Charlie Condon, the Colorado Rockies’ 2024 first-round draft pick, is steadily carving out his path in professional baseball after a challenging start. Selected third overall following a record-breaking collegiate season at the University of Georgia, Condon’s journey from college star to promising minor league prospect is a tale of resilience, adaptation, and steady progress.
At Georgia, Condon was nothing short of spectacular. In 2024, he shattered the BBCOR-era record by hitting 37 home runs, while also leading the NCAA in batting average (.433), slugging percentage (1.009), and OPS (1.565). His impressive offensive numbers earned him the prestigious Dick Howser Trophy as the nation’s top collegiate player and the Golden Spikes Award, which honors the best amateur player across all levels. This remarkable performance made him a clear top prospect and justified the Rockies’ hefty $9.25 million signing bonus investment.
However, the transition to professional baseball proved more difficult than anticipated. Condon’s first season at High-A Spokane in 2024 was marred by struggles at the plate, as he slashed just .180/.248/.270 with one home run, one triple, four doubles, and 11 RBIs. He struck out 34 times in 109 plate appearances, a 31% strikeout rate, and played much of the season with a painful bone spur on his right ring finger. Rockies farm director Chris Forbes described the season as a “roller-coaster ride” for Condon, who had to adjust his grip and adapt to the grueling grind of professional baseball after dominating college competition.
Adding to his challenges, Condon broke his left wrist diving for a catch in the outfield during the first game of 2025 spring training. Fortunately, the fracture was non-displaced, requiring no surgery, but it sidelined him for much of the first half of the season. Reflecting on the injury, Condon told reporters, “When you get hurt in Game 1 of spring training, you kind of have to slow yourself down. I had to be comfortable going through the process to get back on the field. I had to understand I was going to miss a big chunk of the first part of the season. Yeah, that was frustrating for me, but I knew the game would be waiting for me whenever I got back. That was a good lesson, learning to take things in stride.”
After a nine-game rehab stint in the Arizona Complex League, Condon returned to Spokane with renewed energy and a refined approach. In 35 games, he hit .312 with three home runs and six doubles, slashing .312/.431/.420. This resurgence earned him a promotion to Double-A Hartford just last week, where he has continued to impress. In his first three games with the Yard Goats, Condon is 4-for-12 (.333) with five RBIs and three strikeouts. Notably, his first hit at Double-A was an RBI single against Mets left-hander Sean Manaea, who was on a rehab assignment. Condon called it “a little bit of a welcome moment” and said it felt like “playing the same game you’ve played your whole life.”
On July 4, 2025, Condon delivered a standout performance, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs in Hartford’s 4-1 victory over Binghamton. His success at Double-A, one of the most challenging leagues in minor league baseball, underscores his steady development and growing comfort at higher levels of competition. “It feels a step closer to the big leagues, for sure,” Condon said.
Condon’s versatility has also been a key asset. While primarily an outfielder at Georgia, he also played significant time at third base and first base. Since joining the Rockies organization, he has split time between first base and left field, gradually becoming more comfortable at first base. Chris Forbes noted, “He really does seem natural at first base. He’s a massive target. He’s got a little technique stuff to work on as he gets back into playing.” This defensive flexibility adds to Condon’s value as he continues to refine his game.
Condon’s offensive approach has evolved as well. He recognizes the stark difference between college and professional pitching. “In college ball, you’re going to have a lot of opportunities to have success, you’re going to get a lot of pitches to hit. So I think that’s been the biggest adjustment from the offensive side — doing damage on the mistakes you do get, because there aren’t as many of them. I’ve been trying to be really good about not chasing pitches out of the zone. I think you have to earn your opportunities to succeed a lot more than in college.”
His patient approach is already paying dividends, as evidenced by his improved on-base percentage and slugging since his return from injury. Rockies player development director Chris Forbes praised Condon’s power potential, noting, “He was still showing that he’s got it, the power. His home runs were going to center. And you want to see that.”
While Condon’s rise is promising, the Rockies face a broader question about first base depth and power hitting within their farm system. Current major leaguer Michael Toglia, who was a solid power source last season with 25 home runs and 55 RBIs, has struggled with a career slash line of .205/.280/.395 over 261 games. This makes finding a potential upgrade at first base a priority for the organization.
Looking through the Rockies’ minor league system, several candidates emerge but with varying degrees of readiness and potential. Keston Hiura, the everyday first baseman for Triple-A Albuquerque, has posted a respectable .250/.373/.480 slash line with 11 home runs and 38 RBIs in 56 games during the 2025 season. Hiura, 28, has MLB experience with the Rockies and the Brewers, but currently serves as functional depth after being designated for assignment earlier this year.
In Double-A Hartford, Zach Kokoska and Jose Cordova offer some positional versatility but differ in offensive profiles. Kokoska, an outfielder, has slashed .186/.276/.390 with eight home runs and 28 RBIs in 53 games, showing a higher power ceiling. Cordova, a catcher, boasts a .289/.422/.436 slash line with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 49 games, highlighting his on-base skills and contact ability.
Lower in the system, Aidan Longwell of High-A Spokane has been a revelation, earning Northwest League Player of the Month honors for June 2025. He led the league in batting average (.375), doubles (11), and RBIs (24), while ranking second in slugging (.636), OPS (1.065), and total bases (56). The 23-year-old has slashed .301/.363/.527 with 11 home runs and 57 RBIs this season, showing consistent hitting that could translate well as he advances.
Class-A Fresno’s Kevin Fitzer has put together a solid campaign with a .260/.348/.372 slash line, three home runs, and 32 RBIs in 67 games, though he remains further from first base contention.
Amid these prospects, Charlie Condon stands out as the wildcard. His NCAA record for home runs in a season and recent promotion to Double-A Hartford signal significant power potential. In 72 minor league games, he has slashed .260/.357/.359 with four home runs and 32 RBIs. If he can harness his power and continue to adjust to professional pitching, Condon could supplant current first base options and become a cornerstone for the Rockies’ future lineup.
For now, Condon’s story is one of patience and perseverance. From a tough rookie season to a wrist injury setback and now a promising start at Double-A, he embodies the developmental journey many top prospects face. As the 2025 season progresses, all eyes will be on Condon to see if he can fulfill the lofty expectations set by his collegiate dominance and the Rockies’ faith in his potential.
