Colorado Rockies Fire Pitching Coach Alon Leichman
The club parts ways with the coach following a season where the staff ranked last in major league statistical categories.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Baseball
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The Colorado Rockies have officially fired pitching coach Alon Leichman. The decision follows a campaign in which the team pitching staff finished last in the major leagues across multiple key performance metrics.
Why it matters
The organization is seeking a change in leadership to address persistent struggles on the mound. The team faces significant pressure to improve results in 2027 to avoid recording a fifth-straight 100-loss season.
The Rockies pitching staff finished last in the majors with a 1.52 WHIP and a .283 opponents' batting average. These figures underscore the performance challenges that led to the coaching change.
The players
Alon Leichman
He is a 37-year-old coach who previously served as an assistant pitching coach for the Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins before his tenure in Colorado.
Paul DePodesta
He is a high-level executive involved in the decision-making process for the Colorado Rockies regarding coaching personnel.
Warren Schaeffer
He is a member of the front office leadership tasked with selecting the next pitching coach for the team roster.
The details
The front office, including Paul DePodesta and Warren Schaeffer, is tasked with identifying a successor to lead the staff. Leichman, who is 37 years old, was originally hired by the organization in December 2025.
Timeline
Alon Leichman served as an assistant pitching coach for the Cincinnati Reds from 2023 to 2024.
Alon Leichman worked as an assistant pitching coach for the Miami Marlins in 2025.
The Rockies hired Alon Leichman as pitching coach in December 2025.
The Colorado Rockies fired Alon Leichman in October 2026.
The team requires improved performance in 2027 to avoid a fifth-straight 100-loss season.
Season Trajectory
This move reflects an urgent attempt to break a cycle of poor performance that has plagued the franchise. The team is trying to avoid matching or exceeding the 100-loss season threshold, which has become a persistent threat to their competitive standing.
The search for a new coach will dictate the development path for the team's rotation throughout the 2027 season. Fans and stakeholders will monitor how these personnel changes impact the staff's ability to lower league-worst marks in ERA and WHIP.
The takeaway
Front office changes often signal a shift in organizational philosophy regarding player development and bullpen management. Readers should watch for the next coaching appointment to gauge the specific tactical adjustments the club plans to implement next year.
Further reading
For more on the current state of the team, visit the Baseball section.
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