Colorado Rockies: Garrett Hampson getting more starts, and in the outfield

The Colorado Rockies have been turning to Garrett Hampson as their leadoff man lately and, often, it has been in the outfield.

The Colorado Rockies have employed a different looking starting lineup for much of the last three days in Seattle. Part of the different look has been moving David Dahl out of the lineup or down in the order in favor of Garrett Hampson leading off.

On Friday, before Hampson’s first game leading off, manager Bud Black spoke with the media, including Rox Pile, about what Hampson brings to the table as a leadoff man.

“Well, [Hampson] has swung the bat pretty well overall,” said Black. “He gave us a spark yesterday with that leadoff double against [former Rockies pitcher Rico] Garcia but he’s capable of doing a lot of things with the bat. He’s got some sneaky power. We think that, eventually, he’ll hit for a nice average once he settles in as a full-time big league player. He can steal a base. He can be a pest on the basepaths.“I think, again, he’s led off a lot of his life–as an amateur player, as a collegiate player, as a minor league player. We led him off some last year and he’s comfortable in that spot. He can take some pitches, he can work the count, and I think that, in tonight’s lineup, it looks right for Hampy to lead off.”

Hampson has started the last four games, including Sunday, for the Rockies and on Friday and Saturday, he was starting for the Rockies in left field and leading off.

Prior to Saturday’s game, Hampson spoke with the media, including Rox Pile, and he said that he thinks he can bring a lot to the Rockies outfield.

“I think I can be really good out there,” said Hampson. “I’m excited for the future out there, wherever [outfield position] it might be. If it’s one day a week, zero days a week, seven days a week, I don’t really care but I do know that I can bring a lot to the table out there for the team.”

More from Rox Pile

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: What if Todd Helton had played football instead?
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023?

On Sunday, Hampson is leading off again for the Rockies but he is playing second base after starting in left field for the last two games.

The Rockies are employing another different look for their lineup in the series finale.

1. Hampson, 2B
2. Trevor Story, SS
3. Charlie Blackmon, RF
4. Matt Kemp, DH
5. David Dahl, CF
6. Elias Diaz, C
7. Ryan McMahon, 1B
8. Chris Owings, 3B
9. Sam Hilliard, LF

Most notably in the lineup, the struggling Nolan Arenado has a day off and Chris Owings in filling in for him, Elias Diaz is back in the lineup (so he is getting more playing time), Tony Wolters isn’t in the lineup for the third straight day, David Dahl is back and hitting 5th, and Sam Hilliard is hitting 9th.

The Rockies will have German Marquez on the mound as he and the Rockies are looking to sweep the Mariners and improve to a .750 winning percentage (12-3 record) through the 25 percent mark.

After the game, they will return to Coors Field for a six-game homestand with three games against the Arizona Diamondbacks and three games against the Texas Rangers with an off-day in between the two series.