Colorado Rockies: 4 things we learned while covering spring training

After spending a week with the Colorado Rockies at their spring training home in Scottsdale, Ariz., there are some things that I noticed over that time.

First, however, let’s set the stage for 2019. During the last two seasons, the Colorado Rockies have made back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time in franchise history. Now the squad is looking for that third straight Rocktober appearance. However, it’s going to take some new faces and upgraded contributions to make that happen.

DJ LeMahieu, Adam Ottavino, Carlos Gonzalez and Gerardo Parra are among the contributors from 2018 who won’t be back in a Rockies uniform this year. Who replaces them in the lineup and how well they are replaced are obvious keys to Colorado’s success (or lack thereof) in 2019.

Some of those players who are likely to replace the four players mentioned above certainly caught my eye with their spring training play. Ryan McMahon and Pat Valaika are putting together incredibly strong starts to spring while David Dahl has put on some muscle and looks to be ready to become a force for (hopefully) a full season.

Let’s dive into some of the biggest things that caught my eye in Scottsdale and what that might mean heading into the final few games of spring training.