BSN Exclusive: Charlie Blackmon sheds light on his transition to right field

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon has been a model of consistency for his club over the last five years.

He cemented himself into the leadoff spot in the lineup very early on in his MLB career and almost as quickly became a fixture in the massive expanse that is centerfield at Coors Field.

Never among the fastest players to man the position – those distinctions are held by Dexter Fowler and Juan Pierre – Blackmon set himself apart by making the most of his understanding of the game and pure baseball instincts to become arguably the most effective defender the Rockies have ever had out there.

If nothing else, he was the most reliable.

But the writing has been on the wall for a while that his days in center were numbered. The demands of the position were wearing on him and we witnessed a reduction in his overall speed partly as a result of this.

So now, the man who was drafted twice out of college as a pitcher will be making another position change.

Of course, it’s nothing quite so extreme this time, he won’t be toeing the rubber anytime soon. But the move to right field, to make way for Ian Desmond to become the primary centerfielder, is one Blackmon admits has taken just a little bit of time to get re-used to.

“I’m starting to feel really comfortable over there,” he told BSN Denver. “It’s a little bit different, not drastic. It’s not something I haven’t done before. But I’m starting to feel comfortable.”

Questions were raised about the strength of his arm in a position that requires the longest throws on the diamond, but we have already seen it play just fine in spring, especially when combined with his cutoff man, Ryan McMahon, playing second base with a third-baseman’s arm.

Blackmon was, of course, sad to see one of his best friends in DJ LeMahieu leave the ballclub, but he is liking what he sees out of the young man most likely to take his place.

“He’s been really good, I’m really impressed,” Blackmon says of McMahon. “He’s hitting the ball really hard. Looks super competitive. Looks good defensively, too. I feel like he’s playing loose and relaxed and we’re really starting to see his game come through.”

Some of these changes have taken some getting used to, but one area where the former batting champion and two-time Silver Slugger feels right at home, is at the plate.

“Everything feels really good,” he says about his swing. “And this last week is the week you really try to mentally sharpen up, and up your competitiveness. So, that’s where we are right now.”

Charlie Blackmon, in a down year, hit only .291/.358/.502 last season and will once again be penciled in most nights to begin the Rockies offense and set the tone atop the lineup.

He has already set the tone this spring for a team with World Series aspirations by accepting a reassignment at the age of 32, embracing it, and moving forward with all of the intentions of a man who expects to win every single at-bat.