The Colorado Rockies have officially fired manager Bud Black after the team opened the 2025 MLB season with a dismal 7-33 record. The move comes after years of declining performance and growing frustration among fans and leadership alike. Colorado also dismissed bench coach Mike Redmond, clearing the way for a shift in direction as the organization tries to salvage what remains of another disappointing campaign.
A Breaking Point After Years of Decline
Bud Black had been with the Rockies since 2017. His early tenure showed promise, guiding the club to back-to-back postseason appearances in 2017 and 2018. It was a rare stretch of relevance for a franchise often caught at the bottom of the standings. However, after that brief spark, the team began to drift. Losing seasons piled up. Key players were traded or left in free agency. Attendance dropped. The excitement that once surrounded Black’s arrival faded quickly.
This season began in historically bad fashion. The Rockies lost 33 of their first 40 games. The team was outscored by more than 120 runs across that stretch. Even for a club used to underperformance, this was different. The low point came with a 21-0 loss to the San Diego Padres. It was a public embarrassment. Although the Rockies followed that blowout with a rare win the next day, the damage had been done. The decision to move on from Black was made not in spite of the win, but because of everything that led up to it.
Owner Dick Monfort has faced criticism over the years for his handling of the team’s front office and payroll, but in this case, the call to make a change seemed unavoidable. The situation had become unsustainable.
New Leadership and Familiar Faces
In the wake of the firing, third base coach Warren Schaeffer has been named the interim manager. Schaeffer, who has worked his way up through the Rockies’ minor league system and staff, is seen as a steady presence. He knows the players. He knows the environment. He is not being asked to turn everything around overnight, but he will be tasked with giving the team some sense of direction.
Joining him in the dugout will be Clint Hurdle, the team’s former manager from 2002 to 2009. Hurdle is taking over as interim bench coach. While he has been working as the team’s hitting coach this season, his return to a leadership role is likely meant to provide experience and familiarity. Many fans still remember the run to the World Series in 2007 under Hurdle’s watch. His presence brings a little credibility to a team badly in need of stability.
General Manager Bill Schmidt made it clear that the front office is not giving up on the season, even if the standings suggest otherwise. The team is trying to re-establish a foundation. That means younger players will likely see more playing time. It also means accountability will be a bigger focus going forward.
What Comes Next for Colorado
This is not a fix-it move. It is not going to erase the 7-33 start or suddenly turn the Rockies into a contender. What it might do, however, is stop the bleeding. The hope is that a new voice in the clubhouse can re-center the team and avoid further collapse.
Bud Black’s time in Colorado is over. It began with optimism, hit a few highs, and then dragged on through one disappointment after another. The firing was not shocking. It was overdue. The question now is whether the team can rebuild trust with its fans and finally commit to meaningful change. The Rockies have a long road ahead. Let’s see if they can begin rebuilding from the foundation.
