Welcome to a new generation for the Colorado Rockies in center field

DENVER – The baseball hung in the cool mountain air just long enough for the Colorado Rockies future to get a little bit brighter.

San Diego Padres’ second baseman Greg Garcia went down and hammered a Jeff Hoffman pitch, giving a bit of a hop and a skip in celebration of the would-be home run. While jogging to first, the fastest man in purple – or black on this particular night – went racing back to the wall.

Garrett Hampson, who has played middle infield for the vast majority of his career, sprinted to one of the deeper parts of the expansive Coors Field outfield, lept up against the wall, and made a sensational catch.

In that moment, it became crystal clear that we have moved into a whole new era at center field for the Colorado club.

Charlie Blackmon hung in their admirably for years. After the Ian Desmond experiment during the first half, the team came out in the second half with the clear message that center field is up for grabs.

That leaves us with a parade of young, extraordinary athletes with a ton of potential and even more to prove.

David Dahl – Age: 25

Career: 921 Plate Appearances – .297/.346/.521,  38 HR, 14 SB 110 OPS+

Bud Black recently told the media before a game against the San Diego that David Dahl will be a center fielder moving forward. After an All-Star campaign in 2019, that means as long as he is healthy, Dahl will be playing center for the Rockies.

This is the most high-impact choice and one could mount a pretty solid case that Colorado should have gone to him sooner. With the past in the rear view, Dahl can be a difference-maker as an up-the-middle player going forward.

He was already showing such play before getting hurt in August. His arm, speed, and instincts will all be phenomenal weapons once he gets used to the spot and his bat would literally play well anywhere. But there will be questions about a guy with an injury history playing at the most physically demanding non-catcher spot on the diamond.

Raimel Tapia – Age: 25

Career: 655 Plate Appearances – .276/.313/.414, 11 HR, 14 SB, 75 OPS+

Tapia is a player who is never going to be loved by the advanced metrics unless he retools his game to hit for a lot more power. As a slappy, contact guy, he is also unlikely to begin drawing a lot more walks.

However, he has shown that his bat-to-ball skills that were such a magnificent weapon for him in the minors can translate to the big leagues. Finally getting some consistent starts for the first time in 2019, he showed he can be a consistent threat to hit his way on base and cause all kinds of trouble on the base path. That he has no real pronounced splits speaks to someone who has made himself a reliable hitter for average.

The Rockies were so impressed with his progress that Tapia made this season that they decided to give him the final month-plus to play center every day and bat leadoff… until he got hurt at the worst possible time.

Colorado continues to experiment with the top of the batting order, but it’s clear they are trying to see where No. 15’s spark plug nature can fit best. He was even showing signs of taking to center, where he is most naturally comfortable, making a couple of spectacular plays to go along with a few questionable ones as well.

Still, this renewed faith in Tapia suggests that he is the one most likely to step in if Dahl is unavailable or needs a day off.

Garrett Hampson – Age: 24

Career: 320 Plate Appearances – .237/.305/.355, 4 HR, 11 SB, 60 OPS+

Hampson has thrust himself into the conversation in a major way during the past month. His elite speed, the best in the organization, is perfect for the spot and he is showing that he is taking to the nuances of the position very well.

He remains an intriguing option as a super-utility guy who can move in and play the infield when needed, but his talents may be most beneficial in The Great Expanse.

If he has truly found his rhythm both physically and mentally, the Rockies may finally have their own version of a Kevin Pillar or Harrison Bader type of player, something they and their pitching staff desperately need.

Sam Hilliard – Age: 25

MLB Career: 45 Plate Appearances – .195/.298/.415, 4 HR, 0 SB, 70 OPS+

MiLB Career: 2,789 Plate Appearances – .282/.353/.485, 89 HR, 124 SB

The glimpse we’ve gotten of Hilliard is one that makes you wonder if he could flip this whole dynamic on its head. The player who has the least amount of experience in baseball’s most difficult center field to play has arguably the most upside.

His speed doesn’t match Hampson or Tapia, but is just the next wrung down which would still make him faster than most of the players that have manned the spot for the last several years.

His strong arm, probably the best in the organization, plays better in right but is still a huge advantage in center where, like his speed, it can help on all those plays that take place deeper in the massive outfield.

At 6’5″, Hilliard is plenty sturdy which helps both with the occasional crashing into a wall and the day-to-day wear-and-tear.

Here is where things get really interesting.

Colorado has, perhaps surprisingly, been left behind a bit by the home run revolution, ranking 24th in MLB this season.

If Hilliard proves to be reliable, the Rockies could preserve Dahl’s legs and put them both in the lineup.

An outfield of Dahl, Hilliard, and Blackmon could combine for 90 home runs. Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story, and Ryan McMahon could easily combine for another 90 on the infield.

While we’re dreaming on the potential return of a Blake Street Bombers style offense, throw in the projections for Brendan Rodgers to become a 20-30 home run hitter. If he can slide in at second next season with McMahon moving to first, along with the rest of this, the Rockies would give a huge boost to their power output without making a single transaction.

This is a big part of why the offseason should be almost exclusively about acquiring pitching.

Ian Desmond – Age: 33

Career: 5,920 PA – .263/.315/.426, 178 HR, 181 SB, 95 OPS+

The big question remains about Desmond’s role in 2020. We know it won’t be the same as in 2019. The club has made it clear that his days in center field are over.

Would they consider moving him back to first base or do they simply see him as a potential catch-all off the bench, playing multiple positions as a backup and giving those left-handed hitters some days off against tough southpaws?

Bud Black has said many times that he likes have a right-handed veteran with some pop on the bench. Desmond could fill that role nicely.

Few are likely to change their minds about Desmond one way or the other by now but his contract will most likely keep him on the team and, if played in the right way, he can be an asset.

That he is no longer a factor in center is huge, though. The Rockies will begin 2020 with a much higher ceiling, and floor, defensively in the outfield than they did in 2019.

And if a few things break their way, this new era of super-athlete could lead to a revolution both in the field and at the plate.