BSN Exclusive: Former Rockies' Fowler returns to old stomping grounds

Each time Dexter Fowler returns to Denver, it seems there’s always something new worth talking about with him.

In 2015, he made his first appearance at Coors Field in an opposing uniform, representing the Chicago Cubs; the 2016 North Siders came to LoDo with the best record in baseball en route to their first World Series in 108 years. 

“It was crazy seeing the studios,” Fowler said of his appearance on Saturday Night Live alongside Anthony Rizzo, David Ross, and superfan Bill Murray to celebrate the end of the franchise’s alleged curse. “It was a great experience, and we definitely had fun. Got a chance to meet everybody.”

His scene alongside Murray, a former SNL cast member, together with teammates to sing “Go, Cubs, Go!” was particularly memorable for the sketch comedy fan.

“We had an original script, and then (Bill) just came and scratched it all and made up his own, which was cool,” said Fowler, who also listed In Living Color as one his favorites growing up. 

After a five-year, $82.5MM pact with the St. Louis Cardinals, Fowler came back to Colorado in 2017 once again; an injury-plagued season in 2018 limited him to 90 games, none of which came at his old haunts. 

Coincidentally enough, it was an injury that allowed him to witness the road to October in 2007. Only two years removed from high school and one year away from making his big league debut, the now 33-year-old recalled the story that placed him at the heart of the miraculous run to the World Series. 

“I was actually here,” shared Fowler. “I broke my hand halfway through the season, so I was rehabbing here. I had surgery (in Denver), and I was doing all my rehab work (at Coors Field). So I got to see it firsthand.”

The Rockies’ franchise record holder in career triples (53) spent six season in purple between 2008-13, ultimately getting traded to Houston in December 2013 for LHP Jordan Lyles and OF Brandon Barnes.

Before the deal was in place, the outfielder from Georgia played alongside a certain rookie third baseman.

“I knew he was good. You knew the potential was in there,” he said of the then-22-year-old Nolan Arenado. “You heard of him in the minor leagues, and then he came up here. And you saw the way his tools played, and you know he’s gonna be up here for a long time.”

Arenado was equally praiseworthy of his former teammate, saying “Dexter’s a great guy, nice guy. Dexter was always really cool to me, always very nice to me and treated me right. You know, he was a great guy and it was very easy for people to like him because he was always smiling, joking around. He kept it light and stuff, so he was really cool.”

As for his feelings towards Fowler lifting up the Commissioner’s Trophy after the historic 2016

World Series for the Cubs,

Arenado went on to say, “He accomplished something that’s everyone’s childhood dream, to win a World Series. So I think you’re just happy for him, and you’re just hopeful it happens to you.”