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Colorado Rockies Countdown: Top Five Catchers

By James Keating

Mar 13, 2016; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Nick Hundley (4) throws the ball to first base for the out in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2016; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Nick Hundley (4) throws the ball to first base for the out in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 25, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman Wilin Rosario (20) in the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field. The Rockies defeated the Diamondbacks 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 25, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman Wilin Rosario (20) in the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field. The Rockies defeated the Diamondbacks 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

3.  Wilin Rosario (2011-2015, fWAR 2.6)

It’s safe to say that Rockies fans are going to remember Wilin Rosario more for what he couldn’t do (field a baseball) rather than for what he could do (hit a baseball). Rosario, who was affectionately referred to as the “baby bull” in Denver, was brought up in the Rockies organization as a top slugging prospect. But after leading the league in passed balls for three consecutive seasons, the front office and Rockies fans grew unimpressed.

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Before he was labeled a defensive liability, however, people forget how promising Rosario was as a hitter and how he originally won our affection. In 2012, Rosario set a Colorado Rockies record for home runs by a rookie when he blasted 28 homers. Rosario would finish fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting that season. To follow up a stellar rookie campaign at the plate, Rosario would mash another 21 homers in 2013 to accompany a .292 average. Not long after that, however, Rosario’s defensive skills (or lack thereof) started to cut into his playing time and his contributions at the plate began to diminish as a result.

2015 would be Rosario’s last full season in Colorado as he only played in 87 games, hitting a meager six home runs with a .295 OBP. Rosario was granted free agency this past offseason but no major league teams showed interest in the slugger. As a result, Rosario signed with the Hanwha Eagles and is currently playing in the Korean Baseball Organization. Rosario is only 27 years old, so there remains hope that he can catch on with a Major League team in the future … preferably in the American League as a DH.

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