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Ranking the Rockies, 2026: No. 45, Sterlin Thompson

Sterlin Thompson’s 2026 season was a tale of promise and frustration, as the Colorado Rockies’ 2022 first-round pick (31st overall) failed to sustain his early-year success at the MLB level. After three seasons of steady minor-league progress, Thompson spent 2025 entirely at Triple-A Albuquerque, where he posted a strong 118 wRC+ but remained on the outside looking in due to defensive concerns.

His 2026 campaign began with a blistering start at Triple-A, slashing .344/.491/.496 through 38 games by mid-May, with four home runs and eight stolen bases while improving his walk rate to 18%—a dramatic leap from the 10% mark of the previous year. The Rockies, led by front-office executive Paul DePodesta, took notice and promoted Thompson to the majors on May 15, where he made his debut as a pinch-hitter against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

However, his brief stint in Denver lasted just four days before he was optioned back to Albuquerque upon Tyler Freeman’s return from the paternity list, marking the end of Thompson’s first—and so far only—MLB appearance of the season.

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