DENVER — At just 12 years old, Zac Veen would ride his bicycle for five miles to Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, Florida, to get a chance to practice alongside the varsity baseball team.
Spruce Creek’s coach, Johnny Goodrich, warmly accepted Veen into the fold, allowing him to become a regular fixture at their practice sessions.
“I just kind of started showing up, and Goodrich brought me in without any hesitation,” recalled the 23-year-old Veen.
Fast forward a decade, and Veen is set to make his major league debut with the Colorado Rockies. He’s taking the field against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night, playing right field and hitting seventh in the lineup. The organization’s top hitting prospect, Veen expressed a mix of emotions leading up to the game: “This feels very surreal right now and very normal at the same time,” he shared three hours before first pitch.
Veen was chosen by Colorado as the ninth overall pick in the 2020 amateur draft, a selection that came with a $5 million signing bonus. His journey to the majors, however, faced hurdles along the way due to injuries over the past two seasons. In 2023, Veen underwent season-ending wrist surgery, and the previous year saw him struggle with a lower back strain and a thumb injury.
Despite these setbacks, Veen shone during spring training with the Rockies and commenced the season strongly with Triple-A Albuquerque. He posted an impressive performance by going 5 for 5, including a home run and four RBIs, during a 14-3 win over Salt Lake on Saturday. At the time of his promotion to the Rockies, Veen had a batting average of .387 for the Isotopes.
“I feel like I learned a lot during my time there,” he reflected. “Everything happens for a reason. It might not have been the worst thing.” Upon learning of his promotion, one of Veen’s first actions was to call his mother, excitedly informing her that she would be joining him in Denver for his big moment.
At least 10 friends and family members are expected to be present in the stands as Veen makes his debut. It marks another anticipated milestone for Colorado, following Chase Dollander’s recent major league debut—where he pitched five solid innings and secured a win over the Athletics.
The Rockies’ manager, Bud Black, discussed the team’s initiative to introduce young talent to major league play: “We’ve been focused on bringing in young guys, giving them exposure, and seeing what they can do,” said Black. “Zac had a good spring training and showed he’s ready. He’s healthy, and that’s what’s most important.”
To ease his nerves before the game, Veen took batting practice at Coors Field for the first time. “My nerves are much better after hitting on the field,” he admitted.