Todd Helton Would Be A Huge Addition To Rockies Organization

By Andrew Dill | Feb 3, 2016

Aug 17, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Former Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton walks out onto the field during a ceremony to retire his number before the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

Could you imagine the Colorado Rockies linking up once again with former longtime first baseman Todd Helton? Instead of hitting doubles and driving in runs, this time Helton would aid in such a feat — potentially as Colorado’s next hitting coach.

Helton, 42, has been out of the game for over two years now since announcing his retirement during the 2013 season. During his final hurrah as a member of the Rockies, Helton slashed at a line of .249/.314/.423 with 22 doubles, 15 home runs and 61 RBI’s. Not bad for a 40-year-old finishing up a 17-year career.

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What impressed me the most, and I’m sure most of the baseball community, was the eye and discipline Helton had at the plate. Todd would essentially fight off every bad pitch, wearing the pitcher down as he looked to capitalize on their one mistake.

Going along with his eye and discipline, you couldn’t say enough about his patience as well. Todd wasn’t afraid to work a walk, something the present day Colorado Rockies fail to do. As a team in 2015, the Rockies were 27th in all of baseball, collecting just 388 walks on the year.

Just think of how beneficial, let’s say, if Todd Helton became Colorado’s next hitting coach or some sort of figure in the organization. He could teach the younger kids such as David Dahl, Brendan Rodgers, Ryan McMahon, Forrest Wall and Raimel Tapia who are coming up through the organization.

Thomas Harding, Colorado Rockies beat writer for MLB.com had an excellent piece on Helton, who mentioned he would like to get back into the game of baseball. When asked, Helton said he’d only like to return if it was Colorado knocking on the doorstep.

"“But I’m not sure what that role is yet. Hopefully talk to the Rockies. I wouldn’t go anywhere else. I’m forever a Rockie. Hopefully, I’ll get to talk to them and make a difference somehow in the organization.”"

Helton’s discipline, knowledge and overall experience like I mentioned before, would be a great addition to Colorado’s organization. We’ve seen him through the years battling pitch-after-pitch, something he’d like to credit his father for.

"That’s just how my dad taught me. It’s your at-bat and you’re getting on base to help your team win. Striking out, you’re not helping anybody. I was up there battling every at-bat like my life was on the line — if that was taking a walk, that was taking a walk.”"

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All-in-all, it’d be nice to see No. 17 walking through the home team’s dugout yet again, this time as a coach.

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