Denver, Colorado, had sought a Major League Baseball club for decades, eventually getting one when the league expanded for the 1993 season. As a result, the Colorado Rockies became the first MLB team to play in the Mountain Standard Time Zone when they entered the National League West Division. Although outsiders in the MLB future betting, only two seasons later, the team was in the playoffs thanks to a potent offense, and the Rockies have returned four times since then.
Not surprisingly, the Rockies’ greatest MLB players are position players. Pitchers struggle at Coors Field due to the low air density at such a high elevation, allowing hitters to prosper. Even though the Colorado Rockies have only been in existence for around 25 years, they have had several excellent players on their roster. Here are some of those great players.
Todd Helton
Todd Helton was not only the finest player for the Colorado Rockies for five years but also one of the top players in the game. “The Toddfather” never batted below .325 in any of his five seasons, had fewer than 40 home runs, always received MVP votes, and an OPS of less than one. During his career, Helton would also win four Silver Sluggers and three Gold Gloves. During his 2000 season, he won the batting, on-base percentage, and slugging titles.
Larry Walker
The fact that Larry Walker is the only player in Baseball Hall of Fame history to wear a Colorado Rockies cap on his plaque is a good beginning point for his case as the best Rocky of all time. During his Blake Street Bomber days, Walker helped put the Rockies on the map, and his 1997 season exemplifies what he meant to Colorado. He hit 49 home runs during his MVP season and had a 1.172 OPS. Walker also has the most batting average, OPS, home runs, bWAR, hits, RBIs, and runs scored in Rockies history. What’s most astounding about Walker is that he accomplished all of this while performance-enhancing drugs were widely used in Major League Baseball — and he was never involved in any scandals.
Nolan Arenado
At first glance, the California native appeared restless. But, from his debut in 2013, Arenado quickly and arguably established himself as the game’s greatest third baseman of his generation, winning eight Gold Gloves with the Rockies in all eight seasons. But his offensive game was as amazing; after a couple of quiet seasons to begin his career, Arenado burst in 2015 with his first of two seasons with at least 40 homers and 130 RBIs, adding a third 130-RBI season in 2017; and in 2018, he led the NL in home runs for the third time with 38.
Troy Tulowitzki
The Rockies selected “Tulo” eighth overall in the 2005 MLB draft, and he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting two seasons later. Tulowitzki became the focus of the Rockies’ infield for ten seasons, batting .299 with 188 home runs and 657 RBI. In 2009, 2010, and 2011, he finished in the top ten of MVP voting. Tulowitzki represented Colorado in the All-Star games in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015. He was awarded Gold Gloves in 2010 and 2011. At the 2015 trade deadline, Tulowitzki was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Trevor Story
Trevor Story has excelled in the seemingly tricky position of replacing shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, earning back-to-back All-Star Game selections and Silver Slugger awards in the last two seasons. Story was nominated for MVP the previous two seasons, in addition to finishing fourth for NL. Rookie of the Year in 2016. In addition, the homegrown talent became the quickest shortstop in history to hit 100 career home runs, doing so in 448 games, surpassing Alex Rodriquez.
Carlos Gonzalez
CarGo exploded into the scene in 2010, leading the National League in hits with 197 and capturing the batting title with a .336 average. The Venezuelan outfielder has a career .857 OPS and has been an excellent defensive outfielder in Denver. The Rockies purchased CarGo in the transaction that sent Matt Holliday to Oakland – a controversial move at the time but one that has turned out well in the years afterward.
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