Kyle Freeland’s path to the purple pinstripes was a genuine "full-circle" moment for the franchise. Born in Denver just weeks after the Rockies played their inaugural game, he was famously selected by his hometown club as the 8th overall pick in the 2014 Amateur Draft out of the University of Evansville. This wasn't his first brush with the draft; the Philadelphia Phillies had previously taken a flyer on him in the 35th round in 2011, but he opted to attend college to refine his craft. That decision paid dividends when he returned to Colorado with a polished, high-velocity repertoire, surfacing in 2017 and maturing instantly to finish seventh in the Rookie of the Year race.

The true breakthrough arrived during a historic second act that etched his name into the annals of the sport. He reached a breathtaking crescendo in 2018, authoring a campaign that remains the gold standard for Colorado pitching. That summer, he posted a 17-7 record with a franchise-record 2.85 ERA, a feat made even more incredible by his 2.40 ERA at home—the lowest in Coors Field history. He was a model of specialized composure, finishing fourth in the National League Cy Young voting and leading the club to a historic Wild Card victory over the Cubs with 6.2 shutout innings at Wrigley Field.

The most challenging aspect of his journey has been the search for that lost magic in the years that followed. Freeland has been a master of resilience, battling back from a 2019 season in which his ERA ballooned and led to a temporary demotion to the minors. Nevertheless, he remains a high-frequency workhorse who recently eclipsed 1,200 career innings, continuing to take the ball every fifth day as the emotional heartbeat of the clubhouse.

With the Rockies, Freeland has compiled 65 wins, 944 strikeouts, and over 1,260 innings pitched across 236 games.

German Márquez established himself as a frontline starter in 2017, but it was his second season that he reached his peak. That season remains a pillar of club history; he captured a Silver Slugger and finished sixth in bWAR for pitchers, proving that his high-velocity fastball could neutralize any lineup regardless of altitude. He was a model of specialized athleticism, a high-frequency winner who seemed destined to rewrite every pitching record in the Mountain West. His craftsmanship was punctuated by a 2021 All-Star nod, a moment that served as the high-water mark for his tenure in the purple pinstripes.

The latter half of his journey, however, was defined by a frustrating search for that lost magic. Márquez possessed a specialized "bulldog" mentality, but the physical demands of pitching in thin air, coupled with a major elbow injury that sidelined him, began to erode his statistical dominance. His final seasons in Colorado were a grueling grind; his once-elite efficiency wavered, and his ERA climbed as he struggled to maintain his rhythm between stints on the IL.

Following the 2025 Season, Marquez signed with the San Diego Padres as a Free Agent.  With the Rockies, Márquez compiled 65 wins and a franchise-record 983 strikeouts.

Drafted in 2011, Trevor Story navigated a patient maturation process in the minors, waiting for the path to clear at the Major League level. When the opportunity finally arrived in 2016, he didn’t just take the job; he exploded onto the scene, proving he was more than ready for the high-leverage environment of Coors Field. While his first two seasons showed flashes of brilliance, his 2018 breakout campaign established him as a statistical titan. That year, he earned his first All-Star nod and a Silver Slugger, blasting 37 home runs and driving in 108 runs while seeing his average climb to a sophisticated .291.

The peak of his career was marked by a rare, five-tool efficiency that made him a perennial threat in the National League MVP race. Story repeated his All-Star and Silver Slugger honors in 2019, once again eclipsing the 30-homer mark and batting over .290. He wasn't just a slugger, though; he was an outlier on the basepaths, leading the National League in stolen bases and triples during the shortened 2020 season. Even with a high-volume strikeout rate that became a trademark of his aggressive approach, his overall impact was undeniable, as evidenced by an .863 OPS during his tenure in purple pinstripes.

Defensively, Story was a revelation, providing a level of run prevention that rivaled the game's elite. He possessed a vacuum for a glove and a cannon for an arm, finishing in the top ten in defensive bWAR five different times as a member of the Rockies. He arrived as a prospect with high expectations and evolved into a tactical anchor for the infield, shrinking the diamond with his range and instincts. Whether he was launching a moonshot into the bleachers or taking away a certain base hit in the hole, he was the primary engine of the Colorado defense for six seasons.

His identity was synonymous with a new era of Rockies baseball, characterized by a relentless power-speed profile. He amassed 158 home runs and 450 RBIs during his stay in Denver, proving that he could sustain elite production over a significant volume of games. He concluded his journey with the club following the 2021 season, leaving behind a legacy of highlight-reel plays and high-leverage moments that solidified his place as one of the most talented all-around players to ever call the Mile High City home.

Matt Stajan had a nice 15-year career in the National Hockey League, which was split between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Calgary Flames.  He would have two 50 Point plus seasons, and was a good second or third line Center who could be used on both the power play and penalty kill.