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Colorado Rockies: 4 key spring training battles to watch

By Kevin Henry

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 25: Archie Bradley #25 of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a pitch during the fourth inning of the spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 25, 2017 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 25: Archie Bradley #25 of the Arizona Diamondbacks delivers a pitch during the fourth inning of the spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 25, 2017 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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Tony Wolters of the Colorado Rockies
DENVER, CO – APRIL 21: Tony Wolters #14 of the Colorado Rockies rounds third base to score on a 2 run inside the park home run hit by Charlie Blackmon in the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on April 21, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Back-up catcher

Last season, experience ruled behind the plate for Colorado. With Tom Murphy injured to start the season and Tony Wolters or Dustin Garneau unable to produce consistently at the plate, Ryan Hanigan burst onto the scene and proved that a veteran presence at catcher paid dividends with Colorado’s young starters. At the trade deadline, Jonathan Lucroy was brought over from the Texas Rangers to continue that trend. Hanigan and Lucroy became the one-two punch behind the plate while Wolters and Murphy both found themselves in Triple-A trying to work their way back to Denver.

This year, Hanigan and Lucroy are both gone … but another veteran is behind the dish as the Rockies welcomed back Chris Iannetta with a two-year deal. Iannetta, however, isn’t expected to catch more than 100 games this season if recent history is any indicator (he hasn’t appeared in more than 94 games since 2014). That leaves plenty of opportunities for Wolters or Murphy to make their mark.

Murphy has plenty of potential and shook off talk of last season’s struggles during Q&A sessions during the recent Rockies Caravan. Wolters has plenty of big league experience and also adds the versatility of being able to play middle infielder if needed.

Next: 18 things to look forward to with the Rockies in 2018

One of the two young catchers will need to step up in spring training to show why they belong as Iannetta’s counterpart.

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