Colorado Rockies: 5 reasons for fans to be thankful this Thanksgiving

Charlie Blackmon became the player the Rockies hoped he would be … and then got better

When Charlie Blackmon was promoted to the Major Leagues, John Sickles of SB Nation said he had been described by scouts as a potential fourth outfielder.  Sickles said he did not project Blackmon to be a “star,” but thought he would be a decent Major Leaguer for a number of years.

Back in 2010, Rox Pile mentioned that Blackmon, though a good player, was stuck behind a deep Rockies outfield.   However, the same article projected that Blackmon could potentially challenge Dexter Fowler for the center field job if Fowler’s struggles continued.

Though Blackmon was expected to be a quality player, it doesn’t seem anyone saw Blackmon’s MVP-worthy play in the future (or his equally impressive beard, for that matter).

In the minors, Blackmon was roadblocked by players whose names you’ve likely forgotten, but he kept playing hard and eventually he got his chance.

It was this hard work that got him to the big leagues, endeared him to the fan base, and lifted him to national prominence.

In his first full season in 2014 he hit 19 home runs and stole 28 bases.  The next year he stole 43.

In 2016 he hit 29 home runs, drove in 82 runs, and brought his batting average up to .324.

And of course there’s last season when he led the league in hitting at .331, smashed 37 home runs and drove in 104 runs.

It seems that no matter what happens, Chuck Nazty just keeps getting better.