Colorado Rockies First Base Competition: Week One

As Spring Training rolls on and players fight for their spot on the 25-man roster, Rox Pile is committed to providing you with up-to-date looks at the state of each position from Colorado Rockies camp. On Monday, we published our first look at the shortstop situation and on Wednesday we examined the key outfielders.

Today, we’ll look at the first base competition.

The Rockies have yet to find a permanent first base solution since the retirement of Todd Helton. The incumbent Ben Paulsen had a solid year last year but struggled against lefties, leading the Rockies to sign power-laden Matt Reynolds to presumably provide the right-handed part of the platoon equation. Kyle Parker, the Rockies first round draft pick in 2010, failed to claim a spot in the competition following a poor year last year and is on the outside looking in. Could he make a surprise run at the position?

Kyle Parker
11 AB | 3 H | 2 R | 1 RBI | 0 BB | 5 K | .273/.273/.273

Parker was the 40-man roster casualty from the Gerardo Parra signing. He’s not only fighting to make the Opening Day roster but the 40-man as well. Parker will have to prove in a few short weeks that he’s still worth the investment and deserves another chance with the Rockies. He’s notorious for starting slowly and improving over time, but he’ll need to step up his game over the next two weeks to prove his point. The five strikeouts in 11 at-bats is alarming, considering that was his biggest knock last year. Parker has a big hill to climb.

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Ben Paulsen
12 AB | 4 H | 0 R | 1 2B | 6 RBI | 1 BB | 1 K | .333/.357/.417

Paulsen started off well and isn’t in danger of losing his roster spot as the primary left-handed first baseman. His competition is for innings against Mark Reynolds, who started off very well. Paulsen’s exhibited everything we expect of him at this point in his career; a patient hitter who has gap-to-home-run power and plays solid defense. Paulsen is the better defender of the three and the Rockies know that they’ll get solid play from him. He’s not going to be an All-Star, but he’s a solid major-league regular.

Mark Reynolds
14 AB | 6 H | 2 R | 1 2B | 1 3B | 1 HR | 4 RBI | 1 BB | 2 K | .429/.467/.857

Reynolds has started off on fire. The Rockies signed him for his power potential and boy has he delivered. Three of his six hits have been for extra bases and will be very valuable for the Rockies either as a starter or off the bench. It’s still unclear exactly what role the Rockies see Reynolds having despite all signs pointing to a first base platoon, but his start has, at the very least, piqued my interest.

Keep checking back here for updates on the shortstop, backup catcher, outfield, first base and pitching battles happening in Colorado Rockies camp.

Next: AltiTwo: Tulo's Comments and Spring Training Update

This week we took a play-by-play recap of Troy Tulowitzki‘s comments about his departure from the Colorado Rockies and the differences in his role between his former team and his new one, the Toronto Blue Jays. Which comments bothered you the most? Which were overblown and should be ignored? (Answer: all of them.)

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Today, we’ll look at the first base competition.

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