Could Wilin Rosario At First Base Actually Work?

The Rockies either failed or refused to move Wilin Rosario during the offseason, and they made their unhappiness with his catching plain when they signed Nick Hundley. Could it actually work to play Rosario at first base sometimes?

One of the things I have been most afraid of for the 2015 season is seeing Wilin Rosario man first base. This is nothing against Rosario per se, but his defense has been by far the worst part of his performance at catcher, and I just do not know that we can expect him to suddenly learn another position adequately, given the time he’s already put into catcher.

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With the obligatory reminder about small sample size, though, it sounds like Rosario is already putting in some good time at first. In Nick Groke’s dispatch from the Rockies’ first spring training game on Wednesday, he pointed out that Rosario acquitted himself just fine, nearly turning a double play on a groundball he fielded. Of course, we have no idea what’s going to happen the next time Rosario plays first, but I’m very encouraged by the fact that the routine movements of the position seemed to come more or less naturally to him.

The Rockies’ front office seems committed enough to Rosario’s bat that they will try him everywhere they have to defensively to keep him in the lineup. I maintain that Rosario makes a better designated hitter, but I understand why they want to hold on to his power potential. The real issue arises when that potential does not translate into reality, as it didn’t in 2014. Defense and pitch-calling aside, Rosario can’t play every day or even most days if he’s going to slash .267/.305/.435. That’s not bad for a bench player, but it is for someone whose entire purpose for playing the game is to drive in runs. Rosario had a paltry 51 RBI in 106 games last season, a number that just will not do.

Luckily, it sounds like the bat is back in business as well. Patrick Saunders’s write-up of yesterday’s game noted that Rosario drove in a run. Again, small sample size, we won’t really know till the end of spring training what kind of player we’ll have for the season, and even then there is no guarantee. I’m just saying that I feel a little bit of hope. If Rosario can be, bare minimum, not-good-but-not-awful at first base, then I’ll praise Jeff Bridich for holding onto him and allowing him another chance to make an impact offensively. If not, well, something tells me that will still be far from the worst of our troubles.

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