Zac Veen returns to Triple-A, aims for big-league debut

Zac Veen is waiting at Tampa International Airport to return to the minors. He is set to play for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes in their season opener this Friday. Many fans believed he deserved a spot on the Rockies' roster after a strong spring training, but the team did not select him for the big leagues. At 23 years old, Veen was the ninth overall pick in the 2020 draft. He performed well this spring, but the Rockies felt he still needs to improve in several areas, including making contact with major league pitchers. Last season, injuries kept him limited to 65 games. The team wants him to develop more as a player before he returns to the majors. The Rockies recently traded left fielder Nolan Jones, which some thought would open a spot for Veen. However, the team went with other players for their opening day roster instead. Veen hit .270 this spring, with two home runs and nine stolen bases, but he also struck out 21 times in 63 at-bats. General Manager Bill Schmidt noted that Veen did show improvement but still needs to work on his consistency. He needs to perform better against top-tier pitchers, as many of his hits came against lesser competition. Despite not making the team, Veen was included in the Rockies' last exhibition game. This experience was meant to help him get used to the big league atmosphere. Veen remains hopeful about being called up in the near future and feels motivated after experiencing the locker room with the team.