Colorado Rockies Hire Ian Levin as Assistant GM

The Colorado Rockies have taken another step in their front-office overhaul. They’ve hired longtime New York Mets executive Ian Levin as assistant general manager.

Colorado’s stuck in a historic stretch of losing seasons. Levin’s arrival hints at a real push to modernize the Rockies’ approach to roster building, player development, and analytics, all under the direction of president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta.

Rockies Continue Their Front-Office Reset

This move is part of a sweeping restructuring in Denver. After years of stagnation, the Rockies finally admitted that small tweaks wouldn’t fix a deeply flawed operation.

Former GM Bill Schmidt and assistant GM Zack Rosenthal are already out, leaving room for new leadership. DePodesta, back in MLB after a decade in the NFL, has built a revamped front office featuring:

This trio has to reshape a franchise that’s lost over 100 games in three straight seasons. Last year, they bottomed out with a staggering 119 losses.

A Franchise at a Crossroads

The Rockies’ recent record isn’t just bad—it’s historically disastrous. Consecutive 100-loss seasons and that 119-loss campaign point to big problems in scouting, player development, and roster construction.

For a club that’s long leaned on Coors Field as both an advantage and an excuse, the message is clear: what used to work just doesn’t anymore.

Levin’s hiring shows the organization’s willing to rethink everything from the ground up. They’re leaning heavily into a data-driven model that’s shaped more successful franchises across the league.

Who Is Ian Levin? From PR Intern to Power Player

Levin’s career arc is all about persistence and adaptability. He comes to Denver with nearly two decades of experience, most of it spent in one of baseball’s biggest markets.

He started in 2005 as a public relations intern with the New York Mets—not exactly the classic launchpad for a front-office career. But over the next 16 years, Levin climbed steadily through the organization, working across almost every corner of baseball operations.

Rising Through the Mets Ranks

By 2021, Levin had earned the title of assistant general manager with the Mets. That role put him right at the center of roster planning and long-term strategy.

During his tenure, he built a reputation for:

Levin left the Mets in 2024 to start his own company, broadening his perspective beyond just one organization. Now, he’s back in a front-office chair with a franchise desperate for a new identity.

DePodesta’s Blueprint: Familiar Faces, Modern Ideas

Paul DePodesta has never been shy about relying on trusted voices. The Rockies’ new leadership group is a reflection of that philosophy.

Both Tommy Tanous and Ian Levin have ties to the Mets and to DePodesta himself. That continuity matters—it lets DePodesta build a front office where communication feels natural and philosophical alignment comes easily.

In a league where front offices can fracture over competing agendas, Colorado’s betting on cohesion.

Analytics at the Center of the Rebuild

DePodesta praised Levin’s “strategic leadership” and his work in roster management, player development, and analytics. These are three areas where the Rockies have lagged behind their peers for years.

The club’s often faced criticism for not investing in modern data systems and analytical staff, especially when it comes to adapting to the altitude and quirks of Coors Field.

With Levin on board, the Rockies look set to evolve in several key areas:

What Levin’s Hiring Means for the Rockies’ Future

Levin’s arrival doesn’t guarantee a quick turnaround—no front-office hire does. Still, it feels like a significant shift in how the Rockies see themselves.

This isn’t a franchise content to drift in the middle of the pack while blaming geography. Now, they’re out there actually recruiting experienced, analytically minded executives with proven track records in high-pressure markets.

The front-office spine of DePodesta, Byrnes, Tanous, and Levin gives Colorado something rare: a coherent, modern vision. If the Rockies can finally align their decision-making with the realities of today’s game, this hiring could be remembered as a true turning point.

 
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