Rockies Prospect Zac Veen Remarkably Transforms His Life

This spring, Rockies prospect Zac Veen is making waves, and not just on the baseball field. At 24, he has put on over 40 pounds, increasing his weight from 200 to 245 pounds. But the most significant change has occurred outside the gym.

“One of the main things was getting sober,” Veen shared recently. “I had a pretty serious substance abuse issue for a few years, but now I’m completely clean and sober.” This personal revelation followed a challenging year where he faced some tough self-reflection during the offseason, leading him to seek a closer relationship with God and aspire to be the best version of himself.

Veen, selected No. 9 overall in the 2020 draft from the University of Colorado, hasn’t exactly met the lofty expectations set for him in his five seasons in professional baseball. Last season, he struggled in his brief MLB debut, managing just .118/.189/.235 in 37 at-bats before being assigned to the Arizona Complex League.

Reflecting on that tough time, he acknowledged much of his challenges stemmed from issues off the field. “A lot of my food choices were… well, not exactly healthy,” he admitted. “I was smoking weed daily, and when that wasn’t an option, I turned to drinking. I’ve been sober for quite some time now since I finished my first season and returned in 2021. Ditching that lifestyle for a more nutritious diet has been quite the transformation for me.” 

Now, the fruits of Veen’s intense focus and dedication are beginning to show. Early this spring, he recorded three hits and two home runs in just 11 at-bats, including a remarkable 468-foot homer that clinched a walk-off win for the Rockies.

Friday turned out to be another impressive day for him; he blasted a 447-foot home run, marking his second walk-off of the month. Veen attributes much of his turnaround to his high school coach, Johnny Goodrich, and Rockies’ director of player development, Chris Forbes, who played crucial roles in his support system.

“It was truly a team effort. I can’t thank them enough,” Veen said. He also described his participation in an 11-week program aimed at helping individuals with substance abuse issues, alongside attending church and engaging in Bible study every Wednesday.

Though it remains to be seen if Veen will secure a spot on the Rockies’ Opening Day roster, his current performance could make that a difficult decision for the team. It’s clear that his journey is just beginning, and many are excited to see where it leads.