In a season filled with disappointment, the emergence of Tyler Colvin has turned into one of very few bright spots for the Colorado Rockies.
Colvin was acquired in an offseason trade with the Chicago Cubs for Ian Stewart. He was largely thought of as nothing more than a fourth outfielder and a pinch hitter upon his arrival.
With 180 at-bats under his belt, Colvin has emerged as one of the team’s most potent and consistent hitters. His stats are impressive: 13 home runs and 40 RBI with a .311 average.
To put those numbers into perspective, with 127 fewer at-bats than All-Star Carlos Gonzalez, Colvin is only four home runs and 18 RBI off of Cargo’s pace.
Colvin has displayed his defensive diversification by playing all three outfield positions. With that being said, it is my contention that his future with the Rockies is at first base.
Thus far, he has appeared in 13 games at the position. Given first baseman Todd Helton’s age and declining play, Colvin will likely see more opportunities at first base time as the season progresses.
Todd Helton has been the face of the franchise for 16 years. This five time All-Star has most impressively built himself a Hall of Fame career.
Father time is undefeated, though, and rapidly taking his toll on Helton.
We have all been painfully witnessing his sharp decline offensively. A career .320 hitter, Helton hit .254 in April and .213 in May. He has limped into the month of July with a nagging hip injury that is seriously hindering his ability to use the lower half of his body at the plate.
To date Helton remains the steady Gold Glove anchor at first base upon which the Rockies have depended for the past 16 seasons.
Colorado has no organizational depth at first base that is even remotely close to or worthy of being called up to the big leagues.
At present 33-year-old outfielder Michael Cuddyer and 41-year-old Jason Giambi are the only other players capable of playing the position. Giambi is very likely to be dealt at the trading deadline, and Cuddeyer is better suited for the outfield.
The time has come for a talented 26-year-old to be groomed as the heir apparent to Helton. There is no better time to begin a transition than during a season in which 100 losses is a distinct possibility.
Next season Helton should be asked to finish his storied career in the role Giambi fills today.
Yes, it will be sad to see Helton as a part-time player, pinch hitter, late-inning defensive replacement and mentor, but the harsh reality dictates that such roles have been thrust upon him.
No one expects Colvin to keep up the torrid pace that he is on in July, but he has proven to be a consistent hitter with serious home-run power.
Defensively Colvin will never be mistaken for Helton. But very few players would be, and certainly he is capable with a high ceiling.
This kid was drafted 13th overall in 2006 out of Clemson University and hit 20 home runs in 2010 with the Cubs before suffering a punctured lung from a broken bat. Following the injury his opportunities with the Cubs were foolishly limited.
The trade of Colvin for Stewart has turned out to be a lopsided steal for the Rockies.
If the front office and coaching staff are smart, they will afford Colvin the opportunity to get his feet wet at first base during the remainder of this dreadful season before making a further commitment to the switch in April.
I project Colvin to be the Rockies future at first base. His approach to hitting is an absolute joy to watch.
And we are just getting a glimpse of the tip of the iceberg.
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