The Colorado Rockies are considering re-hiring former skipper Bud Black to a new role in the coaching staff, just over a month after he was fired from his managerial position due to the ball club’s disappointing run in May. Black served as the manager of the team for eight years before he was relieved from his duties.
The Rockies compiled a disastrous 7-33 run through May, which led the front office executives to make the difficult decision on Black. The story hasn’t been favorable for the ball club even after parting ways with the former manager, as they currently hold an 18-60 record and sit dead last in a highly competitive NL West division.
MLB Insider Reports on the Rockies Considering Re-Hiring Bud Black
USA Today writer and well-known MLB analyst Bob Nightengale shared the news about the Rockies’ thinking of re-hiring Black as the new director of pitching. Rockies beat reporter Christian Saez further expanded on this information, saying this decision comes after the organization’s current director of pitching, Steve Foster, decided to leave the ball club to become the pitching coach for the Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball team.
Former #Rockies manager Bud Black is reportedly a “strong candidate” to return to the Colorado Rockies organization as Director of Pitching.
Black is said to be in the running to replace Steve Foster, who is leaving to become a pitching coach at Texas Tech.
Per @BNightengale pic.twitter.com/uXC8ewKw3F
— Christian Saez🎙 (@DNVRSaez) June 22, 2025
As a player, Black spent 15 years in the big leagues, winning the World Series with the Kansas City Royals in 1985. As a manager, he coached the Los Angeles Angels from 2000 to 2006 and guided them to a Fall Classic title in 2002. After the successful stint, he was hired as the manager of the San Diego Padres, where he spent nine years and also won the NL Manager of the Year award in 2010.
Subsequently, he signed a lucrative contract to become the new skipper of the Rockies during the 2017 MLB offseason. He extended his stay in Colorado by one year for the 2025 campaign, but a dismal run from the onset of the season led the organization to part ways with Black.
The Colorado Rockies Have Been Undergoing a Downfall Since 2018
The 2018 MLB season was the last time that the Rockies managed to play October baseball. Since then, their journey in the big leagues has always ended in the regular season, as they have consistently finished either fourth or last in the NL West division. The Rockies lost 94 games in the 2022 campaign and more than 100 each in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
With their current record of 18-60, they look well on course to repeat the disastrous feat of the previous three campaigns. They have a .231 winning percentage, which is the worst in the league. For things to turn around, a lot has to change both internally and externally for the organization. They can start the restructuring process by signing some new players ahead of the trade deadline.