When the 2021 All-Star Game moved from Atlanta to Denver, a major opportunity opened up for quite possibly the last person you’d expect: Colorado Rockies bullpen catcher Aaron Muñoz.

“It was one of those things that they had asked us if we were willing to catch (the Home Run Derby) and at first, I said, ‘Yeah, absolutely,’ Muñoz said about the once in a lifetime experience. “And then when I found out (Trevor) Story was in it, he said, ‘Hey man, I want you back there.'”

Often seen catching bullpen sessions for pitchers, setting up the field for various pre-game activities and assisting with interpreting and translating for all players who speak Spanish as a first language, Muñoz has been a valued member of the organization since being hired in December 2016.

Originally drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011 in 34th round out of Northwestern State University of Louisiana, the Phoenix native played in parts of three seasons in the minors before being signed by the Rockies in February 2015, calling it a career shortly after.

During the All-Star Game festivities, Muñoz caught up with former rival Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees on the turf of Coors Field.

“I played against him in the minor leagues back when I played in Dunedin (FL) on our Low-A team when I was with the Blue Jays. We just brought up DJ LeMahieu,” Muñoz shared. “I asked him how (LeMahieu’s) doing and I congratulated him. He’s a super cool guy and I’m happy for everything he’s doing now.”

Other players reached out to the 33-year-old about battling the environs of the Mile High City during the two-plus days in Colorado.

“I was talking to (Philadelphia Phillies pitcher) Zack Wheeler a little bit and he was asking me what’s the difference pitching here at altitude,” he confessed. “Most of it is mental for those guys. But they definitely ask some questions.”

It was those few minutes behind home plate, the only one in the world with such a view,  watching Story launch home runs into the left field bleachers during the Home Run Derby that will forever be seared in his mind.

“Trevor, first of all, did an amazing job. Just to be a part of that and witnessed that live in person, you can’t ask for something better.” The middle child of three siblings continued, “When Nolan (Arenado) and (Germán) Márquez came out there, Nolan’s pumping up Story and the crowd was going crazy, it’s just like instant chills.”

Baseball Mourns The Passing of Bartee

On Tuesday, the baseball world mourned the loss of Kimera Bartee, whose passing is now believed to have been caused by a large tumor in his brain. A member of the 2001 Colorado Rockies, the 49-year-old was a veteran of six MLB seasons who also spent time with the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds.

Aug 22, 2021; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Detroit Tigers first base coach Kimera Bartee (18) celebrartes designated hitter Miguel Cabrera (24) solo homerun against the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning at Rogers Centre. The homerun was the 500th of his career. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Bartee transitioned into the coaching life once his playing days were over, serving as a minor league coach with the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates before joining the Bucs’ Major League staff from 2017-19. He worked with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2020 before joining the Detroit Tigers and eventually becoming their first base coach mid-way through the 2021 season.

Rockhounding Gems

• Both Muñoz and a quartet of former Rockies right-handed pitchers share a birthday on Dec 24: RHP Mo Sanford, RHP Jamey Wright, RHP Kevin Millwood and RHP Miguel Castro.
• Sanford, 55, was taken with the 62nd pick of the 1992 Expansion Draft. Born Meredith Leroy Sanford Jr., the product of the University of Alabama was most recently an assistant to the general manager with the Kansas City Royals.
• Wright, 47, pitched with Colorado for parts of six seasons (1996-99, 2004-05). He had a remarkably lengthy 19-year career in the Majors pitching for 10 different teams. Wright hit 155 batters during his career, tied for 17th most all-time with Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven. In 2021, he worked as a pitching coach for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers.
• Millwood, 47, made nine starts for the Rockies in 2011, going 4-3 with a 3.98 ERA. He’s one of only six pitchers in franchise history to slug two or more home runs with Colorado in a single season, doing so in just 19 at-bats.
• Castro, 27, pitched the last two seasons with the New York Mets to moderate success: 3.52 ERA in 79.1 IP. Since leaving Colorado, one of the players acquired from the Troy Tulowitzki trade to Toronto in 2015 has pitched to a 3.92 ERA (111 ERA+) and has been worth 4.1 bWAR.