Third baseman Kyle Karros provided some strong play at the "hot corner" for the Colorado Rockies last season. Not only that, but his numbers as a hitter were solid. Karros has a golden opportunity to come back next season and deliver a repeat performance.

Karros finished with a slash line of .253/.347/.414 with an OPS of .761. He scored 63 runs, had 104 total hits, and 13 home runs. Sure, the Rockies didn't have an impressive season record for another year. But Karros' style makes him a cornerstone for a long career with Colorado.

Let's take a look at Karros' numbers from Baseball Savant. When reviewing his 2026 MLB Percentile Rankings, Karros finished in the good level of Baserunning Run Value. Looking at the good-to-great levels, he stood out in the batting categories. Those categories included xwOBA, LA Sweet Spot percentage, Squared-Up percentage, Chase percentage, and Walk percentage.

How about his fielding efforts? Karros finished in the good range in the Range (OAA) category. Last season, his play was so strong that he was involved in an on-the-field collision that led to him getting concussed.

He was a fifth-round draft choice (No. 125 overall) by Colorado back in the 2023 MLB Draft out of UCLA.

Most of Karros' home runs were pulled toward the left-field wall, but he also hit a few to straightaway center field and in right-center as well. He's definitely not a straight pull hitter as the Baseball Savant Hits Spray Chart indicates.

At the plate, Karros saw a few more fastballs last season than in 2025, a few less breaking balls, and a tick less off-speed pitches. But he was able to produce while being very selective at the plate for most of last season.

That's a reason to watch Karros become part of a strong nucleus of hitters that Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and manager Warren Schaeffer can put together next season.

Right now, the focus for the front office should be on improving their pitching staff. The hitting will take care of itself. There were times last season that the hitting just could not deliver for the Rockies. Look, though, at how many games starting pitchers gave up too many runs for a comeback night after night to take place.

It is an impossible situation. Karros just did his best to play his role, trying to keep Colorado in games. He's a player who comes out and always appears to be prepared for games. That's a strong quality to have. Also, there were a number of games last season where the Rockies also provided excitement when rallying late from being down.

Karros is positioned to be the man at third base for a long time to come.