Kyle Karros made his major league debut this season for the Colorado Rockies. The 6’5″ third baseman was drafted out of UCLA in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Trading long-time third baseman Ryan McMahon to the New York Yankees at the trade deadline created an opening at third late in the season. With Karros playing very well in the minors, it was perfect timing. Now that the Rockies are in a full-fledged rebuild, what will Karros’ role look like on the club going forward?
Kyle Karros’ Offense Yet To Arrive
Karros did not wait long to get going offensively after his debut on August 8. In a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks from August 8-10, he went 4-11 with two extra-base hits and three RBI. But MLB pitching caught up quickly. Karros recorded just three more RBI the remainder of August. He was largely ineffective in September as well. In 67 September at-bats, Karros hit just .209/.299/.224 with a well-below average .523 OPS.
Throughout his minor league career, Karros was never a power hitter. But he did show great plate discipline and was adept at drawing walks, a trait the Rockies’ lineup has sorely lacked. His impressive walk rate carried over to the majors. Per Statcast, he had an excellent 9.6% BB rate and 23.7% chase rate. Karros does have to work on his 26.3% K rate, but that is to be expected at this early stage of his career. The right-handed hitter also saw reverse splits this season and did not hit well at home.
In 31 at-bats vs left-handed pitchers, Karros hit a measly .129 with just a .399 OPS in 31 at-bats, compared to a .255 batting average with a .638 OPS in 106 at-bats vs right-handed pitchers. In 58 home games, Karros hit just .207 with five RBI and one home run over 58 at-bats. But in 79 at-bats on the road, Karros hit .241 with four home runs and 0 RBI. The Rockies will certainly take any hitting they can get on the road, although in Karros’ case, it did not result in production.
But Karros’ splits do outline the challenges young hitters face when playing for the Rockies. The difficulty the high altitude creates for seeing pitches at home versus on the road has always been a major hurdle for Rockies offenses. In turn, it can make for volatile year-to-year changes when it comes to young hitters’ performances. Regardless, improving upon his numbers at Coors Field next season should be the first step for Karros as he looks to be more consistent offensively.
Kyle Karros, son of Eric Karros, hits his first career home run against his dad’s former team
pic.twitter.com/2E9WbAZxnq
— MLB (@MLB) August 20, 2025
Carrying the Mantle at Third
Karros has quite the standard to live up to defensively, following 17 combined years of stellar play at the position from Nolan Arenado and McMahon. Karros has always been an outstanding defender at the position, winning a minor league Gold Glove award in 2024. Not having to worry about the hot corner defensively has been a luxury for the Rockies. For a team that has struggled mightily defensively of late, Karros holding the position down would be a big win for Colorado.
He is already off to a great start in that effort. In 42 games this season, Karros posted a .981 fielding percentage with an impressive three defensive runs saved above average. Per Statcast, he was also a stellar four outs above average and carried a three fielding run value. It is not surprising to see Karros’ glove ahead of his bat, considering his defensive success in the minors.
But he will look to follow a similar trajectory to teammates Brenton Doyle and Ezequiel Tovar. Both players won Gold Gloves in 2024. Like Karros, they flashed the leather right away but did not produce offensively in their rookie seasons. However, both saw much-improved results on offense in their sophomore seasons. If Karros can do the same, it could go a long way toward cementing his place at the position.
Opportunity in Front of Kyle Karros
Currently, Karros is the only listed third baseman on the Rockies’ roster. Warming Bernabel saw time at third base in the minors but was primarily at first base this season with the Rockies. There is only one designated third baseman in the Rockies’ top 30 in Ethan Hedges. Hedges comes in at 16th but is not projected to reach the Majors until 2028. This year’s top draft pick by the Rockies, Ethan Holliday, is projected by MLB Pipeline to play at third when he makes his much-anticipated debut. But the 18-year-old is not projected to reach the majors until 2029.
That gives Karros plenty of runway to establish himself at the position. At 23 years old, he is likely done with the minors. That is, barring offensive struggles next season that force the Rockies’ hand. But with few internal options outside of Karros, that would be a worst-case scenario for the Rockies. It would not be surprising to see the Rockies add a veteran this offseason to provide depth. But Karros should have everything in front of him at the position. Any time a veteran spends over Karros would be counterproductive for the Rockies. Kyle Karros is a part of the youth movement for the Rockies. He needs as many reps as he can get for the rebuilding club as a new era at the position in Colorado begins.
Main Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
The post Examining Kyle Karros’ Role in Colorado Moving Forward appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.