BSN Exclusive: Meet the Rockies' new super athlete

Famed American poet Ice Cube once said, “I think I’m unique to the game ’cause of my versatility.”

Versatility was added to the Rockies’ roster on Saturday with the promotion of Garrett Hampson following an injury to DJ LeMahieu.

Hampson, a middle infielder, could slot in as the starting second baseman while LeMahieu recovers from an oblique injury. But, the third-round selection in the 2016 draft spent his collegiate career as a shortstop and has played there the majority of his minor league career. He also added eight games in center field this season.

He is the fifth player from his draft class to break into the majors, and the second position player behind outfielder Austin Hayes of the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles. A year after spending his entire season in High-A Lancaster, Hampson passed through both Double- and Triple-A in the first half of 2018. Now, he’s in the Show, before the majority of the 81 picks before him.

“I was still a high-round pick, but I think you always feel like you could’ve gone higher,” Hampson told BSN Denver in June. “So, a little chip on the shoulder. But, I think that’s just competition and everyone else should feel that way as well.”

Hampson started the year with Double-A Hartford but lasted only 38 games before joining the Albuquerque Isotopes on May 17. Walking four more times than he struck out, he clipped .304/.391/.466. But Hampson’s best tool – his speed – showed through the most, as he stole 19 bases in 20 tries in his short stint with the Yard Goats. That success on the bases continued at the next level, where he was successful in 14 of his 18 steal attempts, the 14th-most steals in the Pacific Coast League.

Across parts of three minor league seasons, he’s accumulated 120 stolen bases total, making the basepaths the spot where he can be the most lethal.

“I think I’ve evolved a long way in professional baseball. Just reading pitchers, knowing certain counts, when to run. Not trying to get too aggressive, but at the same time pushing the envelope, being aggressive. Ninety feet in this game is huge, and I pride myself on taking it.”

Part of that evolution has also been in the field, where he’s taken to not just a new middle infield spot, but is learning center field as well. As the Rockies organization tries to instill versatility in almost all of their players, Hampson has bought in.

“You just have to find time to prepare for every single position. Every position is different. I think early work. There’s different angles, different reads off the bat. Moving from the outfield is a different thing. But, between short and second, there’s little footwork stuff you need to fine tune every once in a while because you can come in the field one day and you’re in a different position. Just stay flexible and I pride myself in that. Being able to play different positions and I think it helps anybody out.”

While changing to a new position can cause drawbacks on the offensive side of the game, Hampson said he prides himself on separating the two aspects. Joining the Rockies organization after three years of college ball, Hampson had more polish than some draftees, like Brendan Rodgers, who was selected out of high school. This allowed him to skip over the rookie level altogether. Still, he’s never posted a sub-.300 batting average at any level, a feat that requires constant adaptation and learning.

The last piece was finding success at MiLB’s highest level. He noted that facing veterans and pitchers on the fringes of MLB boosted his confidence in himself.

“You see some of those guys on TV growing up, and it makes you feel good. You know you can play along with them.”

This was a point echoed by Isotopes manager Glenallen Hill.

“He’s in the process of being finished off,”  Hill said, “He’s a talented player, and he’s learning and proving to himself that he can compete here, and he’s doing a great job.”

Hampson, along with facing top-tier pitching in Triple-A, gained some experience in that area during his first big league spring training invitation in March, taking the field alongside many of the players he’ll line up with again with his latest promotion. He touted those few weeks as beneficial to his development.

“It was so cool to be around all the big guys, and just take in everything I could, and learn and listen,” Hampson told BSN Denver after he returned to minor league camp in spring training. “Anything that came up, and maybe watching games the next day, ask them a question or two. Taking ground balls with DJ, just picking some little things about defense off of him.”

And, Hampson says, sometimes being the proverbial fly on the wall can be as beneficial as anything.

“Honestly, I think the biggest thing was just watching,” he says. “Because they go about their business the right way and obviously they’re special players. So, you can ask as many questions as you want but also just watch them play. That’s the highest level of competition, so I know what it takes to get there. I know what it takes to be in there and stay in there. So, I took a lot from that.”

Now the Rockies will hope that all the experience he’s gained in just under 300 MiLB appearances will translate to the Show. As the team pushes for the NL West division lead, Hampson’s speed and versatility will give Bud Black some extra options.

Additional reporting from Patrick Lyons