Colorado Rockies video: MLB Network's top 100 plays of 2017 announced

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DENVER, CO – JULY 09: Starting pitcher Kyle Freeland of the Colorado Rockies acknowledges the crowd as he leaves the game in the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Coors Field on July 9, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

In 2017, there were no shortage of fantastic defensive plays and with the Colorado Rockies having one of the best defensive teams in baseball with the likes of Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story, and DJ LeMahieu, there was no shortage of Rockies plays on the list.

MLB Network recently showed their top 100 plays show on the air. Most of them were defensive plays and in that area, the Colorado Rockies were well represented in the list.

First off, for the Rockies, they were featured early as Rockies rookie left-handed pitcher Kyle Freeland had a play that was number 98 on the list. It was from July 23 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Freeland ranged to the third base line to field a chopper and he made a jump throw to first that Mark Reynolds dug out of the dirt. You can watch it in the video below, courtesy of MLB.com’s videos of the segments of the show.

Play Number 64

The Rockies were featured next at number 64. This play took place on June 15 against the San Francisco Giants. Trevor Story went to his right into shallow left field to make a diving catch, nearly rolling over his wrist in the process. He was visibly shaken up a bit but received a hearty round of applause from the 40,747 people in attendance at Coors Field.

Nolan Arenado’s first installment on the countdown

Number 58 on the countdown was the first, but definitely not the last, for Nolan Arenado. This took place on August 22 against Kansas City in Kauffman Stadium.

A high chopper was hit to his right, towards the third base line. Arenado’s momentum carried him into foul territory and into the third base coaching box. He then proceeds to make a jump throw over to first baseman Mark Reynolds, who has to go into foul territory to receive the throw from Arenado.

As Drew Goodman, the Rockies television play-by-play broadcaster for AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, noted, Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar (who is a pretty good runner) was still out by two steps.

Charlie Blackmon makes an apperance

Numebr 38 on the countdown was Charlie Blackmon. The moment happened on August 1 against the New York Mets. Blackmon had to go very deep as the ball was at the wall and he leaped into the wall and he caught it.

Had he not caught the ball, it would have hit high off the wall. It was Asdrubal Cabrera who hit the ball, who doesn’t have lightning fast speed but, depend on the carom of the ball off the wall, it easily would have been a triple and potentially an inside-the-park home run.

DENVER, CO – JUNE 18: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates hitting a 3 RBI walk off home run in the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on June 18, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Nolan makes another appearance

Number 28 on the list is Nolan Arenado’s second play featured. This one took place on July 24 against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong hits a flare to Arenado’s right, along the third base line. Arenado dives and leaps to make a spectacular play to end the inning.

#NolanBeingNolan

Nolan is, yet again, featured at number 10 on the countdown. This moment is not for his defensive prowess but the history he makes and how he delivered in the clutch. On Sunday, June 18, the Rockies were facing the San Francisco Giants. The Rockies were looking for a four-game weekend sweep of the Giants. Entering the ninth inning, Nolan was 3-for-4 with a single, a double, and a triple. Down 5-3 entering the inning, DJ LeMahieu would drive in Raimel Tapia with an RBI single off Giants closer Mark Melancon to bring the score within one run.

Next up, with one out, would be Nolan Arenado. He would just need a home run to win the game and complete the cycle and he would waste no time in doing both. On the first pitch of the at bat, he launched the ball deep into left field stands for a walkoff, three-run home run and the cycle was complete.

DENVER, CO – JULY 19: Nolan Arenado. Photo courtesy of Getty Images. /

Nolan’s fourth time on the list

It shows you how good of a player Nolan Arenado is considering that he is on the countdown four times. If you average it out for teams, each team should average a little more than three plays (with 30 teams and 100 moments) but Arenado gets four plays alone.

This one is goes back to his defense. On June 28th at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Nolan made one of the best plays of the season according to MLB Network as it was number six on the countdown. For this play, Arenado has to dive to his left, towards shortstop, to stab the ball. He twists around, on his knees while falling down on his back, to get something on his throw to Mark Reynolds, who makes the knee-high catch to retire the batter, Ty Blach.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Rockies had seven plays on the list. Kyle Freeland, Trevor Story, and Charlie Blackmon each had one and Nolan Arenado had four of them.

Obviously, there were even more moments that could have been considered for MLB Network’s top 100 list. Heck, you could probably come up with a top 100 plays list for Arenado himself and have a really good list.

Next: A look at the Rockies infield as it currently stands

In 2018, you can bet that the Rockies will have plenty more plays reach in the top 100 countdown, both offensively and defensively.

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Colorado Rockies video: MLB Network’s top 100 plays of 2017 announced