Colorado Rockies: Five players to watch as Spring Training opens

4. Brett Nicholas – C

Back in November of last year, the club announced a minor league deal with former Texas Rangers and San Diego Padres catcher Brett Nicholas. Nicholas spent all last season in Triple-A with the Padres.

It is known to everyone that the catcher position is volatile for Colorado. Currently, the team has Chris Iannetta and Tony Wolters on the major league club, Tom Murphy, who jumped between the majors and Triple-A last season, and Nicholas. You can never have too many catchers.

Nicholas is an interesting player. He has been in professional baseball since 2010, originally as a sixth-round selection by the Rangers, however, has just 35 total games at the major league level. That being said, Nicholas has been fine. He carries a career .252/.300/.456 line with an upside .204 ISO, .322 wOBA and 93 wRC+. It means Nicholas is slightly below an average major league catcher, which again is fine.

As the club does not have much in the area of catching prospects in their pipeline, Nicholas has a rare opportunity this spring to earn a spot with the major league club and a chance to produce. Once the Philadelphia Phillies acquired All-Star backstop, J.T. Realmuto, a couple of weeks ago, it makes it more imperative now the Rockies find someone moving forward. Although Nicholas is 30 years old, it could be his chance to shine come to Opening Day.