The Colorado Rockies are hitting the reset button on their pitching infrastructure. The club recently announced a sweeping reorganization of both their major league and organizational pitching staff ahead of the 2026 season. The shakeup follows a disastrous 2025 campaign and comes under the new leadership of Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes–signaling a clear intention to rebuild and modernize.
These moves bring a fresh wave of analytically oriented coaches and developers to the organization. On the major-league side, the club hired Alon Leichman as the new pitching coach, supported by Gabe Ribas (assistant pitching coach), Matt Buschmann (bullpen coach), and Matt Daniels (director of pitching).
“The four guys who have been brought in are game-changers,” Colorado Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “They get players better. They have a good feel for the game. They know the tech. They know the analytics. They know how to give guys new arsenals. They know how to deal with pitch shapes. It’s just the whole gamut.”
What Prompted the Overhaul
The shakeup couldn’t have come at a more pivotal moment. The Rockies limped through 2025, finishing with a historically poor record and systemic failures on the mound. With mounting injuries, inconsistent performances, and a lack of pitching depth, the old structure simply didn’t hold up. Under new front-office leadership, management decided a complete retool was necessary.
Part of the motivation is philosophical: the organization is shifting toward a data-driven, modern approach to pitching development. That means embracing analytics, advanced training methods, and a broader organizational strategy. Not just focusing on instant wins, but building a sustainable trajectory for success. The new hires reflect that vision.
Who’s In – The New Pitching Braintrust
Major League Staff
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Alon Leichman, Pitching Coach – Leichman, 36, joins the Rockies after stints with other major league clubs (Dodgers, Mariners, Reds, Marlins), bringing a global and modern edge to the role. His experience includes working in international baseball and in advanced development roles.
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Gabe Ribas, Assistant Pitching Coach – Coming from the Detroit Tigers organization (where he served as director of pitching), Ribas, 45, brings experience in both pro and college-level pitching development–a useful perspective for a staff aiming to rebuild from the ground up. He also pitched four seasons in the Padres‘ minor league system (2002-2005).
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Matt Buschmann, Bullpen Coach – Buschmann, 41, has a background with multiple organizations (Blue Jays, Cubs, Diamondbacks) and a history in minor-league development. His role will be especially important given the Rockies’ bullpen instability in recent seasons.
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Matt Daniels, Director of Pitching – Daniels, 34, is perhaps the clearest signal of the Rockies’ new direction: a dedicated “director of pitching” whose job is to oversee pitching across the entire organization, align development plans, and leverage analytics and modern training philosophies. He has experience with the San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins, as well as being the first full-time employee at Driveline Baseball.
Organizational/Minor League Infrastructure
The changes aren’t limited to the big-league club. The Rockies also parted ways with several long-time coaches, including former pitching coordinator Doug Linton and pitching strategies coordinator Flint Wallace. These moves signal a retool at every level of the system.
The throw-out of the old guard and installation of a unified development structure suggests Colorado is trying to build consistency from the ground up, possibly identifying and nurturing pitching talent before they reach the major leagues.
Rockies Add More Arms: Rule 5 Draft Pick from Detroit
The organizational shifts by the Rockies aren’t confined to coaches and front-office hires. The offseason shake-up also saw Colorado actively reinforcing its pitching pool via the Rule 5 Draft. With the first overall pick of the 2025 Draft, the Rockies selected right-hander R.J. Petit from Detroit.
Petit, a 6-foot-8 reliever drafted by the Tigers in the 2021 amateur draft, stood out in 2025 across Double-A and Triple-A, combining a sharp ERA and strong strikeout numbers over 66 1/3 innings. By leaving him off their 40-man roster, Detroit exposed Petit to selection, and Colorado pounced.
This move adds tangible depth to the Rockies’ pitching inventory, offering a potential bullpen weapon or a developmental arm for the long haul. Given Colorado’s recent commitment to revamping its coaching, analytics, and development infrastructure, Petit’s arrival fits neatly into a broader plan: build pitching depth not only via coaching changes, but also by acquiring young talent with upside.
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