Colorado Rockies: 3 things we saw at summer’s first intrasquad game

DENVER, CO - JULY 4: Manager Bud Black walks on the field with a face covering during Major League Baseball Summer Workouts at Coors Field on July 4, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JULY 4: Manager Bud Black walks on the field with a face covering during Major League Baseball Summer Workouts at Coors Field on July 4, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – JULY 4: Daniel Murphy #9 of the Colorado Rockies chats with teammates during Major League Baseball Summer Workouts at Coors Field on July 4, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JULY 4: Daniel Murphy #9 of the Colorado Rockies chats with teammates during Major League Baseball Summer Workouts at Coors Field on July 4, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Daniel Murphy looks better

Let’s face it, 2019 wasn’t a great year for Murphy. Between a finger injury at the start of the season and some conditioning issues that were called into question, Murphy underperformed in his first season with the Rockies.

Before spring training began in Arizona, Colorado manager Bud Black said that he expected to see “a different Daniel Murphy” in 2020. So far, he’s spot on.

Murphy not only has completely healed from his finger avulsion, but he has also slimmed down it seems. His first-inning RBI single on Saturday plated Hampson, and then he drew a walk in his second at-bat off Davis.

If Murphy can find consistency in 2020 and provide the left-handed protection for Arenado and Story in the middle of the batting order as was expected when he signed prior to the 2019 campaign, it would be a very good sign for the Rockies in a shortened season.

By the way, there has already been plenty of buzz in Rockies camp about how Murphy improved in the offseason.