End of an Era In Colorado?
Image from Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press
Charlie Blackmon is a long-time outfielder for the Colorado Rockies. He is a sight on the field that you will not miss. Outside of being a tremendous athlete his bushy beard and mullet make him stand out. Charlie made his debut for the Rockies in 2011 and has since become one of the all-time greats of the franchise. Blackmon ranks top five in games played, extra-base hits, doubles, triples, total bases, hits, and stolen bases for the Rockies. His impressive on-field performance and eye-catching appearance have led him to be a fan favorite in Colorado for over a decade.
Blackmon’s success as an outfielder for the Rockies is something that no one would have predicted early on in his baseball career. In 2006, Charlie signed as a junior college transfer to Georgia Tech as a pitcher. After two years of dealing with arm pain, Blackmon transitioned to an outfielder where he hit .396 as a senior and was drafted.
Blackmon has to put together an admirable 13-year career. He has made four all-star appearances and indeed has contended for more. Charlie has hit over .300 batting average in five different seasons. His most notable year was 2017 where he led the NL with a .331 batting average and finished fifth in MVP voting. In 2017, Blackmon also led the major leagues in hits, runs, plate appearances, and triples. Blackmon is slashing .296/.354/.485 (.avg/.obp/.slg) in his career which earned him a six-year 108 million dollar contract in 2018. Charlie will become a free agent at the end of the 2023 season. The 36 year-old MLB star may look to move on from the Rockies either with retirement or a contract elsewhere.
Charlie Blackmon is still a productive MLB player 13 years into his MLB career. There is little question whether he can still compete at the highest level of baseball. The biggest question to be answered regarding Blackmon’s future in baseball is whether the Rockies will sign him back. The Rockies currently sit at the very bottom of the NL West division. They have been culminating in a younger team over the past few yearss and it might be time for them to commit to a full rebuild of the franchise. The Rockies top prospect, Zac Veen, is an outfielder and they have many other exciting players in their system. In the case that the Rockies do not resign Blackmon it seems likely he will retire. It is no secret he loves Colorado, as he frequently makes post in the mountains fishing with his dog. Addtionally, he is coming off of a meniscus injury last summer and recently fractured a bone in his hand this season. As injuries accumulate and the Rockies look to make changes to their team Blackmon has a good chance of retiring after the end of this season.
