近距离内射合集

Albuquerque Isotopes outfielder Zac Veen has been carrying a lot of weight this season.

Figuratively and literally.

Once considered a near can't-miss big league prospect, the 24-year-old former first-round draft pick (No. 9 overall by the Colorado Rockies in 2020 out of Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, Florida) was moving his way up the minors 鈥� a fun-loving, hair-dying (purple and platinum blonde were the tints of choice in 2025), fast-climbing prospect who made his big league debut on April 8, 2025.

Little did people know his road to that first Major League call-up was filled with self-sabotage, alcohol and lots of marijuana 鈥� a lifestyle that caught up with him right when it seemed he had finally made it.

Instead, after just three games with the Rockies, an in-season "figure things out" stint back at the Arizona Complex League and 90 mostly productive games with the Isotopes in 2025, the 6-foot-4 Veen headed into the offseason weighing a rather unhealthy 202 pounds and in need of a change.

"Coming home in the offseason, I had to look in the mirror and make some adjustments," .

"And I definitely got closer to God, and it made me want to be the best version of myself in every aspect.鈥�

Veen says he pretty much wasn't sober from the time he finished the 2021 season in the fall until the end of last season 鈥� drinking, smoking or both daily.

This past offseason, he says he found God, got some tough-love from his high school and travel-ball coach in Florida, sobered up and refocused.

The result: He added 40 pounds of muscle by spring training with a healthy lifestyle 鈥� mentally and physically 鈥� leading the charge.

And so far through 76 games this season with the Isotopes, Veen has been a different man on the field and, he hopes, off it.

Monday he was named the Pacific Coast Player of the Month after hitting .366 with PCL-bests in hits (37), doubles (13), triples (4) and total bases (79), to go along with seven home runs and 19 RBIs.

And while he says he's lost "probably five to 10 pounds" since he broke Spring Training at 245, he's clearly still bulked up beyond anything he's ever been before, and carrying it well.

"It feels good. I'm still the heaviest I've ever been, strongest I've ever been at this point," Veen said during the team's last homestand in Albuquerque. "I'm just keeping up at it, eating Chipotle every day to stay with it.鈥�

As for adjusting to a body that, frankly, is different than he's ever played in before, he says the adjustment isn't adversely affecting him.

"I wouldn't say it's so much different," Veen said. "I think the more I play, the more I loosen up and the more athletic I get. I'm just swinging a little bit bigger bat. That's really the only thing that has changed."

Veen is on the 40-man roster for the Rockies, but with plenty of options in the outfield, the team is more than content taking their time with his newfound physique and mental approach before rushing him back to the big league spotlight.

At least for now, Veen is fine with that. He knows his road back is about patience, self-discipline and keeping things simple.

"My approach is really basic 鈥� just stay on the fastball, trying to see off-speed up, and just trusting all the work that I've been putting in every day," he said.

Trivia time!

Veen鈥檚 winning PCL Player of the Month for June (announced Monday) marks the ninth time an Isotopes player has won that award and is the sixth-consecutive season with such an award.

But did you know that the Isotopes have never had a player of the month in a winning season?

• Scott Seabol 鈥� May 2006 (final record 70-72)

• Ryan McMahon 鈥� June 2017 (68-73)

• Mike Tauchman 鈥� May 2018 (63-77)

• Taylor Motter 鈥� July 2021 (58-72)

• Wynton Bernard 鈥� August 2022 (62-86)

• Elehuris Montero 鈥� May 2023 (68-82)

• Elehuris Montero 鈥� July 2024 (58-92)

• Ryan Ritter 鈥� May 2025 (62-87)

Know the foe

The Isotopes stay on the road for their second two-week road trip in the past six weeks, playing a six-game series at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas.

• Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, 45-42 overall (4th), 6-6 2nd half (t-5th)

• Sugar Land Space Cowboys, Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros, 40-46 overall (6th), 8-4 2nd half (2nd)

Stop the count!

All good things must come to an end.

IF Chad Stevens went 0-for-4 in Saturday's 7-2 loss at Round Rock, snapping his 61-game Triple A on-base streak that included a franchise-record 51 consecutive games with the Isotopes (the first 10 games of the overall streak came while playing for Salt Lake last year).

Three up, three down

Some things that have been looking good lately for the 'Topes, some not so good.

Looking good:

1. The Isotopes have had seven multi-homer games by a player this season. 1B/OF Charlie Condon and C/IF Andrew Knizner each had three and Veen鈥檚 Sunday performance was his first of the season.

2. SS Ryan Ritter's two-hit game Sunday extended his on-base streak to 48 games.

3. A 3-3 series at Round Rock last week wasn't dominant, but it'll do. In fact, it was Albuquerque's first non-losing series at Round Rock since winning two of three there to open the 2023 season.

Look away:

1. The Isotopes' 34 runs in last week's six-game series at Round Rock dropped them to 6.68 runs per game, now second best in the PCL behind Las Vegas (6.71). The Isotopes have more total runs (581-570) but have played two more games.

2. Round Rock stole nine bases against Albuquerque on Saturday, a record vs. the Isotopes. The previous mark was seven by Tacoma on Aug. 19, 2022.

3. The Isotopes went 1-2 in one-run games last week at Round Rock and are now 12-14 on the season in such games.

Fast food

No games, no races last week. Same standings.

2026 Season Standings (41 races):

• 14 wins 鈥� Salsa Jar

• 11 wins 鈥� Red Chile

• 9 wins 鈥� Green Chile

• 7 wins 鈥� Taco

What are they doing?

Here's a look at what fun promotions the other guys 鈥� this week it's Sugar Land 鈥� have cooked up when the Isotopes are in town:

• Wednesday: It's a dog days of summer theme at Constellation Field with $1 hot dogs and bring your dog to the park day (no ticket required for the furry friends).

• Friday: Texas flag jersey giveaway. Fireworks after the game.

• Saturday: Anime night and a special Anime jersey giveaway.

• Sunday: Meet Blippi! (He's a kids show character who is a big hit among people not likely old enough to read articles like this.)

Next home game

The Isotopes return to Albuquerque for three home games vs. Sacrament on Friday, July 17 鈥� after this week's six-game Sugar Land series and next week's All-Star break. It will be the start of a nine-game homestand for the Topes running through July 26.

Reach Geoff Grammer at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) .