The Colorado Rockies have approximately four adequate players for two spots. Nobody has won these spots nor is there really an incumbent. These two spots are left and right field.
With longtime star Carlos Gonzalez gone, now what? Will the Rockies go all youth or all veteran or will it be somewhere in between? Is either really a better option? Does no clear answer mean there is a problem?
These two battles—which are kind of one—are the most fascinating of this year’s spring training.
I’ll preface this preview with this, I do not believe this will be the Rockies Opening Day roster, rather I project these starters and alignment to be the most used throughout the season.
STARTERS
David Dahl
There’s a great line in “We Exist” by Arcade Fire that goes as follows: “They’re down on their knees/Begging us please/Praying that we don’t exist.” Win Butler exclaims “We Exist!” many times throughout the course of the song. I’ll have more on this in regards to Dahl in about a month but I can tell you the former Rockies top prospect does exist.
He should be the starting left fielder by midseason and he should be just as good as where he was when we last saw him at the major league level when he OPS’d .859 his rookie season.
Right now he’s fighting for the right field job because Ian Desmond is slated to be the left fielder on Opening Day. These roles and positions should be rather interchangeable throughout the season but Dahl has by far the most upside in left with his power, speed, and defensive ability.
Raimel Tapia
My colleague, Drew Creasman’s, favorite young player. For good reason. Tapia is a unique ballplayer that has both speed and contact ability. He is not the prototypical right fielder, in fact, he’s probably the centerfielder in waiting.
The once top prospect spent a little less than half the season last year in the bigs and he showed that he can hit. He needs his solid minor league defense to translate to the majors but when that happens he will be a good starter for years to come.
RESERVES
Ian Desmond
Desmond is one part reserve and one part starter. He will probably start 100 games if not more in 2018 between first base, left field and maybe center or short. He will be the Opening Day left fielder unless something changes. Desmond is a good player who had a down year in 2017. The expectation is that health will carry him to a successful season.
Gerardo Parra
Another semi-starter for the Rockies, Parra profiles as pretty much the perfect fourth outfielder in today’s game. He was nominated for a Gold Glove last season and his bat can carry a team for a week or two at a time before cooling back down. There shouldn’t be many concerns about Dahl given Parra is fit for the spot if need be. The one thing Parra can improve on after having a bounce-back year last season is health. He’s spent a good amount of time on the DL in both of his seasons with the Rockies and it’s affected them adversely.
Mike Tauchman
The first call-up if somebody goes down. Tauchman made the playoff roster because of his speed. He can play all three spots and is good depth for the club.
LONGSHOTS
Jordan Patterson
If Patterson gets another shot it may be his last. The left-handed hitting outfielder/first baseman has long thought to have a big league bat but his chances to show that have been spare. He’s one of the last guys on the roster and he may not stick coming out of camp so he’s fighting for his job.
Pat Valaika
He’s the backup player at just about every position. Valaika is a great pinch hitter and can be serviceable for 10 or so games in left field, albeit he won’t start, it will be late in games to get his bat into the order.
Noel Cuevas
Added to the 40-man roster this offseason, he will most likely debut at some point in 2018. He is not a highly rated prospect but is more decent depth for Colorado.
Ryan McMahon
Ry-Mac has never played outfield professionally. But he did once save his buddy’s no-hitter in high school with a diving catch in left. Obviously, that doesn’t merit big league defense but this former Mater Dei quarterback has the athleticism to play baseball, basketball or bobsled. Plus, he’s an uber-talented hitter.
