich starting in 2017. After a long time as the manager of the Padres, Black was brought in with the hope that he could be the pitching whisperer for a squad primed for contention. Black found success in that first season and the young group of rookie pitchers, including current starters German Marquez, Kyle Freeland, and Antonio Senzatela, helped lead them to a Wild Card appearance for the first time since 2009.

The following season, the Rockies took the Los Angeles Dodgers to a division tiebreaker for Game 163, and went on to win a Wild Card matchup against the Chicago Cubs as part of a 91-win season.

However, since that season, the Rockies have regressed year after year as talent departed and the new additions didn’t perform. The Rockies lost 100 games for the first time in 2023 and again in 2024.

Throughout the mess and string of losses, the Rockies’ ownership remained adamant about keeping Black at the helm. They cited his professionalism and leadership and reiterated that he was the man for the job. Black had been signed to a string of one-year contracts for the last few seasons, with the most recent signed following the 2024 season. As recently as Saturday, general manager Bill Schmidt had reiterated that Black’s job wasn’t in danger and that they believe in him.

24 hours later, he was out of a job.

Black, well-liked throughout baseball, was not the right man for the Rockies at this point in time. With a roster full of rookies and inexperienced players, he showed a tendency to rely more on veterans when he had them, despite when those veterans were used. There was some obvious dysfunction with the roster and the clubhouse and while that isn’t entirely on the manager, who isn’t responsible for the roster, they are typically the ones to fall on the sword when the time comes.

“Our play so far this season, especially coming off the last two seasons, has been unacceptable.” said Rockies Owner, Chairman, and CEO Dick Monfort. “Our fans deserve better, and we are capable of better. While we all share responsibility in how this season has played out, these changes are necessary. We will use the remainder of 2025 to improve where we can on the field and to evaluate all areas of our operation so we can properly turn the page into the next chapter of Rockies Baseball. I want to thank Bud Black and Mike Redmond for their contributions to the organization across their eight years here. I appreciate their hard work and dedication and wish them nothing but the best going forward.”

Black finishes his time in Colorado as the winningest and longest tenured manager in franchise history, going 544-690 (.441).

Schaeffer takes over as manager, having been with the organization in various coaching capacities since 2015 after playing in the organization for six seasons after being drafted in 2007. He most recently was the manager of the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes before being promoted to third base coach starting in 2023.

“I believe that Warren is the right person to lead us forward for the remainder of this season, develop our young talent at the Major League level and get our club back to playing a better brand of baseball,” said Schmidt. “He has a great ability to connect with both veterans and young players and is an excellent communicator.

“Clint will remain focused on helping our players offensively and will continue to assist Warren and our players as an experienced voice within our clubhouse.”

Hurdle, previously the hitting coach, moves to his second new role this season as the bench coach after replacing Hensley Meulens as the hitting coach in April.

UPDATE

The Rockies are promoting Triple-A hitting coach Jordan Pacheco and organization hitting coordinator Nick Wilson to be the hitting coaches. Andy Gonzalez will be moved from hitting coach to third base.