Colorado Rockies: The 3 most interesting things we heard from Nolan Arenado

One of the biggest recent jokes involving Arenado has also involved Josh Fuentes. After all, you know they’re cousins, right?

That’s the joke that has become a tired bang of the drum for both Fuentes and Arenado it seems. The storyline has been touched upon plenty of times (too many, in all honesty).

Fuentes is in the discussion for what will and could be the future of the Rockies at first base, and it’s not because of any family ties.

In his 32 at-bats this season since being recalled from the alternate training site on August 20, Fuentes is slashing .313/.343/.500. Arenado made it clear to reporters that those numbers are because of the hard work put in by Fuentes.

"“And, you know, and at the end of day, Josh took care of business, and he got here. He earned the right to be here. There was no gimme just because he’s my cousin. I mean he literally had to work and get here, and that’s a credit to him, and it’s all him. I know we work in the offseason and we hit, but you know it takes somebody that wants to do those things. It isn’t just because I’m there doesn’t mean it works out. You gotta want to be there, and he wants to be there. So the credit is all him.”"

Our thoughts: Let’s drop the cousin storyline and realize that these are two good players being discussed when the names of Arenado and Fuentes are brought up. Fuentes has not only earned the right to be on the Colorado active roster, but also to have more playing time as well with Daniel Murphy and Ryan McMahon scuffling at the plate.

As Arenado said, it’s a credit to Fuentes that he made the team. Now he needs more opportunities to impact the squad as well.