If you love a good underdog story, keep your eyes on Cade Denton. When the Colorado Rockies snagged this right-handed pitcher in the sixth round of the 2023 draft, MLB Pipeline called him one of the best pure relievers available. Fresh off a stellar College World Series run with Oral Roberts—where he posted a sparkling 1.83 ERA over 35 appearances and struck out 12.1 batters per nine innings—Denton looked like a steal. Sure, that was the season Paul Skenes stole the headlines with LSU, but the Rockies saw something special. They signed Denton for above slot value and quickly sent him into their farm system.
His first taste of pro ball came in 2023, with four appearances in the Arizona Complex League and four more for the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies. But for a while, Denton flew under the radar. Despite solid results, he never cracked the organization's top prospect lists. In 2024, he spent most of the season with Fresno, posting a respectable 2.86 ERA in 26 relief outings. The catch? He struck out just 23 batters in 28.1 innings—not the kind of dominance you'd expect from a hard-throwing reliever. A late-season promotion to High-A Spokane didn't help much: five appearances, a 7.36 ERA, and only three strikeouts in 7.1 innings.
Fast forward to 2025, and Denton found his groove. Back with Spokane, he became a workhorse out of the bullpen, making 42 appearances and logging a 3.73 ERA. The strikeouts returned in a big way—63 over 50.2 innings—and he racked up seven saves. But it wasn't all smooth sailing. Command issues crept in, with a career-high 20 walks (3.6 BB/9) and eight home runs allowed. Still, the potential that first caught the Rockies' eye was clearly still there.
That potential earned him an invitation to the Arizona Fall League, where he suited up for the Salt River Rafters alongside other Rockies prospects. And let me tell you, Denton made the most of it. Over 13 innings, he struck out 18 batters while walking just four. That's the kind of performance that turns heads and builds momentum. After a strong fall in Arizona, all eyes are on Denton as he looks to carry that confidence into the 2026 season. For a pitcher who's been easy to overlook, this could be the year he finally steps into the spotlight.