Colorado Rockies History: Wilin Rosario or Jeff Reed at Catcher?

Wilin Rosario (Call to the Pen’s choice)

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.

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.