Happy Nolan Arenado draft anniversary, Colorado Rockies fans!

Happy anniversary, Colorado Rockies fans! It was 11 years ago today (June 9) that the franchise drafted Nolan Arenado with the 59th overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft.

A second-round pick in that now-famous 2009 draft, Nolan Arenado has become one of the cornerstones of not only the Colorado Rockies franchise, but also Major League Baseball. The seven-time Gold Glove and three-time Platinum Glove third baseman is on a Hall of Fame trajectory, according to someone who should know that path very well. That’s Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt, who praised Arenado in this article.

Since his Major League debut on April 28, 2013, the Rockies third baseman has belted 227 homers, logged 734 RBI, and posted a lifetime slash line of .295/.351/.546 with an .897 OPS and 122 OPS+.

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Arenado was actually the fourth player drafted by the Rockies in the 2009 draft, following pitcher Tyler Matzek at No. 11, outfielder Tim Wheeler at No. 32, and pitcher Rex Brothers at No. 34.

Some other notables from that year’s draft include top pick Stephen Strasburg (Washington), A.J. Pollock (Arizona, No. 17), Shelby Miller (No. 19, St. Louis), and back-to-back picks by the Los Angeles Angel (Randal Grichuk at No. 24 and Mike Trout at No. 25).

Rockies fans will also note that the Chicago Cubs selected DJ LeMahieu with the 79th overall pick.

While every franchise may shake their collective heads by missing out on Trout, those same franchises wonder, looking back, how Arenado slipped to No. 59. If you want to see why Arenado may not have been taken higher, it’s interesting to read through some of the scouting notes that have come to light on him.

Yes, 11 years ago today, the Rockies made a draft pick that would change the face of the franchise for years to come. Who will the Rockies take in the 2020 MLB Draft that could be a game-changer for the future? Here are some of the thoughts on Colorado’s potential draft direction from ESPN insider Kiley McDaniel.