Charlie Blackmon will once again be the frontrunner for the Colorado Rockies

Scottsdale, Arizona – Charlie BlackmondThe most prolific hitter in Colorado Rockies history is back at the top of the batting standings this season.

I’ll be comfortable there, no problem,” Blackmon said.

Blackmon was Rocky’s main hitter from his first season on a regular basis in 2014 through 2019, and with him came the immediate results.

He set records during his six-year career as an advanced hitter. In 2017, he set league records with 103 RBIs and 383 total bases from the lead, and his record of 86 in extra base that year was a National League record and third in major league history.

It’s exciting when you’re at base to start the game,” Blackmon said. “You feel like you’ve done a great job for your team and put yourself in a good position to score early, which is always great.”

Blackmon, 35, has hit the middle of the Rocky rankings in the past two seasons, a move seen as a way to complement Trevor’s story And create more production after the departure Nolan Arenado in 2021.

With the departure of the story, the arrival of Chris Bryant And the Randall Grechuk This spring and the strength it showed CJ Crohn A year ago, the Rockies manager pushed Bud Black to bring Blackmon back to number one in the hitting lineup.

“You love to have the best hitters at the top of the lineup,” Black said. “Charlie has proven to be a top hitter in the league. To me, a role is a couple of different things. A guy who can get a base. A guy you want to get up from as many times as you can in the game. A good starting player. No longer [un ladrón de bases]but he is a smart player.

“He understands the game. He understands what he needs to do to start the match. It could be anything. It could be a first-court feint, or a run on his pitch. Take a big hit to see a number of pitches that the players following behind see the start of the game.” It’s many things. Charlie is capable of all of these things.”

Brendan RodgersBryant Krone Ryan McMahon He and Grichuk Blackmon are expected to follow in various orders in a still somewhat fluid lineup with the addition of a designated hitter.

“It’s a good problem when you have a lot of bats in the middle of it,” Blackmon said. “This is really what we are going through.”

Because of the global DH, it can increase the chance of a hitter up front to hit runners at the base.

Blackmon will no longer be required to steal 43 bases, as he did in 2015, but he plans to take advantage of them when the opportunity arises.

“He’s going to try to run a really high percentage,” Blackmon said. “I don’t think I’ll do all the limits. If I go, I’ll try to make sure I’m safe.”