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Colorado Rockies: Top Five Center Fielders in Franchise History

By Noah Yingling

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 21: Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies runs the bases after hitting a lead-off home run in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 21, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 21: Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies runs the bases after hitting a lead-off home run in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 21, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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11 Apr 1998: Outfielder Ellis Burks of the Colorado Rockies in action during a game against the Cincinnati Reds at the Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. The Reds won the game, 12-5. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport
11 Apr 1998: Outfielder Ellis Burks of the Colorado Rockies in action during a game against the Cincinnati Reds at the Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. The Reds won the game, 12-5. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport /

Number 4- Ellis Burks (12.0 bWAR, 11.0 fWAR, parts of five seasons as a Rockie)

By overall WAR, Burks would be higher on this list but he got about two-thirds of that in one season and, largely, in left field.

In the other four seasons as a Rockie, he played about two-thirds of his games in center field. In those four seasons, he amassed a 4.1 bWAR/3.8 fWAR, which is why he’s at number four in our rankings.

Number 3- Juan Pierre (4.1 bWAR, 3.7 fWAR, parts of three seasons as a Rockie)

Juan Pierre is best known for his time with the then-named Florida Marlins but he started out his career as a Rockie. He played in part of three seasons (two full) and he hit .308/.356/.371 with an OPS+ of 71. That OPS+ is low due to his lack of power, as he only had 3 home runs in 359 games.

In his first full season as a Rockie (2001), he led the NL in stolen bases with 46 and he was also second in the NL in hits with 202.

The Rockies traded him along with Mike Hampton and cash for reliever Vic Darensbourg, catcher Charles Johnson, infielder Pablo Ozuna, and outfielder Preston Wilson before the 2003 season.

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