Rockies Outright Keegan Thompson to Triple-A, Make Room for Cole Carrigg

The Colorado Rockies have officially outrighted right-handed pitcher Keegan Thompson to Triple-A Albuquerque, according to the MLB.com transaction log. The move came after Thompson was designated for assignment on Monday to make room for outfield prospect Cole Carrigg on the 40-man roster. Thompson failed to clear waivers and will now return to the Isotopes.

This marks the second time this season the Rockies have moved Thompson through waivers. Thompson was originally designated for assignment at the end of Spring Training after failing to make the Opening Day roster. The Rockies later reacquired him in late May when Victor Vodnik was placed on the injured list, giving Thompson another brief MLB opportunity.

Thompson appeared in five games for Colorado from June 13 to June 29, logging 12 innings of relief work. During that span, he allowed 11 earned runs and 19 hits while walking just two batters and striking out 11. The 31-year-old also recorded three wild pitches, which contributed to his 4.50 ERA in the majors.

Despite the rough numbers, Thompson had a 11:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio, showing moments of control and command. His performance followed a 32 1/3 inning stint in Triple-A this season where he posted a 3.34 ERA but struggled with strikeouts, registering a mere 13.6% rate.

Thompson is out of minor league options and must clear waivers to be sent down. He was originally acquired by the Rockies from the Chicago Cubs in the 2023 Rule 5 Draft. Thompson spent the 2023 season in the Cubs’ system, working primarily in relief.

The Rockies are now free to add Cole Carrigg to the 40-man roster, a move that signals their intent to give the 22-year-old outfielder a chance to contribute at the MLB level. Carrigg, ranked in the Rockies’ top 10 prospects by MLB Pipeline, has hit .289 with a .359 on-base percentage in three minor league levels this season.

Thompson is under contract for the remainder of the season. He earns $350,000 while in the minors and is paid at a prorated rate of $1.3 million if on the big league roster. He is expected to remain with the Rockies organization, as he would lose part of his guaranteed money by pursuing a minor league deal elsewhere.

The Rockies will continue to monitor Thompson’s progress in Triple-A while focusing on their current roster, with Carrigg likely in the mix for a September call-up. The team has until October 1 to make final 40-man roster decisions for the 2025 season.