Louis Taggart | @LouisWontShutUp | March 29, 2024
Another Opening Day is upon us and the MLB roster is finally set. Here is the BSB ultimate guide to each positional player. After reading this, you will be ready to eat taco’s and take down the Dodgers. Cheers to another season of Rockies baseball.
Kris Bryant
Two seasons into the massive seven-year $182 million contract, and there are questions whether we kept the receipt for this purchase. All jokes aside, Bryant’s problem hasn’t necessarily been the play on the field, rather the inability to play. In 2022, it was back soreness and a lower back strain, followed by a diagnosis of plantar fasciitis to end his season. In 2023, he took a pitch to the hand to take a significant chunk off his season. Just unlucky and weird injuries.
In just 122 games with the Rockies, Kris has slashed .259/.335/.404 with a .740 OPS and a below average 93 OPS+. Not terrible numbers in a vacuum but not acceptable for a player of his magnitude.
On the bright side for Kris, everyone in the building cares about his health just as much as he does, and a change was made. Early in the off season, Bud Black told the media that Kris Bryant will play a considerable amount of time at first base this season.
The Bat X projection: 16HRs, .271/.349/.451, 0.7 WAR
Kris Bryant was touted as a guaranteed Hall of Fame player a couple of years ago because of his staggering amount of talent and storybook career start. His first two seasons in Colorado have been underwhelming, but it’s not crazy to say that he can have an All Star caliber season in 2024 should he stay on the field.
Elehuris Montero
With Montero being out of options, this forced the hand of the front office to include him on the big league roster. The path and tools needed to become a good player are there for Montero, but he still needs to refine his game.
Montero’s problem is seeing offspeed and breaking pitches, which is where opposing pitchers have done the most damage. This inefficiency in his game makes him a match made in heaven at Coors Field. In 2023, he hit .306/.358/.537 in games at Coors Field. That is why many fans, including us, have been hammering the Rockies for the lack of Montero at-bats in MLB. If he can just slightly refine his game to make his away splits half decent, he will play at this level with power.
This season for Montero places him at a crossroads. As much as we love to give players time to develop, the league moves quickly, and the Rockies have already shown disfavor towards Montero in the past.
The Bat X Projections: .248/.302/.422, -0.6 WAR
Much like everyone else on the team, Montero has a formula for success, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he proves everyone wrong but his opportunity may be finite.
Michael Toglia
Despite struggling in his time in the majors last season, Toglia went into spring and proved to the front office that he deserves another shot in the big leagues. Coming into the spring, making the big league roster was just the first of many challenges set in front of him to become an everyday player for the Rockies.
Toglia is an oddball player when compared to what the first base position has become in the modern game. Unlike most players, Toglia calling card is his elite defense, instead of his power production. This has caused many fans to critique his game because it goes against everything the baseball nerds have been telling us.
Despite this, I can still sell you on Michael Toglia. For starters, Toglia isn’t just restricting himself to first base and is letting the Rockies experiment with him in the outfield. Add this to his effort to embrace switch hitting and it is impossible not to see a world where Toglia finds a long-term spot on this team due to his persistence.
Oh! And the offense? He hit .980 OPS in spring training, making it impossible to leave him off the team, especially as a prized former first round pick.
The Bat X projection: .228/.295/.395, -0.4 WAR
Charlie Blackmon
This feels like it will be the last time we have Chuck Nazty on the squad come Opening Day. All offseason, I have been fighting the group of fans that claim we are wasting a spot on Blackmon, which in the long term is definitely true, but life wouldn’t be fun if you lived like that. Since he’s here and will be an everyday player, we need to be aware of the possibility of a bounce back year.
To get the obvious out of the way, he will be 38 in July, making him one of the most tenured players in baseball. This hasn’t stopped grizzly old veterans before. Albert Pujols found the fountain of youth in his age 42 season after being a liability. It’s not just him, the Rockies have even seen it. Jason Giambi had a 140 OPS+ in his age 40 season in Colorado. Did somebody say Jamie Moyer? Even guys like David Wells, Greg Maddux, Fernando Rodney, and Barry Larkin saw some of the best seasons of their careers into their 40s.
