With a run differential of minus-377, the 2025 Rockies are on pace to shatter the modern-era record for the worst team in baseball history.

With just two weeks left in the 2025 season, the Colorado Rockies are in a historic tailspin. Their run differential of minus-377 is the worst in modern baseball history, and they are on track to surpass the previous record set by the 1932 Boston Red Sox. Despite entering the season with 40 wins, the Rockies still need just two more victories to match the 41-121 record of last year’s Chicago White Sox, the current standard for futility. Manager Warren Schaeffer, who took over in May, has made it clear that even reaching 41 wins is not a success. The team has been outscored by opponents 922-545 this season and has lost games by scores like 18-0, 20-1, and 21-0.

The Rockies’ struggles are not just in their win-loss record but in their overall performance. They rank second-to-last in the major leagues in runs scored, despite playing half their games in the mile-high altitude of Denver, where the thin air causes the ball to travel farther. However, this advantage has not translated to success. The Rockies have an ERA of 6.01, the worst of any squad in the 21st Century, and have already surrendered over 100 more runs than the White Sox did last season. They are also last in MLB in defensive runs saved, adding fielding to the list of things the Rockies are terrible at.

While the Rockies started the season with a dismal 9-50 record, they have fared a bit better of late, going 31-55 since June 2. Still, this is a far cry from competitiveness. At one point, they were even on pace to challenge the 1899 Cleveland Spiders, who went 20-134 and had a run differential of minus-723, the worst in MLB history. However, the Rockies have avoided the fate of the Spiders, who folded as a franchise after the 1899 season.

As the season comes to a close, the Rockies’ struggles continue to highlight the challenges of building a competitive team in the MLB. Manager Schaeffer emphasized that the team is young and pushing every night to win ballgames, learning and moving forward with the hope of becoming a winning ball club in the near future. Despite the current record, the Rockies are still in the race for the worst team in modern baseball history, and their performance has left fans and analysts alike questioning the future of the franchise.

Adding to the narrative, the Rockies’ pitching staff has been among the worst in the league, with a combined ERA of 6.01, and their defense has been equally poor, ranking dead last in defensive runs saved. This has led to an alarming number of high-scoring losses, with several games ending in lopsided defeats. The team’s lack of offensive production has also been a major issue, as they are second-to-last in runs scored, despite the home-field advantage in Denver.

The Rockies’ season has been a cautionary tale for franchises trying to rebuild, and their performance has sparked conversations about the challenges of developing a competitive team in the MLB. Despite the current struggles, Schaeffer remains optimistic about the future, stating that the team is learning and growing with each game. However, for now, the Rockies are a team that is more likely to be remembered for their historic futility than for any on-field success.