Rockies calling up former first-round pick Veen (sources)

DENVER -- The Rockies informed No. 8 prospect Zac Veen on Sunday that he is being called to the Majors from Triple-A Albuquerque, according to Major League sources.

The Rockies have not confirmed the move. Outfielder Jordan Beck was optioned to Albuquerque on Monday, and the team said a corresponding move would be announced Tuesday.

Veen, a 23-year-old outfielder, could potentially make his Major League debut Tuesday night at Coors Field against the Brewers.

The move comes a day after Veen -- the team’s top Draft choice in 2020 out of Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, Fla. -- went 5-for-5 with a home run, two doubles and four RBIs in Albuquerque’s 14-3 home victory over Salt Lake on Saturday night. He went 0-for-4 with a walk and a run scored in Sunday’s 9-8 loss to Salt Lake, and leaves the Isotopes having gone 12-for-31 (.387) with a 1.149 OPS.

The move means Beck, who turns 24 on April 19 and was selected in the first round (38th overall) out of the University of Tennessee in 2022, will try to regain his swing after a 3-for-20 (.150) start to the season. Beck struggled for much of Spring Training but grabbed the roster spot after showing power toward the end.

If in the lineup on Tuesday, Veen will make it two straight games that the Rockies (2-7) have given an anticipated prospect his first Major League action. On Sunday, the Rockies’ No. 1 prospect and No. 24 prospect overall, right-hander Chase Dollander, started and earned the victory in a 12-5 victory over the Athletics.

Veen competed for an Opening Day roster spot until the end of Spring Training. He played 28 games, led the team with 11 RBIs and nine stolen bases in 10 attempts and demonstrated the threat to bunt for a hit. He knocked two home runs, four doubles and a triple. But key plate appearances gone wrong and risks that backfired in the outfield had the Rockies believing time in Triple-A was in order.

The challenge is reaching the end of a competition, being judged having fallen short, then accepting the next challenge. Injuries to his left hand in 2023 and right thumb in 2024 limited Veen to 111 games over the two seasons, so the initial thought was to give him greater game experience.

Multiple Rockies officials said Sunday morning that they were happy with Veen’s effort level to clean up his total game. The callup was not decided upon until after that afternoon’s game.

After being sent down, Veen was tested immediately in Albuquerque’s opener at Sacramento -- an 8-0 loss -- and he responded.

“In the first game, there were some hiccups with the whole outfield and they discussed it the next day,” said Rockies first base coach Ron Gideon, who receives game reports from the Isotopes staff. “The next game, everybody had multiple plays. Veen probably had about four -- gaps coming in, charging, throws, all of it, and he did them all fine.

“You’ve got to have a routine, and it’s going to change every day," Gideon continued. "There are challenges, and how he adjusts to them is the key. Now he’s doing it, and that’s good.”