Colorado Rockies: Team, players doing good things while on hiatus

The Colorado Rockies may not be on the baseball field, but that doesn’t mean that the team and its players aren’t still making an impact.

While the Colorado Rockies and their fans weren’t able to celebrate what was supposed to be Opening Day in Denver on Friday (with an afternoon game scheduled against the San Diego Padres for what would have been the home opener), the team still did plenty of good in the community.

With the Rockies celebrating instead a #StayAtHomeOpener, money was raised to help meet the need of several local organizations providing much-needed services in Denver and surrounding areas. The Stay at Home Opener, broadcast on Rockies.com and AT&T SportsNet, also served as a fundraiser for Feed The Rockies. With donations coming in from Rockies fans while watching the edited versions of several Opening Days crammed masterfully into one nine-inning game, the Rockies Foundation matched all donations up to $300,000.

On Saturday morning, the Rockies announced that (with matching) more than $353,000 had been raised to help those less fortunate.

According to the club, 100 percent of proceeds for Friday’s simulated Opening Day went to Care & Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado, Community Food Share, Food Bank for Larimer County, Food Bank of the Rockies and Weld Food Bank. All of these organizations help people in Colorado and Wyoming.

Rockies first baseman Daniel Murphy got the event going in style, donating $100,000 to the Rockies Foundation as the club announced on Twitter just before “first pitch.”

And that isn’t all Murphy has been doing to make an impact

Daniel Murphy and his wife, Tori, recently donated $100,000 to More Than Baseball and Our Baseball Life. Both are organizations that help Minor League players and their families.

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It was another positive step for minor leaguers. Major League Baseball recently said that it had extended the league-wide initiative of financial support for MiLB players through May 31 or until the beginning of the minor league season (whichever occurs first), according to an official release distributed by MLB through the Rockies and also reported on by USA Today and other media outlets.

“My wife has been in touch with Our Baseball Life, and they revealed the need for Minor Leaguers and their families,” Murphy told Thomas Harding of MLB.com in this article. “Once we found out More Than Baseball was already working on behalf of Minor Leaguers, we were able to quickly partner with them and donate to those in need. “In these uncertain times, it’s humbling for us to be able to help those who are struggling.”

As much criticism as Murphy has received for his play since signing a two-year deal with the Rockies, he is certainly starting the 2020 campaign off on the right foot in the minds of many fans.

Of course, Murphy isn’t the only Rockies player making a difference. The large amount of need stretches outside the United States as well, and that’s where outfielder Raimel Tapia is making his mark.