SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — With two weeks left before the Rockies open the regular season on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays on March 28, there is plenty to be decided when it comes to roster spots and playing time.

The core of manager Bud Black’s 26-man roster is already in place, well before the team exits Salt River Fields at Talking Stick and spring training.

However, it is in the fringes of the roster and some of the final decisions surrounding it that could set the Rockies on a path to potentially break out of the 100-loss cycle that has enveloped the franchise over the last two campaigns.

With that in mind, here are three battleground areas to watch over the final two weeks of spring training.

Corner outfielders

When it comes to Colorado’s outfield, Brenton Doyle in center field on opening day is the lone certainty. The two-time Gold Glove winner will likely be the leadoff batter against Tampa Bay and get a chance to immediately put his imprint on the season with the first at-bat of the 2025 season.

While Doyle is a guarantee (barring injury), it is the corner spots where Colorado must find some clarity over the next two weeks.

In a perfect world, Black could pencil in a resurgent Nolan Jones to start in left field with a young and talented Jordan Beck taking over in right field following Charlie Blackmon’s retirement. However, neither has grabbed the opportunity for an assured starting spot so far this spring,

Jones entered Wednesday’s game against the San Diego Padres hitting just .156 with no extra-base hits and only five singles. His eight strikeouts in 32 at-bats continue a troubling trend from last season when Jones struck out in 30.6 percent of his at-bats — an increase from his 29.7 percent in 2023. In a spring where he’s trying to prove last season’s OPS+ of 75 (compared to 140 in 2023 when he finished fourth in National League Rookie of the Year balloting) was due to injuries, Jones must find his swing again soon.

Beck is also having issues with strikeouts this spring, whiffing in 13 of his 33 at-bats while hitting just .212. After getting in just 170 at-bats last season because of a left hand fracture and hitting just .188 while healthy, Colorado is still waiting to see exactly what Beck can bring to the lineup.

Kris Bryant is expected to play some in right field this season, but his primary role will be designated hitter so Colorado needs more stability in that corner. Sam Hilliard will likely make the team and could see time in a corner spot, as well as spell Doyle in center field when needed.

Also up for consideration in the corner spots are Sean Bouchard, Nick Martini and Zac Veen. While Veen has had some highlight-reel moments and is hitting .290, Bouchard and Martini have been consistent, with both hitting over .300 and showing home run power as well. Despite the solid spring, Veen could well start the season in Triple-A, leaving a corner outfield spot battle brewing between Bouchard and Martini, with a chance at a starting role not completely out of the question.

Closer

Seth Halvorsen and Victor Vodnik were considered the favorites to grab the ninth-inning spotlight on opening day, and the spring battle hasn’t given much clarity. Halvorsen was rocked in his last outing and the 25-year-old right-hander watched his ERA skyrocket to 9.53 in 5.2 innings over six appearances. He registered two saves during the season’s final two weeks, hitting 100 mph with his fastball.

Vodnik had the second-most saves of any Rockies reliever last season (nine, behind Tyler Kinley’s 12) and was serving as the team’s closer when right biceps inflammation sent him to the injured list in mid-August. The 25-year-old right-hander had a 6.00 ERA in the nine September games after he returned. He’s has logged a 5.40 ERA over 5.0 innings and five appearances this spring.

Kinley has also looked strong in spring, throwing five scoreless and hitless innings. He could be in the mix for closer as well but will likely start the season as a set-up man.

Expect Halvorsen and Vodnik to continue battling throughout spring, with the final two weeks determining the opening day closer. However, it’s very likely that both will get closing opportunities in 2025, regardless of their opening day hierarchy.

Backup catcher

Jacob Stallings will likely be behind the plate on opening day. The Rockies’ backup catcher seems to be coming more into focus after Drew Romo (who started spring 2-for-15 at the plate) was assigned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday.

Hunter Goodman seems to have the advantage so far, hitting .368 and getting six starts behind the plate this spring compared to seven for Stallings and five for Romo, who made his MLB debut on Aug. 17 last season and started 13 of 23 games following the Rockies releasing veteran catcher Elias Diaz. However, Romo didn’t see the field from Sept. 11-27 while Goodman received seven starts behind the plate during that stretch and hit four homers with 11 RBI.

Goodman also showed his versatility last year, seeing time in the outfield and first base as well. However, Black has said he wants Goodman focused on catching this season.

Look for Goodman to make the opening day roster as the team’s backup catcher, with Romo and veteran Austin Nola being ready if needed.