Karros eager to bring hot bat and 'weird energies' to Rox after memorable MLB debut

PHOENIX -- In his first at-bat of his MLB debut, Kyle Karros expected Diamondbacks veteran Zac Gallen to throw him a fastball -- although it came later than he expected.

Karros, the Rockies’ No. 8 prospect per MLB Pipeline, made no mistake with an RBI single for the Rockies’ only run in an otherwise unremarkable 6-1 loss at Chase Field.

Karros wanted to review the strategy of Gallen -- from whom he expected a first-pitch fastball instead of three knuckle-curves and a slider.

The study session was his first Major League mistake.

“I dumbly looked at the video of the broadcast,” Karros said. “It panned to my dad and mom. They were getting emotional up there. Then I started tearing up in the dugout. I was just trying to analyze what Gallen did to me in my first at-bat.

“I ended up walking away from the iPad with some tears.”

But Karros, who was stellar in 55 games at Double-A Hartford and 16 at Triple-A Albuquerque before he received the call, had plenty to smile about. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.

“It was a super fun day,” Karros said.

The loss dropped the Rockies’ Majors-worst record to 30-85. But Karros’ debut meant the Rockies tied a record that they hope will lead to better days. He’s the 12th player to make his debut this year, tied with last year’s club record. Only the Athletics (14) and White Sox (13) have welcomed more.

“It was pretty cool to see him get that first knock, then a good walk,” Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. “It was a good debut for him. Special. His whole family was there.”

The debut was another step in what he believes is a divinely touched story that led him to the Rockies -- and began at Chase.

Karros finished his collegiate career at UCLA and came to Chase for the 2023 MLB Draft Combine for workouts and meetings with clubs. The Rockies impressed him with ball talk while other teams leaned on measurements and metrics. He texted his father, Eric Karros, who spent most of his Major League career with the Dodgers and introduced his son to the sport while serving as a special coach and broadcaster with L.A.

“I remember sending a text to my dad after the meeting with the Rockies, and I was like, ‘This is the team I want to go to,’” said Karros, who said his father, mother, Trish, and brother, Jared, a Dodgers pitching prospect who is out because of Tommy John surgery, were there for his debut, while his sister, Mikah Maly-Karros, is expecting a baby and could not make it. “And obviously we have no control over that. But the Draft ended up landing me here.”

The Rockies took Karros in the fifth round, and now, he felt reaching the Majors with the Rockies was meant to be -- “too many coincidences. … It’s not luck.”

Of course, ability helps. The 6-foot-5 Karros’ body matured – after injuries in college made him an overlooked prospect. He earned MVP honors in the High-A Northwest League in ‘24, when he led Spokane to the championship by slashing .311/.390/.485 in 123 games and was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive in the title-winning run.

This year, he blew through Hartford -- hitting .294 with four homers among his 23 extra-base hits -- and Albuquerque -- where he hit .306 with two homers, four doubles and a triple. And with injuries to infielders Orlando Arcia and Thairo Estrada, playing time with Colorado shouldn’t be an issue.

“Absolutely, he’ll start getting comfortable every day, and we’ll see where it goes,” Schaeffer said of Karros. “He’s got a runway to play.”

Karros made such an impression on the Rockies that they slowed his progress, believing it would get him to the Majors quicker. He and center fielder Cole Carrigg, currently excelling at Hartford, each were held in Spokane last year to allow them to develop leadership skills.

Anticipating trading third baseman Ryan McMahon at the Deadline, the Rockies promoted Karros to Albuquerque -- with the side goal of exposing him to teammates with more experience. Karros said infielder Aaron Schunk, promoted with him on Friday, will be his guide. Another former UCLA player at Albuquerque, outfielder Sean Bouchard, was invaluable.

“He just took me under his wing, kept it light -- it wasn’t even about baseball, just living life,” said Karros, who is wearing No. 12 -- Bouchard’s number the last four seasons.

Also, McMahon -- his Spring Training mentor -- kept him in his heart.

“He texted me right after he got traded,” Karros said. “Just to think what he was going through – his life got turned upside down. He’s moving his family to New York City. For him to have the thought to text me – and the text was incredible, super-heartfelt … just an unreal dude.

“I love that guy. The relationship is going to continue way further down the road. Even today, he shot me another text. He calls me, ‘Kid.’ Pretty cool.”

The promotion came after one final life lesson.

After being called to Albuquerque, Karros couldn’t help but let his mind drift to what was coming. He was “on edge, not fully unpacking.” He began playing well only when he decided to “make my room more homey.” He even took a trip to Santa Fe to feel the “weird energies” and embrace “The Land of Enchantment,” as New Mexico is known.

“I ended up having a really crazy interaction with one of the vendors,” he said. “I had to buy something from him just because he was speaking to me on a different level. He sold me a ring and said it has good vibes – a meteorite ring from somewhere in Africa.

“I’m still wearing that ring every day. I’m not going to play in it, but it’s in my locker.”

Friday night, Karros grasped the Major Leagues, baseball’s ultimate energy.