Zac

Veen

Among the most intriguing fantasy prospects added to 40-man rosters ahead of next month’s Rule 5 Draft, Veen caught fire in the late stages of last season, putting himself on the precipice of finally reaching the big leagues. The 22-year-old outfielder, who was selected ninth overall in the 2020 MLB Draft, batted .258/.346/.459 with 11 homers and 21 steals in 270 plate appearances last season across four minor-league levels. Veen’s power/speed combo at Coors Field is a recipe for five-category fantasy success, if everything comes together.

Veen, who was selected ninth overall in the 2020 MLB Draft, has gone deep four times in 12 games since being promoted back in late August to Triple-A Albuquerque. The 22-year-old speedster offers some five-category appeal for fantasy managers once he reaches the majors. It wouldn’t be shocking if he got a late-season cameo with the Rockies.

Veen has missed time this season due to shoulder and thumb injuries, but he’s finally healthy again and finds himself on the doorstep of the big leagues heading into the final monht of the year. The 22-year-old speedster has posted a solid .816 OPS with five homers and 10 steals in 36 games this season for Double-A Hartford. He’s far from a sure thing, but we’re expecting plenty of doubles and stolen bases, if he gets a shot with the Rockies down the road.

Veen has been limited to 44 games this season by the thumb and an earlier back injury. He played in only 46 games last year due to ligament damage in his left wrist. With better health, the ninth overall pick from the 2020 draft would likely be a major leaguer by now. As is, he hasn’t even reached Triple-A yet.

Amador blossomed last year into one of the top prospects in the entire fantasy landscape from a dynasty standpoint as his contact skills put him on the potential fast track to the majors as he enters his age-21 season. Fernandez, Veen and Thompson also have a great deal of fantasy potential, if they ascend to the big leagues in Colorado down the line.

It was Veen’s first game action since undergoing season-ending left hand surgery back on June 22. The soon-to-be 22-year-old outfielder — MLB Pipeline’s 92nd-ranked prospect — possesses game-changing speed and stolen base prowess, but was limited to just 46 games this past season for Double-A Hartford due to injury. He’ll make up for lost development time this winter before heading to spring training. There’s a decent shot he makes it to the big leagues at some point during the 2024 campaign.

Veen landed on the injured list last month with left wrist inflammation and wound up requiring a procedure a few weeks later to address ligament damage in his hand. He’s expected to be sidelined from baseball activities until December. The 21-year-old top prospect wound up playing just 46 games this year for Double-A Hartford and the lost development time pushes his likely arrival back into the later stages of the 2024 campaign.

The Rockies don’t believe the injury to be serious, but they’ll be sure to take every possible precaution and give him the time he needs to recover. The 21-year-old has hit just .160/.276/.260 with one homer, two RBI and six stolen bases in his first 13 games at Double-A Hartford this season.

Veen is universally-regarded as a top-50 overall prospect in baseball and flashed his game-changing speed this spring in the Cactus League, tallying eight stolen bases in just 20 contests. The 21-year-old top prospect figures to open the 2023 campaign at Double-A Hartford and could make his big league debut sometime later this year. He possesses stratospheric stolen base upside and figures to make an impact for fantasy managers in the near future.

Veen smacked an RBI single off of George Kirby in the second inning to extend the Rockies’ lead to 3-0. He then swiped second base and came around to score on Brian Serven’s RBI single. Veen then reached on an error with one out in the fourth inning, immediately swiped second and third base quite easily, then dashed home on a single by Brenton Doyle. The 21-year-old phenom has certainly opened some eyes down in Arizona this spring -- hitting .353 (6-for-17) with five runs scored, one homer, four RBI and a league-leading seven stolen bases. He’s still unlikely to suddenly crack the Opening Day roster, but Veen is proving that he’s not far away from debuting in Colorado.