Zachary Richard Veen Bio
Zachary Richard Veen is an American professional baseball outfielder who plays for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Colorado Springs, Colorado native was selected ninth overall by the Rockies in the 2020 MLB Draft and became one of the organization’s top prospects during his minor league career. Veen made his MLB debut in April 2025, marking the culmination of a five-year journey through the minor leagues that included overcoming a significant hand injury in 2023.
Early Life and Background
Veen grew up in Port Orange, Florida, where he attended Spruce Creek High School. During his junior year in 2019, he emerged as one of the top high school players in the state, batting .414 with 36 stolen bases. His exceptional performance earned him The Daytona Beach News-Journal Baseball Player of the Year honor. That same year, he represented his country at the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game and the Perfect Game All-American Classic, showcasing his skills against other elite prospects nationwide.
Following his senior year at Spruce Creek High School, Veen committed to play college baseball at the University of Florida in November 2019. However, his professional aspirations would take precedence as he entered the 2020 MLB Draft as one of the most highly regarded prospects in the country.
Path to Professional Baseball
Veen entered the 2020 MLB Draft as a projected high-round selection, with scouts praising his combination of speed, contact ability, and raw power potential. The Colorado Rockies selected him with the ninth overall pick, recognizing his potential as a five-tool outfielder. He signed with the organization on June 24, 2020, receiving a $5 million signing bonus to forego his college commitment.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the minor league season was canceled in 2020, meaning Veen did not appear in a professional game that year. He made his professional debut the following season, beginning his ascent through the Rockies’ farm system.
Zachary Richard Veen Career
Minor League Development (2021–2024)
Veen began his professional career in 2021 with the Fresno Grizzlies of the Low-A West League. Over 106 games, he demonstrated his offensive prowess by slashing .301/.399/.501 with 15 home runs, 75 runs batted in, 27 doubles, and 36 stolen bases. His well-rounded performance established him as one of the top prospects in the Rockies organization.
The 2022 season saw Veen split time between the Spokane Indians of the High-A Northwest League and the Hartford Yard Goats of the Double-A Eastern League. After a mid-season promotion to Hartford, he compiled a combined slash line of .245/.340/.384 with 12 home runs, 67 RBI, and 55 stolen bases across 126 games. His baserunning ability and defensive versatility in the outfield continued to stand out. Following the regular season, Veen played in the Arizona Fall League where he led the league with 16 stolen bases while batting .356/.467/.466, further solidifying his prospect status.
Injuries interrupted Veen’s 2023 campaign, as he played only 46 games with Hartford before undergoing season-ending surgery on June 21 to repair tearing and fraying to a ligament in his left hand. He returned in 2024, appearing in 65 games across four levels of the minor leagues, including a stint with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes. He hit .258/.346/.459 with 11 home runs and 21 stolen bases during the season. Following the year, the Rockies added him to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
Colorado Rockies Era (2025–Present)
Veen began the 2025 season with Triple-A Albuquerque before receiving his first major league call-up on April 8, 2025. He became a member of the Colorado Rockies roster, wearing number 13. Twelve days later, on April 20, Veen hit his first career major league home run, a solo shot against Jake Irvin of the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
Playing Style and Strengths
Veen is regarded as a speed-first outfielder with the ability to impact games on the basepaths and in the field. His offensive approach features a combination of contact hitting and plate discipline that produces high on-base percentages. In the outfield, he showcases range and arm strength that allow him to play all three positions, though center field suits his range best.
Notable Moments
Beyond his first career home run in April 2025, Veen’s standout minor league achievements include his Arizona Fall League performance in 2022 where he led the league in stolen bases. His 2021 season with Fresno, where he posted an .899 OPS with 36 stolen bases, represented his most complete professional season prior to reaching the majors.
Zachary Richard Veen Career Statistics
Through the 2025 season, Veen has appeared in limited major league games while establishing himself as a consistent performer in the minor leagues across five professional seasons.
MLB Highlights
Veen’s brief MLB career through 2025 includes a batting average of .118 with one home run and two runs batted in. His first career home run came on April 20, 2025, against the Washington Nationals, representing the highlight of his initial major league stint.
Minor League Highlights
Veen’s minor league career spans 343 games across five seasons from 2021 to 2024. His best statistical season came in 2021 with Fresno, where he hit .301 with 15 home runs, 75 RBI, and 36 stolen bases. He followed with 55 stolen bases in 2022 between Spokane and Hartford, then rebounded from injury in 2024 with a combined 21 steals across four affiliates.
| Level | Games | Batting Average | Home Runs | Stolen Bases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor League (2021–2024) | 343 | .260 | 40 | 134 |
| MLB (2025) | Various | .118 | 1 | — |
Personal Life
Very little publicly verified information is available regarding Veen’s family background, personal relationships, or off-field interests. He remains focused on his baseball career as he continues to establish himself at the major league level with the Colorado Rockies organization.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Veen’s transition from top prospect to major league player. After beginning the year with Triple-A Albuquerque, he earned his first big league call-up in early April. His promotion came after demonstrating full recovery from the hand injury that ended his 2023 season and consistent performance at the Triple-A level.
On April 20, 2025, Veen recorded his first major league home run during a game against the Washington Nationals, a milestone moment that validated his development trajectory. The solo home run off Jake Irvin provided one of the early highlights of his professional career. Throughout the season, Veen worked to adjust to major league pitching while contributing in the outfield and on the basepaths for the Rockies.
The Rockies organization views Veen as a key part of their future core, with his speed, defensive versatility, and contact-hitting ability fitting the profile of a modern MLB outfielder. His ability to steal bases and impact games defensively gives the team positional flexibility as he continues to develop at the highest level of professional baseball.