Maybe I’m biased in being loyal to one of the franchise’s best players ever. Perhaps I’m coping, but crazy things happen in baseball, and every so often some players get away from Father Time.
The Bat X projection: .267/.334/.408, -0.2 WAR
From a non-biased perspective, I doubt Charlie Blackmon would trade in a year with family and fishing for a season of baseball below his standards. I think he will be a solid bat and a good role model for young guys in the clubhouse.
Alan Trejo
With the Rockies being selected to play in Mexico City (April 27-28), I kept my eyes on Alan Trejo because as a Mexico National Team player, it would be fun seeing him down there. I believe Trejo will be in the league for a long time. His defense and infield versatility is something that managers cherish. That being said, his offense is less than ideal, especially for a team that has the defensive ability already. However, with a swing change in Spring Training, Trejo didn’t just get on the Opening Day roster because of his connection to Mexico, and he’s got a bit of a second wind going for him.
The Bat X projection: .245/.290/.378, 0.0 WAR
Trejo will play plenty of games, but will probably not be a fan favorite due to his skillset not matching what we need. This spring training has seen a slight boost in his power numbers, which can go a long way for him.
Brendan Rodgers
The Rockies fan base has forgotten how talented Brendan Rodgers is, so let me remind them. In 2021, he led the Rockies in batting average. Then in 2022, Rodgers had 4.3 bWAR and received the Gold Glove award at second base for his elite defense. An injury took him out of 2023, which is where some fans lose sight of his talent. In 2022, at just 25 years of age, Rodgers had the same amount of bWAR as Pete Alonso, Luis Arraez and Rafael Devers. For a team that just lost 100+ games, you would think someone with this track record would be the poster player, but for some reason he’s not.
It’s astonishing how one of the most hyped up prospects in franchise history has become underrated so quickly.
All that being said, 2024 is a crucial year for not only his spot on the team, but the money in his pocket. With him only having one more year of arbitration, he will be itching to get the long-term contract every player dreams of.
The Bat X projection: .287/.342/.454, 1.9 WAR
The talent level is through the roof. If Rodgers stays healthy and finally gets into a rhythm, he could be the team MVP.
Ryan McMahon
There is no other player on this team that I feel more confident in having a breakout season than Ryan McMahon. One look at his advanced metrics, and you can see why, there are plenty of above average stats like his average exit velocity and chase swing %, among others.
Ryan McMahon’s ability to play elite defense makes his floor high, add onto this his ability to kill baseballs, and he has the tools to become an All Star. Last season, it seemed like every hard hit ball was destined for a defensive highlight. He couldn’t catch a break.
This video sums up his whole 2023 season.
The Bat X projection: 21 HRs, .246/.329/.427, 1.4 WAR
There isn’t much to say about McMahon, he’s proven he’s a good player and has the contract to match that, but can he turn into a great one? He won’t be traded and will stay on this team for the foreseeable future.
Ezequiel Tovar
Very few players are good enough to make owners forgo the traditional route of arbitration and instead sign them to a longer, much more expensive deal. Tovar and his agent just convinced the Rockies to pull the trigger on an extension like this, and it appears to be beneficial for both sides. The fans get their franchise shortstop for at least seven more years, and the team gets to focus on other parts of the team in the future while potentially saving money as the contract ages.
Tovar brings elite defense to one of the most important positions on the diamond. His offense has been below average so far, but he’s only 22 and will only get better. As it sits now, Tovar is already a valuable player to any team because of his glove. He doesn’t need to improve much on the offensive end to become the Rockies next great shortstop.
The Bat X projection: 17 HRs, .273/.313/.434, 1.8 WAR
Both McMahon and Tovar will be in this lineup for years to come. Both bring elite defense and power production offensively. This duo could rival a duo Rockies fans saw a couple of years back, but that’s a strong prediction.
