A lot can happen between now and March 28 when the Rockies open the 2024 regular season against the defending National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Injuries, breakout performances, big disappointments, and even trades can alter a club’s near future.
But here is a projection of the Rockies’ opening-day lineup:
DH Charlie Blackmon: Sidelined with a broken hand from June 11-Aug.14, Blackmon hit .279 with eight home runs last year. The 37-year-old signed a one-year, $13 million contract at the end of last season. This could be his last hurrah.
1B Kris Bryant: After two injury-plagued seasons, Bryant is hoping to stay on the field this season and produce. In 80 games last season, he slashed .233/.313/.367 with 10 home runs. The Rockies need a whole lot more from KB.
LF Nolan Jones: A possible star in the making, Jones slashed .297/.389/.542 and hit 20 homers in 106 games after getting called up from Triple-A Albuquerque. Can he handle the pressure of hitting third?
3B Ryan McMahon: He’s Gold Glove worthy at the hot corner and he’s got pop in his bat — his average home run distance of 420 feet tied with Ronald Acuña Jr. for second in the majors last season. But his 31.6% strikeout rate and .240 average are a problem for a cleanup hitter.
2B Brendon Rodgers: He won a Gold Glove in 2022 but he’s yet to reach his potential as a hitter. Rodgers had a red-hot September, slashing .348/.392/.580 with four doubles, four home runs and nine RBIs in his final 17 games.
SS Ezequiel Tovar: The Rockies see a Gold Glove and more potent offense in Tovar’s future. He’s a critical part of Colorado’s future core. His .988 fielding percentage at shortstop was the highest for a rookie shortstop in major league history, breaking the record set by former Rockie Troy Tulowitzki (.987 in 2007). Tovar hit .253, launched 15 homers and drove in 73 runs last season.
C Elias Diaz: Colorado’s lone All-Star last season, Diaz brings a veteran’s toughness behind the plate. Last season, he set career highs in games (141), hits (130), doubles (25), RBIs (72), walks (34) and total bases (199).
RF Sean Bouchard: He returned from a ruptured biceps tendon suffered in spring training to slash .316/.372./.684 with four homers in 21 games at the tail end of the season. He’ll have competition in camp but right now he looks like the starter in right.
CF Brenton Doyle: Doyle won a Gold Glove as a rookie center fielder while showing off a powerful arm and flashing speed in the outfield and on the bases. He swiped 22 bags. But he also hit just .203 and struck out 34.9% of the time, the highest rate in the majors. The Rockies need more at the plate from Doyle.
LHP Kyle Freeland: The Denver native made 29 starts in his seventh major league season and posted a 5.03 ERA, including a 5.13 ERA on the road, the highest of his career. He had a 6-14 record, the result of a dreadful lack of run support. Freeland hopes an uptick in fastball velocity and a new changeup grip will get him back on track.
Want more Rockies news? Sign up for the Rockies Insider to get all our MLB analysis.
