DENVER – Fans across the Rocky Mountain region have been making their personal fantasy starting lineups for Colorado since the Daniel Murphy signing took place and pushed Ian Desmond off first base and into the final spot in the outfield.
With Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, Trevor Story, and David Dahl returning to their respective starting positions and each night’s starting catcher based around the pitcher, the one spot that hasn’t been locked up is second base.
For the past five season, DJ LeMahieu has been the Opening Day starter at the keystone sack contributing to an increase in wins for Colorado in each of the past four consecutive seasons, a first for the franchise.
Staff ace Kyle Freeland is among the first to wish LeMahieu well with the New York Yankees while also reminding fans to not diminish expectations this season:
“DJ is going to be missed, but we also have guys waiting in the wings that are ready to fill those shoes.”
The discussion at second base has centered around three players age 24 or younger: Ryan McMahon, Garrett Hampson, and Brendan Rodgers.
McMahon, a perennial top 100 prospect in the sport since being drafted in 2013, has the most major league experience of the trio. In parts of two seasons, McMahon has tallied five home runs and twenty runs batted in across 20 at-bats, not to mention several notable clutch hits for Colorado down the stretch last season.
Though the size (6’2”) of this left-handed hitter is larger than most at second, McMahon would actually be a downgrade in height for the Rockies after employing the tallest ever at the position – LeMahieu (6’4”) – for the past seven seasons.
Garrett Hampson is the hot hand of the bunch after going from Class A Advanced Lancaster to Colorado’s playoff roster in just one season. By jumping two levels to make his major league debut in 2018, he became only the second position player to do so from his 2016 draft class.
Given his versatility around the middle of the infield and an ability to play the outfield, it would seem is if Hampson’s greatest value to the team would be as a utility player off the bench or replacing any number of Rockies’ starters on their given off-day. His well-above-average speed also plays perfectly in this role.
Even if he doesn’t win the job, there’s an extreme scenario that would allow Hampson a start five games per week at different positions as Bud Black gets some rest for five regulars. Such a framework could equate to the rarity of 400 or more plate appearances for eight different Rockies players.
The third and final contestant to become the starting second base is the dark horse of the group. Top prospect Brendan Rodgers and third overall selection in the 2015 MLB Draft has tremendous upside and might even be the favorite to take the reins at the position by September. Whenever the decision is made to bring him to Coors Field, another player from the Rockies’ 40-man roster will need to removed.
Since his successful run in Double-A Hartford, Rodgers has been unable to show his full potential. A late season call-up to Triple-A Albuquerque saw Rodgers put up a slash line of .232/.262/.290 and strike out sixteen times while walking just once. Then, shoulder tightness kept Rodgers from showcasing his abilities in the prestigious Arizona Fall League.
Regardless of the Opening Day situation, perhaps the best indicator that the second base starter will be fine this season comes from some reassurance by the man on the other side of the bag; All-Star shortstop Trevor Story.
After three seasons working beside LeMahieu, and coupled with the loss of veterans like Carlos Gonzalez, Gerardo Parra and Matt Holliday, the dynamics of the team have begun to shift toward younger players, according to Story.
“You learn from the guys ahead of you and learn from the leaders who have been before you. It’s time to start doing that. I’m not the most vocal guy, but leading by example is huge for me and I try to do that every day. These guys are ready. They’ve put in the work for us. It’s going to be fun.”
An unknown fourth option may be one that comes from outside the organization. With the likes of Josh Harrison, Marwin Gonzalez, and Logan Forsythe still available as free agents, there’s no shortage of suitable replacements for Colorado’s second basemen in 2019.
That being said, if the plan remains as it appears now, the time has come to stop thinking of McMahon, Hampson, and Rodgers as far off promises and future potential. These three players represent both the unknowns and insanely high potential of the 2019 Colorado Rockies.