Elias Diaz
Despite all the trade speculation last summer, Elias Diaz is still the man behind the plate in 2024. Last season, Diaz became a nationally known name when he won the All Star game MVP award in his first-ever appearance, one of the best moments from the 2023 season. The thought of trading him made sense after that because he doesn’t fit the Rockies timeline as a team. Nevertheless, he has stayed, and I’m glad he did.
Catcher is one of the more unique positions because there are so many philosophies that come with what you want from a catcher. Diaz’s calling card is his ability to throw runners out, which is becoming more and more valuable in today’s game. Offensively, his numbers are solid, but once you take away the Coors Field tax, he’s underwhelming. The numbers also say he’s a below-average framer, and it showed when Austin Wynns played. That being said, unlike other position players, it’s rare to find a catcher that’s good at multiple things.
The Bat X projection: 14 HRs, .255/.309/.414, 0.6 WAR
Jacob Stallings
What a weird signing this was and still is. I know it was made clear that the Rockies were trying to fill the backup catcher spot cheaply, but we have in house guys that deserve a shot. Stallings is elite at blocking and has plenty of experience, but has left a lot to be desired in recent years. Nevertheless, Stallings brings another veteran presence into a locker room that is only getting younger.
The Bat X projection: .238/.308/.344, 0.2 WAR
Brenton Doyle
Not even one full season into his career, Brenton Doyle has a trove of highlight defensive plays. As a person who saw a couple of these live, Doyle’s athleticism might be an 85/80 grade because it’s the best I’ve ever seen, especially given his size. Any ball hit anywhere near center field was caught by Doyle. Any runner thinking of tagging up and stealing a cheap run was thrown out. He quietly had one of the best defensive seasons of the 21st century, and holds even more value because he did it at Coors.
There is no doubt that Doyle will defend his Gold Glove award and he should win it again. Mix in his knack for stealing bases, and Doyle became an everyday player for the Rockies in 2023. Offensively, he has work to do, but the floor is a solid MLB player. He is the ideal defensive center fielder that every pitcher wants behind them.
The Bat X projection: 14 HRs, .239/.286/.398 1.0 WAR
There isn’t much to add to Brenton Doyle. He’s an elite defender with an offensive game that needs work. If he can post something like a .625 OPS–which doesn’t even sound that good–Doyle can become a high end overall player.
Jake Cave
The newest Rockie already has a whole article for him here!
Cave is a rounded player that doesn’t excel in any one area and makes sense as a 4th outfielder. Whether the Rockies should have brought in a 31-year-old is another story.
Nolan Jones
Last season, Nolan Jones became one of the brightest young stars in all of baseball and became the center of the Rockies rebuild. There is alot to like about Jones, as he can do it all and brings the swag we have been missing.
With the bat, Nolan Jones has huge power, posting a .542 SLG last season. Jones isn’t just a power hitter either, as he possessed a 12.5% walk rate. This duality makes pitchers resent facing him; he’s patient and will punish mistakes deep in at bats. He has the offense, but what about the defense? In 2023, according to Baseball Savant, he had the strongest and most valuable arm in baseball, making him one of the best all-around players in the league at age 25.
The Bat X projection: 22 HRs, .262/.352/.464, 1.9 WAR
If you’re reading this, you know how good Nolan Jones is, and I don’t need to tell you.
Overall Expectations
This position group has a ton of talent. Bryant, Rodgers, McMahon, Tovar, and Jones all have legit All Star ability; it just comes down to availability. If those five, plus Blackmon, can remain consistent all year, this should be the best Rockies lineup since at least 2019.
Coming off a four season run in which the Rockies offense ranked at or near the bottom of the league in park-adjusted metrics, it may truly be their offense–not the pitching–that holds the key to improvement. If we think about any successful Rockies team, they were led by an offense that ranked near the top of the league in run production, while the pitching was merely steady.
Regardless, Rockies baseball is more fun when we routinely see double-digit outbursts from the Rockies offense on a warm summer night at Coors Field. Here’s to returning to a bit of that form, while also seeing one of the more athletic squads in memory.
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