Draft assets have a common theme in Colorado and Bill Schmidt turned once again to the mound in the final rounds of the 2024 MLB draft.

The Rockies general manager and his staff selected seven pitchers among the day’s final 10 picks. It brought the three-day, 21-pick total to 13 pitchers and eight position players split up between six fielders and three catchers.

Last season the club selected pitchers with 14 of its 20 picks. 

Here’s a breakdown of Colorado’s final 10 picks made on Tuesday:

Rockies draft day three

318. C Alan Espinal (Vanderbilt)

Vanderbilt gave backstop Alan Espinal plenty of chances to shine and he did.

The senior hit two homers against top-seeded Tennessee during the SEC Tournament and earned SEC player of the week honors in March. He hit .289 in his fourth year with the Commodores and brings plenty of college experience to the Rockies’ minor league catcher’s room.

348. LHP Everett Catlett (Georgetown)

Everett Catlett is so tall that he may have missed out on adding basketball to his collegiate résumé.

The 6-foot-7 lefty split time as a starter and reliever with Georgetown. He made 16 appearances in 2024 (13 starts) and carried a 3.36 ERA across 77⅔ innings. The mark dropped to 1.80 in conference play thanks to his mid-90s fastball as part of a four-pitch mix.

378. LHP Justin Loer (Louisiana State University)

Justin Loer is another future bullpen option if Colorado keeps him on the same path he took with the LSU Tigers.

He appeared in 26 games as a reliever in 2024 and carried a 5.92 ERA. In the same role at Xavier, he collected seven saves and had a 1.89 ERA in 2023.

408. RHP Sam Gerth (Navarro College, Texas)

Sam Gerth is a junior college arm that may be headed to greener pastures at Dallas Baptist. Or he may be a Rockie.

The righty has a mid-90s fastball from the ride side in a three-pitch mix. He struggled to hone it in his lone year at Navarro College as a freshman and allowed 40 earned runs in 55⅔ innings.

438. RHP Luke Thelen (Western Michigan)

Luke Thelen was a productive reliever in his final year at Western Michigan and will get a chance to break into the major league’s worst group.

He made 25 appearances in 2024 (three starts) and had a 3.53 ERA in 43⅓ innings. Thelen also registered the final out of the Broncos’ MAC Tournament Championship.

468. 1B/OF Kevin Fitzer (Cal State Northridge)

Kevin Fitzer brings a lot of experience late in the draft.

He played 116 games with Cal State Northridge and collected 387 at-bats in four years. He hit at least .317 in each of his three full seasons and finished his collegiate career with a .321 average and 11 home runs in 2024. He also stole 11 bases.

498. SS Nolan Clifford (Creighton)

If Fitzer is a veteran, Nolan Clifford is a seasoned one. He played 162 games for Creighton and another 78 in summer ball.

The left-handed hitter split time between shortstop and first base and tied the team lead with 14 multi-hit games as a junior before he hit a career-best .348 as a senior.

528. RHP Tyler Hampu (Austin Peay, Tenn.)

Tyler Hampu cut his teeth with Colby Community College before going to Austin Peay as a reliever.

He notched three saves in two years with Austin Peay and made 47 appearances from the bullpen with a 7.69 ERA.

558. RHP Nathan Blasick (University of New Orleans)

Two years apiece at West Virginia and New Orleans set up Nathan Blasick’s 3.93 ERA finale in 2024 with the latter.

He was a two-way player for part of his college career before becoming a reliever. He had 25 collegiate appearances and struck out 42 in 36⅓ innings.

588. RHP Hunter Omlid (Arizona State)

Hunter Omlid has starting experience but worked mainly out of Arizona State’s bullpen in 2024.

He had a 6.69 ERA in 20 appearances (three starts) but struck out 54 in 37⅔ innings. Omlid allowed 12 home runs in the same span.