With Ryan McMahon a trade candidate, Kyle Karros’ emergence gives Rockies another option at third base

With one swing, Kyle Karros started truly believing in his big-league dream.

After Karros slipped to the fifth round of the 2023 MLB draft because of an ankle injury his junior season at UCLA, the third baseman was considered a middling Rockies prospect with an uncertain path to the majors.

But in his first full minor league season in 2024, Karros jump-started a breakout campaign with a walk-off homer for High-A Spokane. That moment paved the way to Northwest League MVP honors, a minor-league Gold Glove Award and a spot on the league’s postseason all-star team.

“I wasn’t a high pick, so there’s obviously always a little bit of self-doubt, but once that (walk-off) happened, a weight lifted off my shoulders,” Karros said. “It was like, ‘Alright, I belong here. I’m one of the best players in this league.’

“I started believing I was a big part of that team, a big part of this organization. I carried that with me, showing up every day and putting in the work. I wasn’t just a fifth-round pick anymore.”

The momentum from that day has carried over to this season as well, with Karros now one step from the majors as trade deadline rumors swirl around Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon.

The 23-year-old Karros started in Double-A Hartford this spring, hitting for a high average (.294) and posting a .399 on-base percentage over 55 games. That earned him a promotion to Triple-A Albuquerque on July 18.

Should the Rockies trade McMahon ahead of the July 31 deadline, that could open the door for Karros’ eventual MLB debut. Colorado’s other options at the position are veteran Owen Miller, 2019 second-rounder Aaron Schunk and the yet-to-debut Warming Bernabel.

While Schunk remains steady in Triple-A and Bernabel’s bat is intriguing, Karros’ play over the last two summers moved him up levels and prospect boards. In MLB Pipeline’s Rockies prospect rankings, he ascended from unranked in ’23, to No. 29 in ’24, to No. 7 this year as the club’s highest-ranked third base prospect. He’s the No. 9 third base prospect in all of baseball.

“It doesn’t matter what is going on at any other levels, at my position — if I take care of myself, everything is going to unfold as it should,” Karros said. “That’s been a challenge for me this year is staying present … especially with all the (trade deadline) drama going on, but that’s where my head’s at.”

In Albuquerque, Karros is playing for the same minor-league franchise that his dad, Eric, once did in 1991 when the Isotopes were the Dodgers’ Triple-A team then known as the Dukes.

Eric hit .316 with 22 homers in 132 games for Albuquerque that season — a prelude to him winning the ’92 National League Rookie of the Year and a 14-season big-league career. That career ended with 284 career homers, 270 of which were with the Dodgers.

Though Kyle doesn’t have the power his dad did — the former’s only hit 19 homers in his minor-league career — Eric believes his youngest son has the potential to add more pop to his high-average approach.

“Kyle is stoic on the field, and I think I was very similar in that,” said Eric, now a Dodgers broadcaster. “But he’s a way better fielder than I ever was, and hitting-wise, he’s better than I was at this stage of his career.”

Kyle joked that “I’ve fired my dad probably about 10 times as my hitting coach,” but he still leans on Eric as a guide for his career.

“We’ll talk about hitting every once in a while, but at this point our relationship is way more about him being a normal dad, and helping me walk through this life rather than helping me build a hitting approach,” Kyle said.

For the past two offseasons, Kyle has lived in a beach house with his older brother Jared (pitcher in Dodgers organization), his high school teammate Chase Meidroth (middle infielder for the White Sox) and former UCLA teammate Jake Brooks (pitcher in the Marlins organization). The quartet plans on living together again in a Southern California house this offseason.

“It’s my brother and my best friends and me, going to work every day,” Kyle said. “We’re enjoying ourselves, but to have a crew to go through every offseason with is really special. We lift, throw, hit. We have a good program going and the consistency of that group has helped me a lot.”

Kyle, of course, makes time to hit the waves, too. And the same traits that have made him successful in pro ball are reflected out on the water.

“He’s a surfer just like he is as a baseball player — he goes for it,” said Keith Ramsey, Kyle’s coach from 10 years old through high school. “Waves can be big, and he’ll be out there in 58-degree water (with no body suit), and he’s a very unique soul. He has no fear of failure, just like he does when he steps into the box.

“When he’s not going good, he’s not convinced he’s not going good. He’s convinced that success is the next at-bat, the next grounder in the field. It’s an amazing quality he has, and one I think has taken from falling to the fifth round to putting him on the doorstep of the majors.”

Rockies’ third base outlook

The Rockies third base situation could soon be in flux if Colorado elects to trade Ryan McMahon, who has two years and $32 million left on his contract. A look at McMahon’s situation, as well as that of Schunk and Karros. Colorado’s other hot-corner options include the yet-to-debut Warming Bernabel (.302 average in 74 Triple-A games) as well as veteran utilityman Owen Miller. 

Ryan McMahon

Stats: .219 average, 315 on-base percentage, 16 homers, 35 RBIs, 125 strikeouts in 99 games

Analysis: McMahon’s been streaky this season, including a couple of career-worst offensive droughts. But he continues to play a strong third base, and could interest teams in contention with a need at the position.

Quotable: “I’m keeping my head down (amid the trade chatter). … Wherever I am, I’ll play as hard as I can. I would love to be here and I would love to win here, but if the organization decides to go in a different direction, it’s out of my hands.”

Aaron Schunk

Stats: .270 average, .306 on-base percentage, 8 homers, 37 RBIs, 40 strikeouts in 53 games in Triple-A; .214 average in 11 MLB games

Analysis: Schunk continues to put up solid numbers in Albuquerque after getting cups of coffee in the big leagues each of the last two years. His defensive versatility is also a plus, as he plays middle infield in addition to third.

Quotable: “It’s hard in the moment if you’re worried about this or that (with a promotion), or you’re trying to play GM in your head — you can send yourself into a bad spot doing that. It’s about continuing to stack good days where your feet are, and if you keep treating the game the right way and playing the game the right way, hopefully it pays you back.”

Kyle Karros

Stats: .294 average, .399 on-base percentage, 4 homers, 21 RBIs, 45 strikeouts in 55 games in Double-A; .133 average in 4 Triple-A games

Analysis: The bat-to-ball skills are there, and so far, his power is more gap-to-gap than over the wall. At 6-foot-5, Karros has the athleticism, arm and instincts to play third base at an elite level. Now, he has to prove himself in Triple-A.

Quotable: “A lot of what I learned in my first (full) year of pro ball, I’m putting to use this year. I’ve really bought into the mental side of baseball, which goes a long way. I’m in a good frame of mind in the box, and I enjoy showing up to the park every day.”

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