What a year it has been.

When the Rockies take the field at PNC Park on Tuesday night, it will mark one year since Warren Schaeffer managed his first game with the team. It’s been a year filled with changes within the franchise, from minority ownerships to the front office to the roster.

Schaeffer, however, has been the rock amidst the turbulent seas that have been a constant at 20th and Blake since Bud Black was relieved of his duties on May 11, 2025, after the Rockies started 7-33.

Since taking over, the Rockies have gone 52-111 under Schaeffer. Those on the outside will look at that statistic alone and wonder if Colorado is really improved this season with the 41-year-old Schaeffer at the helm.

Those inside the organization, however, will tell you Schaeffer is the right fit for a team that is still working to establish its identity and a winning culture after bottoming out last season with a 119-loss campaign.

“These are the big leagues. Every night’s a test. Every night, it’s a competition,” Schaeffer said. “Every day is a test for these guys, for sure, but we’re always looking for progress. We’re always looking to instill things that we believe this culture is built around, and that’s steady progress on a consistent basis.”

There are numbers that show progress is underway, even if it’s not at the pace Rockies fans who still remember the euphoria of Rocktober want to see.

With a record of 16-25 entering Tuesday’s game, Colorado is on pace for a 63-99 record this season. Match those numbers against last year and the Rockies will have improved by 20 games if they keep up their current pace.

The Rockies have posted those numbers against a schedule that has been anything but easy. Colorado started the season with a stretch of 30 consecutive games against teams that finished over .500 last season. The Rockies went 14-16 during that span.

Colorado has stayed well ahead of last year’s pace even without contributions from three players who were expected to be tentpoles in the Rockies lineup this season.

Outfielders Brenton Doyle (44 OPS+) and Jordan Beck (32 OPS+) have become platoon players after much hype around their roles this spring. With 100 being league average, it’s clear to see the duo is underperforming.

The same can be said for shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who was one of the darlings of the World Baseball Classic as he helped Venezuela capture the title and earned all-WBC honors at his position. However, in the regular season, Tovar has posted an OPS+ of 41 and has stayed in the lineup often because of his Gold Glove defense.

There have been others who have excelled while that trio has struggled, including Mickey Moniak leading the National League with a .655 slugging percentage while pacing the Rockies with 11 home runs. But this season has also been about implementing a new philosophy with hitting and pitching, thanks in part to the vision Schaeffer had for what this team could become with the correct teaching and communication.

“It’s an everyday thing. It’s not something that we did in the offseason or spring training and nailed it. Check that box and move on. It’s literally every single day,” Rockies President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta said of how the front office and coaching staff are working together. “I think the collaboration among the front office and coaching staffs among the big leagues and minor leagues has all been outstanding. Not flawless, but really good, and I think that gives us a good foundation.”

It’s a foundation that has given Schaeffer enough to build a culture upon, and it’s one the players have bought into.

“Everything starts with the culture that ‘Schaeff’ is trying to create here,” starting pitcher Kyle Freeland said. “The conversations that we had last season and into the offseason and throughout spring training were all culture-driven. What we’ve done from spring training to now, everything has started to unfold how we want it to unfold.

“The vibes have been great. Guys have been very energetic, looking to learn. We’re excited to get to the ballpark and play ball that night and try to get wins.”

While the vibes have been better, the losses still matter. Eventually, the Rockies must turn an improved culture, better communication and developmental progress into meaningful baseball in the standings.

But rebuilding an organization that lost more than 100 games in three straight seasons was never going to be fixed overnight. For Schaeffer, the challenge has always been bigger than filling out a lineup card or managing a bullpen. It’s been about changing expectations inside the clubhouse and restoring belief the Rockies can again become a relevant franchise in the National League.

One year into the job, there are, at least, signs that the foundation is taking shape.

And for a franchise that spent the last several seasons searching for direction, that may be the most important progress of all.