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2020 MLB Draft: Colorado Rockies and their history with the ninth pick

By Kevin Henry

TORONTO, CANADA - JUNE 18: Jeff Francis #26 of the Colorado Rockies looks in before delivering a pitch during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays on June 18, 2013 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - JUNE 18: Jeff Francis #26 of the Colorado Rockies looks in before delivering a pitch during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays on June 18, 2013 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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DENVER – APRIL 04: Manager Clint Hurdle #13 of the Colorado Rockies protests a call with home plate umpire Rob Drake #82 in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks on opening day at Coors Field on April 4, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER – APRIL 04: Manager Clint Hurdle #13 of the Colorado Rockies protests a call with home plate umpire Rob Drake #82 in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks on opening day at Coors Field on April 4, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

Clint Hurdle may have never played for the Rockies but the ninth overall pick in the 1975 draft certainly made an impact on the franchise, leading Colorado to the World Series in 2007 and the playoffs in 2009. He finished his time in Colorado as the franchise’s winningest manager, going 534-625.

As a player, Hurdle suited up for 10 seasons for four different teams between 1977 and 1987. Breaking into the Majors as a 19-year-old with the Kansas City Royals, Hurdle slashed .308/.357/.538 in his first 26 at-bats. However, he played in more than 80 games just twice in his career and stepped away from playing at the age of 29 after just three at-bats with the New York Mets.

Between his time overseeing the Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates, Hurdle impacted the game much more as a manager than as a player.

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