Helton returns to the Colorado Rockies as a Special Assistant to the GM

GM Bill Schmidt has himself yet another new acquisition.

On Saturday, the Colorado Rockies announced Todd Helton will be joining the organization as a Special Assistant to the General Manager. 

Welcome back, Todd Helton🙌👏 pic.twitter.com/bT9WLCjYkr

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 9, 2022

The 17-year veteran first returned to the organization last month to work with minor league players at Salt River Fields during Spring Training. 

“What he did that week down in Spring Training, it really set the tone for the whole camp,” Schmidt said before Saturday’s clash with the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Now, he’ll be a permanent fixture in the growing front office for Colorado.

Helton was personally contacted by Schmidt to rejoin the only franchise he’s ever known.

“I’m glad Todd is jumping back in,” manager Bud Black said of Helton’s hiring. “He was great in Spring Training. I don’t know Todd very well, but we probably had more conversations this spring than any other time.”

The Tennessee native joined the likes of Pedro Astacio, Clint Barmes and Carlos González as returning Rockies to help with the minor league camp at Salt River Field. 

Now he’ll join his former manager, Clint Hurdle, himself a recent addition as a Special Assistant to the GM, in Colorado’s front office as part of a renaissance. 

Could other fan favorites be in line for a role with the organization?

“There’s more out there that we want to get involved with us,” Schmidt admitted.

Helton’s responsibilities will be similar to his experience last month in Scottsdale. Though Schmidt said the position will include all things baseball operations such as scouting and working with minor leaguers again, there’s one area he will most certainly not be involved.

“He won’t be in the analytics, I can tell you that,” the GM joked. “That’s the one area he might not be doing.”

One prospect that Helton has already taken a liking to is fellow first baseman Michael Toglia.

The two shared a dinner together, related perspectives about playing Gold Glove caliber defense at first, and the latter even wore the former’s no. 17 jersey for a short stretch of time before the big leaguers showed up to Spring Training. 

“I think it’s real positive with the relationship they had, but he worked with other kids too,” clarified Schmidt. “He actually talked to all our minor league hitters, and gave a real heart to heart talk about what goes on and what it takes to be successful up here.”

“He seems more comfortable, he seems more open,” Black said of Helton. “I think he’s in a good place to get back involved and help.”

With potential for more fan favorites to come back to Colorado, one of the biggest names is back home: Mr. Rockie.