SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The rocketed walk-off home run by Rockies’ No. 11 prospect Zac Veen – 113 mph, 468 Statcast-projected feet of left-on-left lightning off Shane Murphy for a 5-4 victory — went down as the second-most powerful act on Monday afternoon.
After breaking from the celebration near the plate, Veen locked eyes and matched smiles with manager Warren Schaeffer. This winter, Veen went from an unhealthy 200 pounds last year — because of what he acknowledged was a substance abuse problem that caused him to ignore meals — to 240 pounds and noticeable muscle. Schaeffer is a well-muscled workout devotee.
The homer, which came with two outs on a 1-1 cutter, was the longest this Spring Training — Cactus or Grapefruit — 27 feet farther than a shot by the Royals’ Salvador Perez three days ago.
Statcast doesn’t have a measurement for the force of the Veen-Schaeffer embrace.
“Honestly, I just wanted a hit,” said Veen, who underwent an outpatient treatment program, a spiritual awakening and newfound detailed preparation. “I was blessed to get an opportunity to get an at-bat. I just wanted to make the most of it.”
Veen, the ninth overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, debuted last April but went 4-for-34 with a homer and a double and was back at Triple-A Albuquerque before month’s end. He did not return despite a .289 average, .822 OPS and 11 homers in 90 games at Albuquerque.
Veen is up against a beefed-up outfield with more experienced players in competition for the Opening Day roster. But Veen, 24, so far is winning in more important ways — showing professionalism and demonstrating to teammates that he is someone to pull for.
“I couldn’t be more proud of that kid,” Schaeffer said. “Everybody in that dugout is proud of him, what he’s been through. What he looks like now, he’s going about his business on a daily basis.
“I mean, that homer is fantastic. We all love that. But it’s the other stuff that matters more.”
Spring Training traditionally begins with starter types throwing two innings, but the Rockies are starting with one — with Michael Lorenzen and Ryan Feltner throwing the first and second innings, respectively, on Monday.
Lorenzen, however, needed a little more.
Lorenzen threw a scoreless first inning in his first Rockies appearance. He signed a one-year, $8 million contract with a $9 million option for 2027 in January.
Lorenzen, whose diverse pitch mix is an example of what the Rockies seek, said the pitch he didn’t get to was a new split-changeup. As for going one inning, Lorenzen needed a little more — and got it after leaving the game.
“I felt really good in my live [batting practice] four days ago to where my delivery felt in sync, but there was a little wrinkle today to where it felt a little off,” said Lorenzen, who said the schedule will give him enough work before his first regular-season start. “So, trying to reverse-engineer and problem-solve, I was able to go down to the bullpen after one inning and figure it out. That was good.
“I want to feel a little awkward at times and problem-solve now, so when the season comes around and a good team comes around and I feel off, I know what the solution is.”
Feltner welcomed this year’s one-inning beginnings.
“The game is always higher intensity than live BPs, so I like what Alon [Leichman, the pitching coach] has done with the schedule,” said Feltner, who yielded one run — the eventual result of Andrew Benintendi’s leadoff double.
Righty Keegan Thompson, a waiver claim from the Cubs who arrived out of Minor League options, threw strikes on 15 of his 20 pitches and held the Sox to one hit. When the staff met in Denver, word was out that Thompson, who bounced between starting and relieving with the Cubs, was getting good pitch action in offseason throwing.
“His changeup was really good,” Schaeffer said. “He attacked the zone. That’s what we’re looking for out of him.”
“I’LL FIGURE IT OUT”
That’s what Ryan Ritter, who played in the middle infield for all but one of his 60 Major League appearances as a rookie last year, said when the Rockies informed him Sunday that he would start in left field on Monday. Ritter and shortstop Cole Carrigg (No. 3 prospect) came up with strong throws to cut down a possible run at the plate.
“That was Day 1 — he practiced yesterday and today got straight in the game,” Schaeffer said. “He was involved in the assist, a perfect throw right on the money, and made some good plays on balls in the air.”
