SAN DIEGO — Warren Schaeffer has managed the Colorado Rockies for just over four months. He is adamant there has been progress made, and he’s clear he believes he can keep the team moving forward in 2026 and beyond. 

Sitting inside the visiting manager’s office at Petco Park, Schaeffer told The Denver Gazette in an exclusive interview he hopes the “interim” tag will be stripped from his title this offseason, giving him a chance to continue to mold the culture within the Rockies organization. 

“I would love to,” Schaeffer said Thursday when asked if he wants to manage the team in 2026. “This group of guys is special to me. This organization is special to me. I feel like I can bring a culture, given an offseason and given a spring training, and not just taking over the middle year, but being able to institute some changes and some adjustments in how we do our process. You can’t necessarily do that in the middle of the year, but you can go and do stuff in the offseason. I would love to see how that culture plays out.” 

Schaeffer’s program, which is centered around hard work and positivity, has resonated inside the Rockies’ clubhouse. It’s clear the 40-year-old Schaeffer has the team believing it has an internal core to build around for the future. 

“I think Schaeff’s a leader of men,” outfielder Mickey Moniak said. “Each and every day, he lives and dies with us in this clubhouse. He instills confidence in us to be able to go out there and do our jobs through the ups and the downs.” 

Part of that confidence comes from the positivity Schaeffer exudes behind the scenes and when he is in front of the cameras. However, he admits that he must mix reality into his message and expectations as well. 

“The reality is this is a group of very young players and there has to be a level of patience with them in their development,” Schaeffer said. “You can’t expect them to show up on the field and win 30 games in a row against playoff teams right now. That’s just not the reality of the situation.” 

A 4-2 win Saturday night against the Padres put a moment of joy into what has been a brutal stretch for the Rockies. Prior to that victory, the Rockies had lost 16 of their last 19 games since August 21, including going 2-7 during a homestand against three teams each fighting for a spot in the postseason. 

It’s been enough to sour even the most positive believers. But Schaeffer’s DNA won’t allow him to think the future is dark. 

“I had a father who came home from work every day after laboring all day, and I never once saw him tired,” Schaeffer recalled. “He would also be saying, ‘Come on. Let’s go, buddy. Let’s go play. Let’s go out.’ I mean, it was every time. With that, I saw the leadership example and how to lead a family and how to lead the people around you, including your son. 

“That’s how I want to live my life. That’s what I feel people deserve around me. They deserve my best.” 

Being at your best, however, can also come with some harsh realities as well. 

“He’s also blunt and tells you how it is,” Moniak said. “I think that’s huge. We’re not going to be perfect each and every night, but we’re going to strive to be, and ‘Schaeff’ is an awesome guy to lead us to that pursuit. He’s definitely one of those guys who tries to put one foot in front of the other and help us learn as we go.” 

Since Schaeffer took over on May 11 following the dismissal of Bud Black, the team is 34-74. By winning percentage, the team has played better after Schaeffer’s arrival, but it has also been infused with a franchise-record 13 players making their MLB debuts this season. 

Balancing growth and victories are sometimes impossible tasks, and it’s also a job that has Schaeffer’s attention rather than worrying about his resume. 

“I have so much to do on a daily basis in terms of all these guys that I need to try to help that that has been my main focus,” Schaeffer said. “But the reality is that I think it’s obvious that this is an audition. The word ‘interim’ is in front of my title, and I just think that’s just the natural way things go. There’s nothing that I do on a daily basis where I’m trying to prove myself or anything like that. I’m just trying to do the best I can every day, learn from mistakes, and get better.”